An estimate you can inspect and change.

What the total means

The cash budget lists spending separately. The modeled annual total adds that budget, optional time and attention valuations, and probability-weighted annual risk. Both valuation rates start at zero. Attention points are a personal planning unit, not a measured psychological score; use zero if a dollar conversion is not useful. Avoid assigning the same burden to both time and attention. A risk amount is an editable scenario assumption, not a prediction or a measured incidence rate. Incident costs should be additional out-of-pocket amounts, excluding insurance reimbursements and amounts already budgeted elsewhere. The raise calculator subtracts retained earnings: a negative net cost means a benefit after the costs you entered. We show the entered scenario, not a statistical confidence interval; explore alternatives by changing the relevant inputs.

The car cash budget covers the first 12 months after purchase, including the down payment and scheduled loan payments. A separate economic-cost comparison uses first-year interest, depreciation, and operating expenses; it is not added to the cash budget. Investing compares end-of-month contributions using monthly compounding of assumed effective annual returns. Investment fees reduce the projected return, and their projected impact is shown separately, not charged again. Contributions are transfers into an asset, not spending. Returns are uncertain; these scenarios do not predict market performance and exclude taxes and inflation unless explicitly stated.

Dog ownership distinguishes acquisition from ongoing years. Relationship costs depend on dating, living together, or marriage; divorce risk is excluded outside marriage. Dating covers relationship spending only. Household modes additionally apply your contribution share to full-household rent, utilities, groceries, and supplies. Setup costs count once in the entered year, already at your personal share; marriage administration includes only entered additional fees. The $300 starter allowance is an editable example, not a mandatory fee or measured average. Wedding costs, children, tax effects, and homeownership are excluded. These modes cover different scopes, not the incremental cost of changing relationship status. Child inputs depend on age. Solo living is a full household budget, not a measured premium for being single. The renting model excludes refundable deposits from expenses. Insurance estimates the selected policy’s premium budget, not which type offers better coverage or value. Raise tax inputs represent the estimated combined tax rate on additional income, not the average rate on your whole salary. Streaming and investing assumptions are location-neutral.

What a shared link includes

Core calculator result links contain a rounded result snapshot, not every slider input. Older links may lack the current breakdown; their figures are labeled as legacy estimates. Expanded calculator scenario links preserve the exact values you entered so a recipient can reopen, inspect, and change the scenario. Edited editorial topic links preserve every exact monthly cash amount. Topic links without edits open the original illustrative example. Check the share panel to see which kind of link you are creating.

Scenario data is encoded, not encrypted. Anyone with the link can read the included amounts; the link can appear in browser history and website request logs. Do not share amounts you want to keep private. No calculator result is personalized financial, insurance, tax, or medical advice.

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