Your next payday
doesn’t arrive. Now what?
Put different savings pots on the starting line. See how much time each one buys—and what would help yours last longer.
Start with your household
Imagine one income stops today. Rough figures are a perfectly good start.
Your household total after pausing spending you could do without.
For example, your partner’s take-home pay or reliable benefits. Leave temporary sick pay for the detailed route.
Enter each amount and how often you pay it. Annual costs are spread across 12 months.
Money you could use now, excluding investments and money already committed to bills.
When might income return?
From then, assume income covers spending. The race shows which pots bridge the gap; it doesn’t model rebuilding savings.
How far could you go?
Compare a range of savings pots with yours.
Lines show money remaining. Runners below show time covered. All pots face the same household shortfall.
A possibility to explore, not an assumption that everyone can cut their essentials.
See the figures and assumptions
| Savings pot | Time covered | At end of chart |
|---|
Illustrative household cash-flow estimate, not a benefits or sick-pay assessment. Check actual entitlements separately. Spending and income are spread evenly through each month; real payment dates and annual bills can bring pressure earlier. No interest, investment returns, inflation or unexpected bills are included. A month is treated as 30 days for approximate durations. If temporary income exceeds spending, the surplus isn’t added to savings.
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You’ve seen the gap. Now build the buffer.
You don’t have to find the whole amount today. Choose a first milestone and a contribution you could repeat while your usual income is coming in.
Choose a date that works with your payday. Projections count contributions from this date.
Only include money not already in your savings figure. Your plan starts with the accessible savings you entered above.
Not sure what you can afford?
Start with what is left after ordinary bills, debt commitments, everyday spending and money for upcoming costs. The emergency budget above may be leaner than your normal budget.
If there’s little or nothing left, £0 is a valid answer. Choose a smaller milestone, revisit the plan when circumstances change, or use an occasional amount when one becomes available. Don’t commit money needed for essentials.
How this target is worked out
These are options to explore, not a prescribed savings target. The spending-cut slider and temporary sick pay aren’t used to shrink your building target. No interest or withdrawals are assumed. Contributions start on your selected first contribution date. The final contribution may be smaller. Future-buffer comparisons assume contributions continue beyond the target.
What could your plan change?
If an income interruption started after saving for this long, how much breathing room would you have? Uses the race’s spending and income assumptions. Projections assume you keep saving, even after reaching your target.
Make it easier to follow through
- Give the money its own home. Keep it separate from day-to-day spending and available when you need it.
- Pick a repeatable moment. If it fits your budget, arrange a regular transfer shortly after payday. You set this up yourself; this tool doesn’t move money.
- Count progress, not perfection. Review the amount after a few paydays. If you use the fund for an emergency, it has done its job—then rebuild at a manageable pace.
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