Add up income and expenses to see whether each month runs a surplus or a shortfall.
This calculator finds your monthly surplus or shortfall after subtracting fixed expenses, variable spending, and planned savings from take-home income.
The tool starts with your monthly take-home income and subtracts three things: fixed expenses like rent and loan payments, variable spending like food and entertainment, and the savings you plan to set aside. A positive result is a surplus you can direct toward goals, while a negative result signals a shortfall that needs trimming or more income. Treating planned savings as a line item helps you pay yourself first rather than saving only what is left over.
The quality of the result depends on honest inputs, especially for variable spending, which people tend to underestimate. Reviewing a few months of statements gives a more realistic figure than a guess. Irregular costs like annual insurance or holiday gifts should be averaged into a monthly amount so they do not blow up your budget when they arrive. This is a budgeting tool, not financial advice.
Fixed expenses stay roughly the same each month, like rent or a car payment, while variable spending changes, like groceries, dining out, and entertainment.
Yes, treating savings as a required outflow helps you prioritize it, so the surplus you see is truly discretionary.
Divide annual costs like insurance or subscriptions by twelve and include them so your monthly picture reflects them.
See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.