Guides
Short, practical steps for each planner. Every guide links to its tool, so you can act on it straight away.
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Monthly Budget Planner
Make a budget that survives a real month
- List your real income first, not a hoped-for amount.
- Write down every regular expense, including small ones.
- Subtract expenses from income to see what is left.
- If the result is negative, cut one variable expense first, then re-check.
- Save a comparison version with a slightly higher savings amount.
Debt Payoff Planner
Pay debt off in the order that fits you
- List each debt with its balance, rate, and minimum payment.
- Compare snowball (smallest balance first) with avalanche (highest rate first).
- Pick the order you will actually stick to — consistency beats a perfect plan.
- Put any extra money on the chosen debt and keep minimums on the rest.
- Re-run the planner when a debt is cleared.
Savings Goal Planner
Turn a big goal into a monthly amount
- Name the goal and the amount, honestly.
- Choose a realistic date — a short date needs a bigger monthly amount.
- Divide the goal by the months available to get the monthly figure.
- If the monthly figure is too high, move the date, not the goal silently.
- Set the saving aside on payday, before other spending.
Emergency Fund Planner
Build a cushion for a bad month
- Add up only essential monthly expenses: housing, food, bills, transport.
- Choose 1, 3, 6, or 12 months of cover — start with the smallest you can reach.
- Subtract what you already have saved for emergencies.
- Divide the gap by a monthly saving you can keep up.
- When the target is reached, keep it separate from everyday spending.
Emergency Food Planner
Plan food and water for your household
- Count adults and children separately, with each child's age band.
- Choose 3, 7, 30, or 90 days — and read the official guidance shown on the page.
- Check the water figure separately from food.
- For infants, enter the milk amount yourself and check with a doctor.
- Rotate stock by expiry date and replace what you use.
Rent vs Buy Calculator
Compare renting and buying fairly
- Use the same number of years for both sides.
- Include rent, mortgage payment, and the costs the page lists as assumptions.
- Remember the page does not forecast house prices, fees, or maintenance.
- If buying only wins on a very long horizon, say so plainly.
- Decide on the monthly cost you can keep paying, not only the deposit.
Take-Home Pay Estimator
Check what a salary really means per hour
- Enter the gross salary or hourly rate you were actually offered.
- Enter a tax rate yourself — the page does not assume a tax law.
- Compare hourly and monthly figures side by side.
- Check whether overtime, bonuses, or variable pay change the picture.
- Use the take-home figure, not the headline salary, in your budget.
Loan / Mortgage Calculator
Read a loan before you sign it
- Enter the amount, rate, and term exactly as quoted.
- Read the monthly payment, total interest, and total cost together.
- A longer term lowers the monthly payment but raises total interest.
- If the rate is variable, re-run the figures at a higher rate too.
- Never borrow for a monthly payment you cannot keep paying.
Payday Map
Spot the day money runs out, before it happens
- Enter your payday pattern and pay amount.
- Add each bill with its real due date.
- Enter a daily living cost for food, transport, and everyday spending.
- Read the day-by-day balance and any below-zero warning dates.
- Move a bill or save a little before the danger date, then re-run the map.
Estimate for planning only: All results are estimates for planning only, not personal financial, medical, tax, legal, or investment advice.