Budgeting & debt
Why can paying a card earlier change interest even within one billing cycle?
Estimate the dollars an earlier card payment can save, then check whether sending that cash now would leave another essential payment unfunded.
Free financial tools
Monthly cash-flow planner
Project your available cash under a constant monthly budget. Identify whether a surplus builds reserves or a deficit creates a funding gap.
02 / The result
Your scenario, calculated
Showing the editable example above. Modeled values, not a forecast.
- Monthly net cash flow
- 700.00USD
- Projected closing cash
- 14,400.00USD
- Total income in the period
- 48,000.00USD
- Total expenses in the period
- 39,600.00USD
Use the answer for a real decision
Monthly income minus entered costs leaves USD 700.00. This monthly total does not establish whether rent clears before payday. Set aside irregular annual bills and test actual payment dates in the dated calendar before committing a surplus to another goal.
Check your actual payday and bill datesBefore interpreting the result
What this model includes
All monthly income and costs are received or paid by month end and remain constant. Intra-month bill timing, interest, borrowing, taxes not entered as expenses and unexpected costs are excluded. A negative balance represents an unfunded shortfall, not an available overdraft.
Formula & method
Monthly net cash flow = income − essential expenses − other expenses. End-of-month cash = opening cash + month number × monthly net cash flow.
Background reading: CFPB: budgeting and cash-flow resources. These references explain the concepts; they do not endorse this calculator.
03 / Visual evidence
The scenario over time
Vertical scale: USD. Horizontal scale: Month. Lines join the calculated points; no probability is implied.
- Available cash / shortfall
Shared value scale; zero is included. These are modeled scenarios using your assumptions, not observed market data. The table provides every plotted value.
Scenario data
USD amounts are displayed to two decimal places. Calculations use unrounded internal values. Scroll across a wide table on smaller screens.
| Month | Available cash / shortfall (USD) | Cumulative income (USD) | Cumulative expenses (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 6,000.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 1 | 6,700.00 | 4,000.00 | 3,300.00 |
| 2 | 7,400.00 | 8,000.00 | 6,600.00 |
| 3 | 8,100.00 | 12,000.00 | 9,900.00 |
| 4 | 8,800.00 | 16,000.00 | 13,200.00 |
| 5 | 9,500.00 | 20,000.00 | 16,500.00 |
| 6 | 10,200.00 | 24,000.00 | 19,800.00 |
| 7 | 10,900.00 | 28,000.00 | 23,100.00 |
| 8 | 11,600.00 | 32,000.00 | 26,400.00 |
| 9 | 12,300.00 | 36,000.00 | 29,700.00 |
| 10 | 13,000.00 | 40,000.00 | 33,000.00 |
| 11 | 13,700.00 | 44,000.00 | 36,300.00 |
| 12 | 14,400.00 | 48,000.00 | 39,600.00 |
Try another perspective
Change one assumption at a time, then compare the result. A scenario is a way to examine a decision, not a promise of an outcome.
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Further reading
Budgeting & debt
Compare Mattress Trial Offers by the Cost of an Unsuccessful Purchase
Distinguish a purchase refund from complete cost recovery and budget for replacement timing.
Budgeting & debt
Why can a consolidation loan leave some old debt unpaid?
Compare a consolidation loan's face amount with its net proceeds when fees are withheld, and calculate the amount needed to discharge existing balances.