Amortisaatiokaavio

Amortisaatiokaavio, also known as an amortization schedule, is a table detailing the periodic payments on a loan. Each payment is broken down into its principal and interest components, showing how the loan balance decreases over time. The schedule typically lists the payment number, the date of the payment, the amount of the payment, the portion of the payment that goes towards interest, the portion that goes towards principal, and the remaining loan balance after the payment is applied.

Amortization schedules are crucial for borrowers to understand the total cost of their loan, including the interest paid over its lifetime. They illustrate how early payments are heavily weighted towards interest, with the principal portion increasing as the loan matures. This is a common feature of most amortizing loans, such as mortgages and car loans. Lenders often provide these schedules at the beginning of the loan term or upon request. They can also be generated using various financial calculators or spreadsheet software. The consistent structure of an amortization schedule helps in financial planning and tracking loan progress.