Name: Date: Class:

 BUILDING BLOCKS STUDENT WORKSHEET

Calculating loan payments

If you ever need to borrow money, you’ll likely find credit and
loan offers that may seem hard to resist. However, understanding
the real costs of borrowing money can help you make informed
credit and loan decisions.

Instructions
 Read the case study to help Camryn choose a credit option to fund her
business idea.

 Calculate the interest charged, total amount of the loan, and monthly
payments for her credit offers.

 Compare offers.

 Describe which credit offer you would choose for Camryn and discuss
the factors you evaluated as you considered the options.

 Answer the reflection questions.

Case study: Camryn’s car detailing venture

Camryn: “Dad, I’ve been thinking about starting a car detailing business this
summer instead of working at the hot dog stand again. I’m considering getting a
small loan to buy the equipment I need. I know I’d need to start with things like a
new hose, a wet/dry shop vacuum, cleaning supplies, and a power washer. I figure
I’ll need to borrow about $1,500 to get this off the ground. But, if my calculations
are right, I can make that back in the first three weeks of running my business.”

Dad: “What loan options have you found?”

Camryn: “Well, after doing a bunch of research, I’ve found three options. First,
BORROW

I can put the cost of these purchases on the credit card that I share with you.
A credit card is revolving credit where I can use my card to make additional

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purchases as needed, up to my credit limit amount. But if I add any additional
purchases on this credit card, it could lengthen the time required to pay off my
original debt, and my payments could change from month to month depending
on the amount of money I have charged to this account.”

Dad: “This is true. I’m glad you are recognizing that the open lines of credit on a
credit card may tempt an individual to use their card too often and definitely could
cause you to have different monthly payment amounts, which is hard to budget for.
What other options did you research?”

Camryn: “A second option is to open up an account with the supply store down
the street. They said I can get a one-time discount of 10 percent off my purchases
if I open a new account with them. I like the idea of saving money when I buy some
supplies from this store.”

Dad: “It’s always good to look for a discount and ways to save money! But compare
the cost of the credit — the annual percentage interest rate, too. A discount on
the supplies might be outweighed by an interest rate higher than you could get
elsewhere.”

Camryn: “As I was leaving the store, I saw that there’s also a “buy now, pay later”
option that would let me buy supplies with little or money up front. I could split the
cost of the supplies into four payments every two weeks with no interest.”

Dad: I heard about those. Make sure you research what’s involved with that option.
You’d need to make sure you’ll have the money to make the payment every two
weeks. Most companies that make “buy now, pay later” loans don’t charge interest,
but they do charge late fees. Plus, “buy now, pay later” loans don’t offer the same
protections as credit cards if there’s a problem with something you bought. And it
can sometimes get complicated if you have to return something before you paid it
off. It’s important to understand all the lender’s requirements and policies before
signing up for a “buy now, pay later” loan, just like with any other loan.

Camryn: “Hmm, maybe I’ll look into that another time. My third possibility is a new
credit card offer I got in the mail last week. I could apply for this new card and use
this option. I’d love your help figuring out which is the best way to go.”

Dad: “Well, you need to analyze the details that go with each offer to make the
wisest decision. To do this, you’ll need to gather information about each offer so
we can compare them and weigh the pros and cons of each one. Also, in order to
take advantage of that credit card offer you’ve told me about, because of your age
and payment history, you probably need me to cosign your application. That puts

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my credit record at risk if you don’t make the payments. Another important thing
to know is that sometimes new credit card offers have some unexpected twists.
So once you analyze that offer, let’s take all of these things into consideration.”

Here are the details Camryn gathered about the offers:

Features to Option #1: Current Option #2: Open a credit Option #3: Use new
consider credit card with dad account with supply store credit card offer

10% off items purchased

Principal $1,500 $1,500
($1,500 in purchases)

Interest rate
9.5% 12% 22%
(APR)

Loan term 2 years 2 years 2 years

Special
None None 1 year no interest
financing

For purposes of explaining how interest can add to the cost of an original purchase
amount, Camryn’s father introduced her to a simple interest formula — Interest =
Principal x Rate x Time (I = P x R x T) — to help her make informed comparisons.

§ I = Interest: the amount of simple interest

§ P = Principal: the original amount borrowed
§ R = Rate: the interest rate of the loan
§ T = Time: the term (length) of the loan, expressed in years (from the start of the
loan to full repayment, with periods less than 1 year computed on the basis of
365 days/year)
Camryn’s father made sure to explain that this in a simplified formula meant to give
her a basic idea of what she’d owe, but she needs to be prepared for the actual
loan payments to vary from her calculations. He also explained that to figure out
monthly payments, Camryn will need to calculate the number of months in the
credit option’s term.

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Compare Options 1, 2, and 3
Help Camryn figure out her monthly payment for her credit options.

To calculate the “Interest To calculate the “Total amount To calculate the “Monthly
charged” column: paid” column: payment” column:

I = P x R x T: The term is expressed in years.

To find the monthly payment,
The # in the “principal” column Add the # in the “principal”
calculate the # of months in
x the # in “rate” column column and the # in the
the term. Divide the # in the
(expressed as a decimal) x the “interest charged” column
“Total amount paid” column
# in “term” column by the # of months.

Review the answers for Option 1 and then do the calculations for Options 2 and 3.

Interest Total Monthly

Principal Rate Term
charged amount paid payment

Option 1 $1,500 9.5% 2 years $285 $1,785 $74.38

Option 2

Option 3

How do the different principal amounts and the different interest rates affect
the loan?

What is the benefit of the “zero interest” offer that goes with the new credit card?
What happens when the “zero interest” period ends?

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Reflection questions
Based on your calculations and comparisons, which loan option would you
recommend to Camryn to cover the cost of starting her business? Why?

What details did you evaluate when making your decision?

Camryn mentioned an option called a “buy now, pay later” loan that was interest-
free and would let her pay little or no money up front and divide the cost into
four payments. Her dad explained some possible drawbacks to these loans. What
are some reasons you would you consider a “buy now, pay later” loan for a major
purchase? What are some reasons you wouldn’t?

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