Pleasures v Treasures: What you could save if you stop wasting cash

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This calculator shows you how much you could save by diverting the cash you 'waste' on everyday items into a long-term savings plan. Remember: £10 a week equals £520 a year.

function update(){ var numYears = document.getElementById('duration').value; var interestRate = document.getElementById('exp_annual_return').value; var numPeriodsPerYear = 12; var savingsAmount = 0.00; // monthly deposit var totalBalance = 0.00; var cigs = document.getElementById('cigs').value; var drinks_home = document.getElementById('drinks_home').value; var lottery = document.getElementById('lottery').value; var taxis = document.getElementById('taxis').value; var takeaways = document.getElementById('takeaways').value; var lunchtime = document.getElementById('lunchtime').value; var takeaway_coffee = document.getElementById('takeaway_coffee').value; var other = document.getElementById('other').value; // validate input if (!isValidNum(numYears)){ numYears = 0; } if (!isValidNum(numPeriodsPerYear)){ numPeriodsPerYear = 0; } if (!isValidNum(interestRate)){ interestRate = 0; }else if (interestRate != 0){ interestRate = (interestRate / 100); } if (!isValidNum(cigs)){ cigs = 0.00; } if (!isValidNum(drinks_home)){ drinks_home = 0.00; } if (!isValidNum(lottery)){ lottery = 0.00; } if (!isValidNum(taxis)){ taxis = 0.00; } if (!isValidNum(takeaways)){ takeaways = 0.00; } if (!isValidNum(lunchtime)){ lunchtime = 0.00; } if (!isValidNum(takeaway_coffee)){ takeaway_coffee = 0.00; } if (!isValidNum(other)){ other = 0.00; } // calc the total amount of savings made from the expenses savingsAmount = (Number(cigs) + Number(drinks_home) + Number(lottery) + Number(taxis) + Number(takeaways) + Number(lunchtime) + Number(takeaway_coffee) + Number(other))*52/12; // check interest rate is specified so balance can grow if (interestRate != 0){ var interestRatePerPeriod = (1+ (interestRate / numPeriodsPerYear)); var totalNumPeriods = (numYears * numPeriodsPerYear); var growthRate = (Math.pow(interestRatePerPeriod,totalNumPeriods) - 1); var numPeriodsPerInterestPercent = (numPeriodsPerYear / interestRate); totalBalance = savingsAmount * growthRate * numPeriodsPerInterestPercent; totalBalance = totalBalance; }else{ // balance won't grow without interest totalBalance = (savingsAmount *(numYears * numPeriodsPerYear)); } document.getElementById('total').value = formatTo(totalBalance,2); }

Pleasures v Treasures

YOUR PLEASURES

Enter your weekly spending

*Interest calculated and compounded monthly** Remember: Money isn't everything Beer & cigarettes (eg 76.37 - 3 pints; 20 cigarettes a day)£ Drinks at home (eg 27.93 - bottle of wine a day)£ Lottery/gambling(eg 10)£ Taxis(eg 22.50 - a few short journeys)£ Takeaways(eg 17.50 - a couple of curries)£ Lunchtime/snacks(eg 19.75 - they quickly add up)£ Takeaway coffees(eg 7.50 - a cappuccino a day)£ Other(eg 75 - do you really need all those CDs, shoes, TV channels?)£ YOUR TREASURES Annual return* (eg 7 - latest predictions for stock market growth) % Duration (eg 25 - the longer the better) years RESULT Calculate Your prudence will earn you**£

Best savings rates tables... 

General savings (internet, branch-based)Fixed-rate accounts Phone/postal accounts Best cash Isas Junior Isas and children's savings accounts Child Trust Funds (CTFs) National SavingsMonthly income savings accountsOffshore accountsAccounts for older savers (50+)

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