A tool from Chapter 2
How much can I afford?
Find the payment your budget can really carry, before a salesperson suggests one. Enter your income and what the car costs to run. See what's left for a payment, the price it buys and the interest at each loan length.
About the book
The worksheet
Fill in what you know. The totals update as you type.
Joseph is the book's example: a nurse who takes home $5,500 a month.
Joseph's numbers from Chapter 2 are filled in. Owning his car costs $828.65 a month, which leaves $671.35 for a payment.
For the loan, the example uses the book's rate of 12% over 60 months.
$0.00 See your budget
Your monthly picture
$0.00
Left for a car payment
- Available for a car
- $0.00
- Spent every month
- $0.00
- Saved for the car
- $0.00
- Maintenance
- $0.00
- Owning the car
- $0.00
Start with your income in section 1.
Your results
Your budget
$0.00
Left each month for a car payment
$0.00
Owning the car each month, before any payment
- Spent every month$0.00
Insurance, warranty, fuel, washing, parking and tolls.
- Saved every month$0.00
Toward your next car, and for surprises.
- Set aside for maintenance$0.00
Oil changes, tires and brakes.
Fill in the worksheet above to see your budget.
Deciding on the price range
Your price range
Answer a few questions about the loan. Then the table shows what your payment buys at each loan length, and the interest you'd pay.
to Up to
Your price range, with your down paymentYour price range at months, with your down payment
That's what a month buys over 36 to 60 months.
The book points to 36 months or less first, and up to 60 months if the budget needs it.
At % APR, the rate on your letter.
At % APR, the rate you entered.
At % APR, the Q2 2026 average for -car loans at a credit score of , from Experian (opens in a new tab).
It depends on your credit. At a score of 500 or lower, a month buys the low end. At 781 or higher, it buys the high end.
A pre-approval shows you your own rate.
Your car fits your budget from months.
That's longer than the 60 months the book allows. A long loan keeps you paying while the car loses value.
Your car doesn't fit your budget at any length up to 84 months. Look at a lower price, or save a larger down payment.
Your car fits at months at every credit score.
Your car doesn't fit at months at any credit score. Look at a lower price, or save a larger down payment.
Your car fits at months with good credit. A pre-approval shows you whether yours is enough.
| Loan length | You can borrow | With your down payment | Interest you'd pay | Highest price before tax and fees |
|---|
| Credit score | Average APR | You can borrow | With your down payment | Interest you'd pay | Highest price before tax and fees |
|---|
Your price range appears here once the worksheet shows money left for a payment, and you answer the questions about the loan.
Pick new or used and your credit score, or add the APR on your offer. Then you'll see what a month buys.
Add the APR on your offer to see what a month buys.
Fix the APR on your offer to see what a month buys.
Fix the down payment to see what a month buys.
Fix the sales tax or fees to see what a month buys.
Your fees are more than this payment and down payment can cover. Check the fees, or add to your down payment.
Your financing
Your down payment covers the price. If your savings already cover a decent car, the book says to skip the loan.
$0.00
Interest on your pre-approval letterInterest at the rate you enteredInterest on an average bank loan at your credit scoreInterest on a bank loan, depending on your credit
That's the interest on , the most a month repays over months at % APR.
That's the you'd borrow for your car, over months at % APR. It's about a month.
That's more than the a month your budget carries.
That's months at a month, at Experian's Q2 2026 averages for -car loans.
That's the you'd borrow for your car, over months at Experian's Q2 2026 averages for -car loans.
Those run from % APR at a score of 781 or higher to % at 500 or lower.
This offer charges no interest. Before you sign, ask for the total of payments and check every fee.
No interest. One flat fee. Bring your pre-approval letter, and Savings Club (opens in a new tab) beats it.
Adriano Marques, the author of this book, is the CEO of Savings Club.
- Shorter bank loans cost less in interest. The book points to 24 or 36 months first. If 24 or 36 months won't buy the car you need, look at 48 or 60 months.
- Aim for a down payment of about 20% of the vehicle's value. Your is 20% of a vehicle.Your down is % of your car. The book's target is 20%, which is . On your car, that's .
- If your savings already cover a decent car, the book says to skip the loan.
- Sales tax and state fees are added to the price. Budget for them before you shop.
Get the book
The full ownership worksheet is in the book (opens in a new tab), line by line, with Joseph's numbers. So is how to compare loan offers and what a loan costs in total.