Compare $500, $1,000 and $1,500 using one set of assumptions, then choose the detailed worksheet for the decision you need to make. A modeled amount is not a promise that it will be offered.
On this page
- Start from the uncovered expense
- Compare amounts using the same assumptions
- Follow the money from principal to cash received
- Use the page that changes your decision
- Check the requested amount against the written offer
- Save the comparison you used
- Questions about this decision
- Continue with the detail you need
- Sources and calculation notes
- Continue when you have checked the details
Start from the uncovered expense
The useful amount is the cash needed for the expense after other confirmed resources—not the largest number on a page. Subtract allocated cash and an agreed arrangement from the amount due. Keep an unconfirmed extension out of the arithmetic.
The same principal does not necessarily equal the bill or the cash received.
If you have not worked out the gap, use the small-expense tool first. It can show zero when the bill is already covered and it does not automatically raise a small need to a lender’s minimum.
Compare amounts using the same assumptions
The tool applies one nominal annual interest rate, one number of equal monthly periods and one withheld dollar fee to all three amounts. The fee is a fixed dollar input—not a percentage. The model does not include financed fees, daily accrual, late charges or a balloon payment.
Three amounts, one comparison
Load the illustration or enter assumptions from a documented offer. These calculator scenarios do not establish current product limits.
Enter the inputs, then select Compare amounts.
This page’s planning tool runs in your browser. Inputs are not saved or sent by this tool. It does not check credit, prequalify you or produce a loan offer.
| Illustrative amount | Regular payment | Total payments | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500.00 | $89.26 | $535.58 | $35.58 |
| $1,000.00 | $178.53 | $1,071.16 | $71.16 |
| $1,500.00 | $267.79 | $1,606.73 | $106.73 |
Do not compare the $500 line at one rate with the $1,500 line at another and attribute the full difference to principal. Keep the price assumptions visible. To compare actual offers with different fees and terms, use the side-by-side offer tool.
Follow the money from principal to cash received
Ask how any fee is handled. A withheld fee reduces the proceeds. A financed fee changes the balance being repaid. A separately paid charge affects cash outlay differently. The calculation above handles only the first of these; it does not quietly approximate the others.
| Hypothetical case | Cash result | Question still to ask |
|---|---|---|
| $500 principal, $25 withheld fee | $475 received. | Does that cover the expense after allocated cash? |
| $1,000 principal, $50 withheld fee | $950 received. | Can the same need be met without an additional loan? |
| Fee financed into a balance | Not modeled by the withheld-fee input. | What balance, rate and legal disclosure apply? |
The labels in the actual disclosure matter. Do not rename “amount financed” as “net cash” without checking what that field represents. CFPB: personal installment loan fees
Use the page that changes your decision
$500: sufficiency and excess
Test the $500 scenario against the uncovered bill. See whether a fee leaves too little or the amount creates unnecessary excess.
$1,000: two-offer comparison
Compare offers side by side using cash received, number of payments and full repayment. A smaller monthly amount is not the whole answer.
$1,500: weaker-month test
Stress-test the budget before accepting a payment. Model a lower-income period without assuming the contract payment will fall.
Term and dates
Compare payoff horizons and put the dates on a calendar. These are separate choices from principal.
Check the requested amount against the written offer
The figure requested is not a binding offer. The response may show another amount, may have conditions or may not contain a loan offer at all. Verify the current amount and product for your state before arranging a purchase around it.
- 1Define the gapWhat cash does the expense still need?
- 2Read the offerWhat amount and net proceeds are actually proposed?
- 3Check payment capacityDoes the complete schedule fit?
- 4DecideAccept, ask a question or decline based on the written terms.
No route guarantees any of the displayed calculation amounts.
If the offered net proceeds do not solve the original need, return to the expense plan. Do not treat multiple overlapping requests as a substitute for a workable plan.
Save the comparison you used
Export the local scenario as CSV or print the page. Record the assumptions beside it, then keep the actual offer separately. A worksheet may be useful when asking questions, but it is not a creditor’s approval or disclosure.
Blank offer comparison worksheet
A fillable two-page PDF for copying real offer figures and recording unanswered questions. Available without an email address.
Blank offer comparison worksheet — download PDFQuestions about this decision
Are these the current amounts Cash-Installment offers?
They are planning scenarios, not a verified current amount range. The amount and availability must be checked in the current application and written offer for your product and state.
Should I select the highest amount that appears?
Start with the uncovered expense and the repayment budget. A larger principal normally creates a larger obligation under the same assumptions. The comparison is designed to show the tradeoff, not recommend the highest line.
Why use the same interest rate for all three amounts?
Holding the inputs constant isolates the effect of the amount. A real offer may use different rates or fees; compare those separately rather than treating this controlled illustration as a tariff.
What if a fee is a percentage rather than a dollar amount?
Calculate the fee in dollars for each actual amount and use the relevant figure in its own comparison. This three-amount tool uses one fixed dollar deduction and does not apply a percentage rule.
Can I save the results without sending my email?
Yes. The CSV export and print action operate locally, and the blank PDF requires no sign-up. Keep a completed worksheet private and do not include identity or account numbers.
What if the actual offer is different from my calculation?
Check principal, rate type, fees, period length, first payment date and rounding. The actual contract can use a different calculation method. Ask the creditor to explain the difference before accepting.
Continue with the detail you need
Sources and calculation notes
The examples on this page are original planning illustrations, not Cash-Installment prices or approval criteria. Actual offers, eligible states, credit checks and repayment rights must be checked in the current disclosures.
How information is preparedCompany records and licensingReport a correction
Continue when you have checked the details
A planning result is not a loan offer. Read the current application notices and any written offer before choosing to proceed.