Warning: Changes coming to the SOA Calculator

Clariman

This is advance warning that the SOA Calculator input will change in a small but significant way in the next day or two - possibly as early as tonight.

What will change?
At the moment, you enter your mortgage details and secured debts across two parts of the SOA input form. The monthly mortgage and secured debt repayments get entered in the "Monthly Expenses" table, but the corresponding "Loan Amount" and "Annual Rate (%)" get entered in the "Secured Debts" table. It was designed this way because the Mortgage and Secured Debt repayments are must-pay items, so it made sense to have them under monthly expenses. However, splitting the details across 2 parts of the form is a bit messy. In addition, it poses problems for the integration of the SOA Calculator with the coming Snowball Calculator, so I have decided to change it.

When these changes get implemented, all the Mortgage and Secured Debt details - including the monthly payments - will get entered in the Secured Debts table. You won't be able to enter them under monthly expenses as you currently do. The amounts will display in the monthly expense tables, but you won't be able to edit them i.e. I'll read the payment details that you enter in the Debts table and present it back to you under monthly expenses.

What if I have saved my SOA - will it still work?
It is my intention that the updated calculator will be able to read your saved SOAs in their current format and then re-save them, presenting all the information back in the right places in the form. However, as a precaution, you may want to load up your saved SOA and print it out so that you have a backup of your information. Hopefully you won't need it, but better safe than sorry. I will post again when the new version goes live. If the new version is live and you want to print out your saved SOA using the older one first, then you can use this copy of the old calculator http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc-old.html before using the new one.

You've been harping on about the new integrated Snowball Calculator for ages. Is it going to happen?
Yes! I'm making good progress with it. Having to go back to look at the design of the SOA calculator has held me up and I've been struggling a bit for free time, but the end is in sight. Once these SOA changes go live, I can then code up the remainder of the Snowball Calculator (all the hard thinking and 75% of the coding has been done).

Clariman

Clariman

bumping up

Clariman

Update has not gone live yet. Likely to be updated on Thursday evening.

Clariman

tealady

Thanks Clariman. Although I have never used the calculator I feel it has been of great use to many so thanks for improving it.

cydney65

Just wanted to say thanks Clariman-the SOA and snowball calculator are the two main weapons in my DFW armour. I bow down to you.

CydneyX

Clariman

A couple of clarifications. Firstly, I meant to say that the changes will probably go live on Wednesday (tonight), not Thursday as I posted yesterday.

Secondly, I wrote the SOA Calculator at MSOC (and other ones there), but I am not the author of the excellent Snowball calculator at whatsthecost.com, although we are in touch by email. The Snowball Calculator that I am writing is a new one that integrates with the SOA Calculator.

Clariman

sparky0107

Bump bump bump

Clariman

The new version of the calculator is now LIVE. The changes are described in the post at the beginning of this thread. However, there is additional information below which you should read.

The reading of the old saved SOA is working as far as I can test it. If you want to be ultra-safe, you can use this backup version ( http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc-old.html ) of the old calculator to load up your saved SOA and print it out, before using the new one (at the normal address). However, it should be just fine.

A change you may need to make if you have a Saved SOA with lots of Secured Debts
If you used the "Add Another" button to add in more Secured Debts using the older version of the calculator, then (at the same time) you should have also added in an extra Monthly Expense item for the corresponding monthly repayment. In the new version of the calculator you should remove that additional Monthly Expense item and enter the monthly debt payment in the Secured Debt table. This does not apply to Unsecured Debts. It only applies to Secured Debts and only if you have used the "Add Another" button.

Problems or Questions
I will check this thread for reports of any issues tonight. However, if you have any questions or experience any difficulties, it might be a good idea to also PM me, so that I don't miss it.

Thanks
Clariman

Clariman

bumping up

Clariman

last bump up of the night. The new version of calculator is live. Let me know if you have any problems.

tealady

Yeh I have a problem. What am I going to have for tea tonight (sorry just bumping really!)
Top of the mornin' to all.