Personal Burn Rate Calculator
Calculate how long your savings will last based on monthly spending, income, and irregular costs.
Personal burn rate details
This calculator auto-updates when values change.
Calculate how long savings could last after income and spending are compared.
Savings runway
10.9 months
Your savings could last about 10.9 months at the current burn rate.
Monthly expenses
£2,850
Monthly income
£1,200
Net monthly burn
£1,650
Savings
£18,000
About This Personal Burn Rate Calculator
Personal burn rate measures how quickly savings are being used when expenses are higher than income. It is especially useful during career breaks, freelancing gaps, redundancy planning, business starts, or periods of reduced income.
The calculator estimates monthly net burn and savings runway. If income covers expenses, it shows the monthly surplus instead.
Use it to understand how urgent a decision is. A six-month runway needs a different plan from an eighteen-month runway.
How Long Will Your Money Last?
Runway is calculated by dividing savings by monthly burn. If savings are GBP 18,000 and net burn is GBP 1,500 per month, the runway is about 12 months.
Irregular expenses matter because annual costs often arrive suddenly. Insurance, car repairs, holidays, gifts, and tax bills can shorten runway if ignored.
Reducing Personal Burn Rate
Reducing burn can mean cutting expenses, adding part-time income, delaying large purchases, renegotiating bills, or using a stricter temporary budget. The right option depends on how long the gap may last.
Run the calculator with a lower spending scenario and a higher income scenario. The months gained can make the best next step clearer.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Enter savings
Add the cash or accessible savings available for living costs.
- 2
Add expenses and income
Enter monthly spending, monthly income, and irregular monthly costs.
- 3
Review net burn
See whether money is being spent down or a surplus remains.
- 4
Estimate runway
Use the months remaining to plan decisions and reduce risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a safe burn rate?v
A safe burn rate depends on savings, income reliability, and how quickly expenses can be reduced.
Should I include irregular expenses?v
Yes. Convert annual or occasional costs into a monthly average to avoid overstating runway.
Is this useful for freelancers?v
Yes. It can help freelancers plan income gaps and decide how much cash buffer to keep.
How can I extend runway?v
Lower spending, add income, pause large costs, or increase savings before income stops.