How the calculator works.

We estimate your debt one month at a time.

Imagine moving through your debt one month at a time. First, interest is added. If you told us you still use the card, we add both your unlisted additional charges and the spending-habit amount shown after your reductions. Then your payment is taken out. Whatever is left becomes the next month’s balance.

We turn different spending habits into monthly amounts.

A coffee purchase happens several times a week. A subscription happens monthly. A yearly membership happens once a year. To compare them fairly, we turn each one into an average monthly amount.

We compare what you pay now with what you could pay.

The first path keeps your payment exactly as it is. The second adds the money you think you can free up from spending. We compare the two paths to show the possible difference in payoff time and interest.

This is only a what-if plan. Adjusted Money does not move your money or guarantee that you will save the amount shown.

When the active-card option is on, the original path includes the original spending-habit total. The adjusted path subtracts the amount you choose to reduce each month. That same freed cash is automatically added to the card payment.

For example, reducing a $70 monthly card expense by $50 leaves $20 in recurring charges and redirects $50 to the card balance. Both changes are shown because you spent $50 less and used that same $50 as a payment.

Most payoff calculators stop the spending. We can keep it in the picture.

A typical debt calculator starts with today’s balance and assumes no new debt is added. That works well for a student loan, personal loan, or a credit card you have stopped using. It can be unrealistic for a card that still pays for everyday purchases.

The current path uses your original itemized spending. The adjusted path uses the reduced itemized spending. This shows how continuing to use the card may affect the payoff—and how reducing those purchases may help—even if your payment stays the same.

Sometimes a payment is too low to shrink the debt.

If the payment does not cover that month’s interest and any new charges, the balance can grow even though you are paying. If it covers only that combined amount, the balance stays about the same.

When this happens, we show the smallest payment that would begin reducing the balance. That number is only a starting line—not a recommended payment. Paying more would create a more meaningful payoff path.

A simple example

Suppose someone owes $8,500 at 22.9% APR and pays $225 each month. Then they find $60 in monthly spending they can put toward the debt instead.

In this example, the extra $60 could shorten the estimate by 23 months and reduce estimated interest by about $2,496. Results are rounded, so totals may differ by a few cents if you calculate them by hand.

To make the estimate, we assume a few things stay the same.

• Your interest rate does not change.
• You make the same payment every month.
• If you include new card charges, the monthly amounts stay the same until you change them.
• You do not add other purchases outside the amounts entered or miss a payment.
• No fees or penalties are added.
• Your lender allows extra payments without a penalty.
• Any separate extra payment goes to this debt every month.

Your lender’s number may be different.

This free calculator looks at one debt with one interest rate. It does not know your lender’s exact rules. It also does not include changing rates, special promotional offers, late fees, purchases outside the monthly amounts entered, multiple debts, refinancing, forgiveness programs, or special student-loan payment plans.

Your numbers stay in your browser.

You do not need an account to use the Free calculator. By default, your entries disappear when the calculator resets. If you turn on “Remember my numbers on this device,” the calculator saves its inputs only in that browser’s local storage so they can be restored when you return.

Remembering is optional and is off until you choose it. The saved copy is not sent to an Adjusted Money account or database, but anyone using the same browser profile may be able to see it. Browser extensions or other software with access to that browser may also be able to read local storage. Do not use this option on a shared or public device.

“Clear saved numbers” removes the stored copy and resets the calculator. Clearing browser data or using private browsing may also erase it. Adjusted Money does not ask for or store account numbers, card numbers, login information, or other banking credentials in the calculator.