> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.sambeckbessinger.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Money calculators - URL: https://www.sambeckbessinger.com/money-calculators-2/ - Published: 2026-07-22T15:39:51.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-25T09:34:57.000Z - Description: Simple calculators to help you work through hard money choices - Author: Sam Beckbessinger - Tags: Money, #mym-ch3, #type-calculator, #topic-investing *Last updated: 22 July 2026* ## Earning ### Remaining paycheques How many paycheques do you have left until you retire? Assumes no employment breaks, and that you retire at age 65. Current age Month of the year (July = 7) Remaining paycheques: ### Lifetime spending ratio What percentage of all the income you've earned over your life so far have you spent (ignoring investment growth)? Total savings today (R) Total you've earned over your life (R) Lifetime spending ratio: You probably don't remember exactly what you've earned over your life so far. Just a guess is fine! ### Lifetime earnings How much money might you earn over the rest of your working life? Current age Current monthly salary, after tax (R) Annual salary increase over inflation (%) You might still earn: We assume your salary increases 1% a year (above inflation). Edit to match your career expectations. ### What investing an extra R\_\_\_ a month could be worth If you could save a little extra every month and invest it, how much more would you have at 65? Current age Extra amount saved per month (R) Real growth per year (%) Extra at age 65: 8% is roughly how much global equities grew per year above inflation over the past 50 years, in rand. The answer is in today's money. ### What you could save over your working lifetime Your salary increases only match inflation, you work until 65, and your savings aren't even invested. Even then: Current age Monthly salary (R) Invest those savings and the numbers get much, much bigger (see the calculator above). ## Saving & investing ### Rule of 72 How many years will it take your money to double in value if you invest it? Annual interest rate (%) Years until your investment doubles: ### Lump sum growth How much will a lump sum be worth in a number of years' time, if you invest it? Present value (R) Annual interest rate (%) Years invested Future value: Assumes monthly compounding. Use the real interest rate. ### Investing monthly How much will your investment be worth if you contribute to it every month? Monthly contribution (R) Annual interest rate (%) Years invested Future value: Assumes monthly compounding. ### Investment targets How much do you need to invest monthly to end up with a specific amount of money? Investment goal (R, today's money) Current savings (R) Annual real interest rate (%) Years until you need it Monthly contribution needed: Use the REAL interest rate, or how much your money will grow *above* inflation. ### TFSA or RA? If you've got some extra money lying around, should you put it in your tax-free savings account or your retirement annuity? Monthly savings (R) Current age Marginal tax rate now (%) TFSA growth, above inflation (%) RA growth, above inflation (%) Marginal tax rate in retirement (%) TFSA value at 55, tax-free in your pocket: RA value at 55, before retirement tax: RA value at 55, after estimated retirement tax: Comparing like with like, you should probably prioritise your Why two RA figures? Your TFSA is funded with money you've *already* paid tax on, and both its growth and its withdrawals are tax-free — so the TFSA figure is what actually lands in your pocket. An RA works the other way round: contributions are pre-tax (this calculator assumes you reinvest every rebate, so the same out-of-pocket R2 000 buys a bigger contribution), but SARS taxes your withdrawals as income in retirement. So the "before retirement tax" RA figure flatters the RA; the "after retirement tax" line puts it on the same footing as the TFSA, and that's what the verdict uses. We default your retirement tax rate to 20% — most people drop into a lower bracket once they stop earning a salary, so it's usually lower than your rate now. Adjust it to your situation. This is a rough, conservative estimate: in reality part of an RA can be taken as a lump sum (with a tax-free portion) and the rest as an annuity, so real tax is often lower than a flat rate suggests. RAs also typically grow a bit slower than a pure-equity TFSA because of Regulation 28's limits on equities and offshore assets. ## Debt & loans ### Effective annual cost of a loan Turn a daily or monthly interest rate into an equivalent annual interest rate, so you can compare apples with apples. Monthly interest rate (%) — only complete one Daily interest rate (%) — only complete one Effective annual interest rate: ### How much you'd save if you sold your car How expensive it will be over the next few years to keep your car vs. sell it? **If you kept your car** Car repayment (R/month) Car insurance (R/month) Petrol, tolls, parking etc. (R/month) Months left on car loan **If you sold your car** Alternative transport (R/month) Value of car if sold (R) Settlement cost of loan (R) | | Keep car | Sell car | | ------------------------------- | -------- | -------- | | Cost over remaining loan months | | | | Cost over 5 years | | | | Cost over 10 years | | | Based on this, you should ## Tax & retirement ### Income tax estimator A rough estimate of your annual income tax bill. Tax works on a sliding scale; only each extra chunk of money is taxed at the higher rate. Taxable income per year (R) Your age Under 6565–7475+ Estimated annual income tax: Effective rate: · Marginal rate: Probable monthly salary, after tax: ⚠ Uses the 2026/27 tax-year tables (from 1 March 2026). "After tax" here means after income tax only — before other deductions like UIF, medical aid or retirement contributions. ### Retirement contribution tax rebate Money you put into a retirement fund is subtracted from your taxable income. Here's roughly what SARS will give you back. Taxable income per year (R) Retirement contribution (R/month) Your estimated tax rebate: per year Deductions are capped at 27.5% of taxable income, max R350 000 a year. Uses the 2026/27 tax tables (from 1 March 2026). Remember: retirement savings are tax-deferred, not tax-free — you pay income tax when you withdraw after retirement, usually at a lower rate. ### The real cost of pulling money out of your retirement fund Withdrawals are taxed at your marginal rate, but the bigger loss is the opportunity cost. Amount withdrawn (R) Your marginal tax rate (%) Real growth per year (%) Cash you actually get in your pocket: What it costs your retirement fund: | over 10 years | | | ------------- | | | over 20 years | | | over 30 years | | | over 40 years | | All in today's money. Tap literally every other kind of savings before you drain your retirement fund. ## Advisers & fees ### What your adviser's fees will really cost you Fees compound just like growth does. A little 1% can eat a shocking chunk of your lifetime wealth. Current investment (R) Monthly contribution (R) Years invested Growth per year, before fees (%) Annual fee to test (%) Value if you paid no fees: Value after this fee: Lost to fees over the period: ( of your potential wealth) Enter *one* percentage. To see what advice alone costs you, enter just your adviser's advice fee. To see the total drag of everything you pay, enter your whole effective annual cost (EAC) — that's the advice fee plus platform and fund-management fees combined. Either way, you're testing a single ongoing annual fee: this calculator doesn't separately model once-off upfront or contribution fees, which on most modern products are small next to the yearly drag shown here. ## Other useful calculators - Should you upgrade your geyser or install a full solar (PV) household system: [solar calculators](https://www.sambeckbessinger.com/cut-your-electricity-bills/) - A spreadsheet for getting out of debt: [the debt-busting Money Dashboard](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BmCmb8Fo%5FQjeWQ00ipaoiRlFhvxVvkx9DYk8%5FgKS6A0/copy?ref=sambeckbessinger.com) - A calculator for your freedom number: [networthify.com](https://networthify.com/calculator/earlyretirement?ref=sambeckbessinger.com) - A calculator for your retirement number: [10x.co.za](https://www.10x.co.za/calculators/retirement-annuity?ref=sambeckbessinger.com) - A more detailed retirement calculator: [detailed retirement spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PG2XSWTAvRyehHAslqt5tiJQ%5FnoeucAMjwA%5F1tZi0ns/edit?usp=sharing&ref=sambeckbessinger.com) - South African school fees estimator: [school fees estimator](https://schoolfees.ashlunar.dev/?ref=sambeckbessinger.com) *Disclaimer: these are simple estimates designed to help you think through your choices, and you should take all of this with a pinch of salt, not as formal financial advice. I'm just a money dork who loves spreadsheets, not a professional financial advisor. If you want real advice,* [*hire a pro*.**](https://www.sambeckbessinger.com/how-to-find-a-financial-adviser-who-doesnt-suck/) If you've spotted an error, [please let me know](https://www.sambeckbessinger.com/contact/) so I can fix it! ## A new edition of **Manage Your Money Like a F-cking Grownup's* coming in September Join the newsletter to hear when it lands (and get useful money tools dropped straight in your inbox). Notify me Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.