Monthly Financial Planner
Enter your income and spending to see your surplus, savings rate and a simple plan for the money left over.
A simple monthly plan
A plan starts with one number: what is left after all spending. A positive surplus can be split between a safety fund, goals and faster debt payoff. A negative number means spending must fall or income must rise before anything else.
Targets to aim for
Aim to save at least 10-20% of take-home pay and to hold three to six months of spending in savings. Review the plan monthly and adjust.
Worked example
Last reviewed November 2026. Formulas are standard and shown in the sections above; results are estimates.
Tips and common mistakes
- Fix a shortfall first, then split the surplus.
- Automate the savings on payday.
- Review every month for the first six months.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good savings rate?
10-20% of take-home pay is a common target. Start where you can.
Why the 50/30/20 split of the surplus?
It is a simple default. Put more into debt if your rates are high.
Does it include irregular costs?
Add a monthly average of yearly costs to your fixed bills.
Money guides for this topic
All guides →How to Make a Budget in 5 Simple Steps
A beginner-friendly guide to building a monthly budget that you can actually stick to.
Read guide →How to Fix Bad Financial Condition with Math: A 7-Step Recovery Plan
A step-by-step plan, with real numbers, to climb out of a money hole: find the gap, cut and earn, pay debt smartly and build a safety net.
Read guide →How to Save Money: 10 Practical Ways with Real Numbers
Ten proven ways to save money, each with the math showing how much you can keep every year.
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Open calculator →Results are estimates and not financial advice.