How the Monthly Expense Calculator works

This calculator adds up all the spending categories you enter and compares that total to your monthly take-home income. From those two numbers, it computes:

First, we sum everything you typed in:

• Total expenses = housing + utilities + groceries + transport + eating out + subscriptions + health + shopping + kids & pets + other

You don’t have to fill every box – any blank field is treated as zero, so you can keep it as simple or detailed as you like.

Next, we compare your income to your expenses:

• Leftover = income − total expenses

If the result is positive, that’s how much money is available for savings, investments, debt payoff or extra fun. If it’s negative, you’re technically overspending and dipping into savings, credit or one-off income.

Your savings rate is the percentage of income that remains after expenses:

• Savings rate = (leftover ÷ income) × 100 (only calculated if income > 0)

For example, if you earn $3,000 take-home and spend $2,250, you have $750 left over. Your savings rate is (750 ÷ 3000) × 100 = 25%.

Finally, the “budget pressure” meter looks at how much of your income is being used by expenses:

• Pressure % = (total expenses ÷ income) × 100

The meter then categorizes your situation:

• < 60% – lighter spending, more room to save or invest.
• 60–90% – moderate pressure, budget is okay but not very flexible.
• 90–100% – high pressure, very little buffer for surprises.
• 100%+ – overspending, expenses are above income.

Imagine you earn $4,000 per month after tax and your categories look like this:

• Housing: $1,600
• Utilities & internet: $200
• Groceries: $500
• Transport: $200
• Eating out & coffee: $250
• Subscriptions & apps: $60
• Health & insurance: $150
• Shopping & extras: $150
• Kids & pets: $300
• Other: $90

Total expenses = $3,500. Leftover = $4,000 − $3,500 = $500. Your savings rate is 12.5%, and the pressure meter shows 87.5% – a bit tight, but there’s still some buffer. If you trimmed $150 from eating out and $50 from extras, leftovers jump to $700 and the pressure eases noticeably.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I need exact numbers for this to be useful?

  No. Rough, honest estimates are enough to see patterns. Treat this like a money check-in, not a tax return. You can refine numbers later as you review bank and card statements.

• Is this a full financial plan?

  This is a lightweight budgeting helper – not a full financial plan or advice tool. It doesn’t account for taxes, long-term investments, retirement or complex debt strategies. Use it as a starting point for clarity.

• How often should I use the Monthly Expense Calculator?

  Many people like a quick check-in once a month (after payday or statement day). Others run it before making a big purchase or lifestyle change to see the impact on their leftover and savings rate.

• What if my expenses are higher than my income?

  If the calculator shows a negative leftover or very high budget pressure, that’s a signal to review spending categories. Look at subscriptions, eating out and “extras” first – these are often the easiest places to trim.

• Does the tool store or send my financial data anywhere?

  No. All calculations run in your browser. The page doesn’t send your income or expenses to a server. If you choose to save snapshots, they are stored locally in your browser so only you can see them on this device.