Everyday Maths
Unit Conversions That Trip People Up
Gallons, tons, ounces and gigabytes all have more than one definition. These are the conversions where the wrong assumption costs real money.
· 3 min read
The Calculators Cafe blog
Plain-English guides on loans, investments, tax and everyday money maths — each one written to go with a free calculator.
Business
Margin, Markup and Break-even: The Three Numbers Every Small Business Needs
Margin is not markup, and neither tells you how many units you need to sell. Together, the three numbers explain whether a business can actually make...
· 3 min read
Tax
VAT or GST: What Businesses Actually Need to Know
Both are indirect taxes collected at each stage of a supply chain. The differences matter as soon as you sell across borders or price for consumers.
· 3 min read
Salary
Gratuity: What You Get When You Leave a Job
Gratuity is one of the few long-service benefits paid as a single, largely tax-free lump sum. Here is how it is calculated and when you qualify.
· 3 min read
Investments
Sukanya Samriddhi or PPF: Which Suits a Child's Future?
Both are government-backed, tax-free and long-term. The right choice comes down to the deposit window, the maturity date and what the money is for.
· 3 min read
Investments
Target SIP: Working Backwards From Your Goal
Instead of guessing a monthly amount, start from the goal, inflate it, and calculate the SIP required. The answer is often uncomfortable and always us...
· 3 min read
Investments
Retirement Corpus: How Much Is Actually Enough?
The number usually shocks people. Here is the two-step calculation behind it, and the levers that make it smaller.
· 3 min read
Investments
SWP: Turning a Corpus Into a Monthly Income
A systematic withdrawal plan pays you every month while the balance stays invested. Whether it lasts depends almost entirely on the withdrawal rate.
· 3 min read
Loans
Home Loan Eligibility: How Banks Actually Decide
Eligibility is not the same as affordability. Here is how lenders calculate the number they are willing to lend you, and what increases it.
· 3 min read