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system
comparing the present value of total payment today and partial payments over 3 months
user
its kind of a dumb question because no one believes that you can earn 8% in the short term in the market, but for arguments sake the math is painfully easy.  keep in mind i am an engineer not a finance guy. so the first payment will earn you one month at 8%, the second, two.  in effect three months at 8% on 997.  you can do it that way because the payments are equal: 997 * (.08 /12) *3 = earnings ~= 20 so with the second method you pay: 997 * 3 - 20 =  2971
assistant