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Our Lifestyle Calculator shows you the true cost of the lifestyle you want and how much you’ll need to earn to afford it. This exercise is all about setting you up for long-term success. To get started, tell us a little bit about yourself.
You'll need some place to call home. Will you live in the lap of luxury, or keep it simple? Will you go it alone or share your space with roommates?
You've got to keep the lights on and the water running. You'll also have to decide how powerful you need your internet connection to be.
Select one or more of these options:
Another part of being an adult is buying your own food. You can choose to cook at home, grab fast food or eat at restaurants.
Now it's time to find out which type of transportation you want to have and decide how much to spend.
We all eventually have to go see a doctor, dentist or optician. Health Care costs can be expensive, so it's important to have insurance to offset the costs.
Select one or more of these options:
You like staying home or you like going to the movies. You like playing video games or you like going hiking. You decide how much you want to spend on entertainment.
Select one or more of these options:
You may be the type to buy clothes every month or just a couple of times a year. You decide how much you will spend on clothing each month.
You have to take care of yourself by grooming, exercising and maybe even smelling good. You decide how much to spend on your personal upkeep.
This section involves miscellaneous items such as high tech gadgets, pet care, vacations, and more. You decide how much money you will spend on these items each month.
Select one or more of these options:
It's payback time—for your student loans, that is. Staying on top of your obligation to pay back student loans is an important part of keeping your finances in check. What's your monthly payment?* *These numbers could vary depending on which college you choose and how much financial aid you receive.
Having a family can be a loving and rewarding experience, but there are significant costs involved. Food, housing, child care and education costs can add up very quickly.
Saving money is like paying youself first. You can choose to pay yourself a little (2%) or a lot (10%) of your income.
Let’s see how much you’ll need to earn to afford the lifestyle you want.
Category | Selections | Amount |
---|---|---|
Housing | ||
Utilities | ||
Food | ||
Transportation | ||
Health Care | ||
Leisure | ||
Clothing | ||
Personal | ||
Miscellaneous | ||
Student Loan Debt | ||
Family | ||
Savings |
Total Monthly Expenses | |
Annual Expenses | |
Income Tax (25% of Annual Expenses) | |
Annual Salary Needed |