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Excel examples use English function names, comma separators and percentages entered with the % sign. Regional settings may require semicolons. Every input is hypothetical. Display two decimal places, but do not round intermediate calculations.
1. Normalise frequencies
Monthly = weekly × 52 ÷ 12, fortnightly × 26 ÷ 12, quarterly ÷ 3, annual ÷ 12. These are annual averages; payment dates still matter.
2. Lay out the inputs
In Excel, enter B2=6000 (monthly net income), B3=2000 (housing), B4=1800 (living), B5=300 (debt), B6=3600 (annual bills), B7=600 (savings allocation).
B8: =B6/12
B9: =SUM(B3:B5)+B8
B10: =B2-B9
B11: =B10-B73. Check the result
B8 is $300, B9 is $4,400, B10 is $1,600 and B11 is $1,000. Add spending, savings and unallocated cash: $4,400 + $600 + $1,000 = $6,000. Negative unallocated cash means a deficit. Keep full precision in formulas and format displayed currency to two decimals.
4. Try a sensitivity check
Increase annual bills by $1,200. The monthly reserve rises by $100 and the remaining cash falls by $100. This checks that annual expenses are counted once and converted correctly.
Match the assumptions
Monthly net income; annual bills divided by 12. Savings are an allocation, not consumption. Enter each cost once: mortgage in housing, other loans in debt. Income tax is already deducted. No bank connections or recommended spending percentages.
References and verification
Official references checked for this release on 1 November 2026. Rules and product terms can change.