How Leftover Planner builds your plan

Leftover Planner takes your monthly take-home pay and subtracts your bills and minimum debt payments. Whatever remains is your leftover, and the planner puts every dollar of it to work in a set order that most money experts agree on.

The order your money goes in

First, a starter emergency fund of $1,000 so a surprise bill doesn't land on a credit card. Next, extra payments on high-interest debt, which is anything at 8% interest or more. Then a full emergency fund of 3 or 6 months of essential costs. After that, your savings goal. Last, any low-interest debt (if you choose to pay it early) and investing for the long run.

Avalanche or snowball?

The avalanche method pays the highest-interest debt first and saves the most money. The snowball method pays the smallest balance first, so you knock out whole debts sooner and stay motivated. Leftover Planner lets you switch between them and shows the difference in dollars.

The 50/30/20 check

A popular rule of thumb is to spend about 50% of take-home pay on needs, 30% on wants and put 20% toward savings and extra debt payments. Leftover Planner shows where you stand on each one. It's a guide, not a rule, and high rent areas often make 50% hard to hit.

Questions

Is Leftover Planner really free?

Yes, completely. There's no sign-up, subscription or paywall. The site is supported by ads and optional partner offers, so you never pay anything.

Is my information saved or shared?

No. Every number you enter stays in your own browser and is never sent to us or anyone else. "Start fresh" wipes it. See our privacy policy for details on ads and cookies.

How accurate is the debt-free date?

It's calculated month by month using each debt's interest rate (APR ÷ 12 each month), so it's a close estimate if you stick to the plan. Many lenders charge interest daily, so real totals can differ by a few dollars. New charges, rate changes and changes to your income will also move it.

What if I'm paid weekly, twice a week or by the hour?

Pick your schedule in step 1 and Leftover Planner converts it to a monthly average using 52 weeks a year. For example, $500 every week is $500 × 52 ÷ 12 = $2,167 a month. You can add more than one income, and bills can be weekly, monthly or yearly too.

Why does it assume 7% for investing?

Broad stock market funds have averaged roughly 7% a year after inflation over long periods, though some years are far worse and some far better. You can change it in step 4.

Is this financial advice?

No. Leftover Planner is an educational tool that does the math for you. For big decisions, talk to a licensed financial professional.