Budget Like A ProDisposable income calculator
See what's left each month once your essentials are paid — and what that means for the things you're planning next.
Disposable income
£400
a month — about 20% of your income
This is what's left after your essentials. Savings, holidays and everything you enjoy come out of this figure — which is why it's worth planning before you spend it.
An estimate based on the figures you entered.
Disposable, discretionary and spendable
These three words get used interchangeably, and the difference matters when you're planning:
- Disposable income — pay after tax, minus essential living costs.
- Discretionary income — disposable income minus savings and committed goals.
- Spendable money — discretionary income minus known future costs such as an annual insurance renewal or a booked trip. This is the only figure that's safe to spend today.
The future spending planner takes you from the first figure to the last.
Questions people ask
What counts as disposable income?
The money left from your take-home pay once essential living costs are paid: housing, bills, food, travel and minimum debt repayments. Savings and fun money both come out of it.
Is disposable income the same as discretionary income?
Not quite. Disposable income is what's left after essentials. Discretionary income goes one step further and also removes your savings and any committed future costs — that's the figure worth planning a holiday around.
How much disposable income should I have?
There's no rule that fits everyone, but many households aim to keep essentials well under three quarters of take-home pay so there's room for saving and for the things they enjoy.