Family budget calculator
Put in your household take-home income and your monthly outgoings by category. The tool totals the spending and shows whether you finish the month with a surplus to save or a shortfall to address.
How the budget works
The tool adds up your six spending categories and takes the total off your household take-home income. A positive result is a surplus, money you could save or use to clear debt. A negative result is a shortfall, which means the month costs more than comes in and something has to change. The percentage shows how much of your income is left once everything is paid.
Categories are kept broad on purpose so the picture stays honest and quick to fill in. Housing and childcare are usually the two largest, and small savings on either move the result far more than trimming the smaller lines. If a category is not relevant to you, leave it at zero.
Worked example
Take a household bringing home £3,600 a month. Housing is £1,200, food £550, childcare £600, transport £300, bills £400 and other spending £250. That is £3,300 going out, so £300 is left, about 8.3% of income. That surplus is the buffer for savings and surprises, and childcare is clearly the line worth checking for help first.
Common questions
What should a family budget include?
Start with take-home income for the whole household, then the big fixed costs: housing, food, childcare, transport and bills. A catch-all "other" category covers clothing, subscriptions, days out and anything irregular. The aim is that every pound of income is accounted for.
Should I use gross or take-home pay?
Take-home. Budget from the money that actually reaches your account after tax, National Insurance and any pension or student loan deductions, because that is what you have to spend. If you only know your gross salary, work out the net figure first.
What is a healthy amount to have left over?
There is no single number, but many guides suggest trying to keep around 10% of take-home income for savings and unexpected costs. A small surplus is a buffer. If the tool shows a shortfall, the categories need trimming or income needs to rise.
How do I handle costs that are not monthly?
Spread them across the year. Take an annual cost like car insurance or Christmas, divide by twelve, and add that to the relevant category. Budgeting monthly for yearly bills stops them landing as a shock.
Why does childcare take such a big share?
Full-time nursery is one of the largest costs for families with young children and can rival housing. Check whether you qualify for Tax-Free Childcare or the free hours, which can cut the bill substantially before it reaches the budget.