MoneyLifeCalcI am an architectural designer, not a finance person.
I knew early on that I was not going to get rich being an architectural designer. But I also knew I needed to do something to secure my retirement—and hopefully leave something behind for my children.
I don’t remember exactly how I got the invitation to attend a Schwab investment seminar at its Midtown Atlanta retail office. Everything was new to me, but it seemed like something worth trying. I opened a Schwab account that day and received a free book by Charles Schwab, How to Be Your Own Stockbroker. That was my first introduction to the stock market and the jargon of stock trading.
Back then, Schwab and E*TRADE were just beginning to make it possible for individuals to trade stocks over the internet. My early Schwab and E*TRADE logins were DOS prompts on a black screen.
The second book I read was Roger Lowenstein’s biography of Warren Buffett, Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist.
I made a commitment to myself: investing would be part of my life.
More than 30 years later, that decision has rewarded me handsomely. Looking back, building my career gave me a sense of professional achievement; investing helped make me financially independent.
For more than 30 years, I’ve tracked my personal income, expenses, and investments in an Excel workbook. One sheet is a retirement planner that I update and compare with my end-of-year records. It helps me estimate taxes and explore different “what-if” scenarios.
Keeping that workbook up, month after month and year after year, has helped me shape my future. It shows me where the money actually goes, how it grows, and whether my plans add up.
I believe many people have the same needs. But not everyone wants to build a spreadsheet from scratch, and many online calculators require you to create an account or sign up for a service.
So I turned my formulas into MoneyLifeCalc.
The Yearly Ledger works much like my own monthly financial spreadsheet. The Retirement Planner works like the retirement sheet I’ve been using for years. The other calculators grew out of questions and problems I encountered along the way.
And because I also work in architectural design, you’ll find tools for new construction costs, construction loan draws, cost per square foot, and other construction-related calculations.
Everything is free. You don’t need an account, and your numbers stay on your own device.
If there’s a calculator you wish existed, tell me below. The site will keep growing based on the questions people ask.