How This Tool Works
📋 Purpose
This tool shows three things: where your budget stands today, how costs have changed since an earlier year, and how rising costs could affect you later. It uses official UK data where available, benchmark regional estimates for local context, and simple calculations based on your own inputs.
⚙️ How It Works
- 1You enter your income, housing cost and other monthly spend.
- 2The tool adds your costs together and checks whether your budget is comfortable, tight or in shortfall.
- 3Official ONS inflation data is used for the past-cost comparison when available. Regional cost mix and housing context come from the benchmark JSON file.
- 4The forecast projects your current costs forward using either official inflation data, cached official data, or your manual inflation input.
- 5Extra cards show regional benchmark comparisons and housing scenarios so you can see where pressure may build next.
📊 Your Financial Details
Enter your total household take-home pay (after tax)
Groceries, utilities, transport, entertainment, etc.
Plan Your Financial Future
Enter your income, housing costs, and household spending above to see how your budget compares to the past and what income you'll need in the future to maintain your lifestyle.
Official UK data where available, benchmark regional estimates for local context.
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Complete Guide
Quick Tips
Jump-start your understanding with these essential tips
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these steps to get the most from this tool
Choose rent or mortgage, then enter your income, housing cost and other monthly spend. The result is only as good as the numbers you put in.
If you want more detail, you can bring in figures from related tools such as Cost of Raising a Child, Council Tax Band Checker and Commute Cost Calculator.
Advanced Topics
Deep dives for advanced users
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Frequently Asked Questions
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