Collect the loan’s rate and fees
ASIC’s Moneysmart personal-loan guidance explains comparing loan features and costs and considering repayments in a budget. Use the provider’s current disclosure for the exact loan amount and term you want. Check setup, ongoing and early-repayment conditions instead of focusing only on an advertised installment.
A nominal rate and a comparison rate do not have the same role. Do not enter a fee-inclusive disclosure into a different calculation and assume the result reproduces the offer. Numbriv’s general tool models a constant nominal rate without charges; the lender’s schedule remains a separate document.
Source: ASIC Moneysmart: personal loans.
Match the repayment frequency to income
Record the actual repayment dates alongside the days your income arrives. A monthly planning average is not the same as the cash available in every calendar month. If an offer uses weekly or fortnightly payments, count the actual payments in the period you are comparing.
Use net income for a household cash-flow plan. The Australian basic income-tax tool starts from ordinary taxable income and excludes Medicare, HELP and offsets. It is not a gross-to-net payroll calculation and should not replace a payslip when those items matter.
A fictional AUD offer comparison
The examples use equal principal amounts and separately paid upfront fees. There are no ongoing charges, rate changes or extra payments. They are not market offers, comparison-rate calculations or assessments of whether a fee is legally applicable.
| Assumption | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Amount made available | $20,000.00 | $20,000.00 |
| Monthly installment | $620.00 | $490.00 |
| Number of payments | 36 | 48 |
| Separate upfront fee | $200.00 | $100.00 |
| Total cash paid | $22,520.00 | $23,620.00 |
| Cost above amount received | $2,520.00 | $3,620.00 |
Offer B costs $1,100.00 more in nominal cash across the full term, despite its smaller installment. The totals are installments × months + the separate upfront fee. This is not an APR or a recommendation.
Check what a longer term changes
Compare both the regular commitment and the total amount paid over the full term. A longer repayment schedule can preserve cash in the short run while costing more overall. The table does not discount later payments or say which option suits a household.
Before using a result, check whether fees are paid upfront, deducted from proceeds or financed. Avoid counting the same charge twice. Read the actual product conditions for extra payments and settlement, and keep any savings goal separate from money already committed to the debt.
Try the calculators
Use each tool only for its stated assumptions. These links do not carry any financial inputs.
- Loan repayment — Illustrative planning formula; excludes local taxes, fees and product-specific terms.
- Monthly budget — Illustrative planning formula; excludes local taxes, fees and product-specific terms.
- Australia income tax calculator 2026–27: before offsets — Annual basic income tax before offsets for an adult Australian resident for the full 2026–27 year, eligible for the full tax-free threshold. Enter ordinary taxable income after deductions, not gross salary.
Questions about this guide
Is this a comparison-rate calculator?
No. It shows nominal cash totals for the stated fictional schedule.
Does the basic tax tool calculate take-home salary?
No. Medicare, HELP, offsets and payroll adjustments are outside its basic-tax scope.
Official sources and corrections
References provide background or the specific disclosure context described above. They do not verify the fictional example as a product offer, certify Numbriv, or cover every individual or legal scenario. Sources checked 2026-10-16; check current official text and the actual product documents before relying on a rule.
Report a correction · Editorial responsibility · Financial disclaimer
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