Want to use your own numbers? Open the free safe-to-spend calculator. No account or bank connection needed.
Start with money you already have
Use the current balance in the account you spend from. Include wages already received, but leave out future wages, overdraft limits and separate savings. An expected payment is useful for planning a date; it is not cash available today.
If your balance is negative, enter it as a negative number. Hiding an overdraft by entering zero can make the plan look healthier than it is.
Check dates, not just monthly totals
List unpaid rent, direct debits, standing orders and subscriptions due from today through the next payday. Include payday itself because a payment can be collected before wages arrive. Leave out an occurrence already paid when it is already reflected in your balance.
A bill due next month may still need a contribution from this pay period. Keep that reservation separate from bills that must be paid immediately.
Leave room for essentials
Reserve groceries and transport for the actual days remaining. For a £70 weekly allowance and 14 days until payday, keep £140 aside. If these costs are already included in a payment total, do not add them again.
You can also keep a safety buffer untouched. This covers room you choose to leave in the plan; the estimate cannot predict every unexpected expense.
A worked example
Suppose your balance is £820. You have £400 of bills through payday, £140 of essentials, £80 reserved for later bills and a £20 buffer. That leaves £180 for the next 14 days: a £90 weekly guide or £12.85 a day, rounded down.
This is an example, not a spending recommendation. Use your own amounts and refresh the balance when money comes in or goes out.
Keep your plan current
The estimate depends on what you enter. Review changed bill amounts and refresh your balance after purchases and payments.