6 min
#78: Mini podcast: Discounts vs investments The Fat Wallet Show from Just One Lap
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- Education
Fat Wallet listener Hugo Schuitemaker and his trusty Excel spreadsheet made a startling discovery. An amount invested at the beginning of the year would have to earn a 19.5% return to catch up to a 10% discount on his child’s school fees.
“Sometimes schools offer a discount for paying the full annual amount upfront. In my case its 10% if I pay the full annual amount of school fees by 1 January. So this naturally called for an Excel spreadsheet. Upfront payment vs Monthly payment.
I worked out that the 10% discount is a huge savings for me. If I chose not to make use of the discount and paid the monthly amount, whilst keeping the balance of my capital invested, I would need to make a return of 19.5% over the year, just to equal (break even) with the discount I would receive from the school! It’s a no-brainer for me.
I would even argue that if you can loan money at an interest rate of less than 19.5% (out of you bond for example), with a 10% discount on school fees it would be in your best interest (excuse the pun) to do so…”
In the first of six holiday mini podcasts, Simon and I discuss the merits of taking a lump-sum discount instead of investing it. We also drink some bubbles and eat popcorn. Yay, holidays!
School fees discount calculator
Kris
Fat Wallet listener Hugo Schuitemaker and his trusty Excel spreadsheet made a startling discovery. An amount invested at the beginning of the year would have to earn a 19.5% return to catch up to a 10% discount on his child’s school fees.
“Sometimes schools offer a discount for paying the full annual amount upfront. In my case its 10% if I pay the full annual amount of school fees by 1 January. So this naturally called for an Excel spreadsheet. Upfront payment vs Monthly payment.
I worked out that the 10% discount is a huge savings for me. If I chose not to make use of the discount and paid the monthly amount, whilst keeping the balance of my capital invested, I would need to make a return of 19.5% over the year, just to equal (break even) with the discount I would receive from the school! It’s a no-brainer for me.
I would even argue that if you can loan money at an interest rate of less than 19.5% (out of you bond for example), with a 10% discount on school fees it would be in your best interest (excuse the pun) to do so…”
In the first of six holiday mini podcasts, Simon and I discuss the merits of taking a lump-sum discount instead of investing it. We also drink some bubbles and eat popcorn. Yay, holidays!
School fees discount calculator
Kris
6 min