Budget Like A ProFuture budget planner
A budget that only looks backwards will always be surprised by February's insurance renewal. Plan forwards instead: put every known cost on the calendar, spread it across the months before it lands, and see what's actually left.
Everything that reliably lands in your account each month.
Rent or mortgage, bills, insurance, travel, subscriptions, debt payments.
What you want to keep putting away, including your emergency fund.
Yearly bills, Christmas, a car service — spread across the months.
Available to spend
£320
a month on whatever you like
That's £960 over three months, £1,920 over six and £3,840 over a year — before you add anything you're already planning.
Add something you're planning
A holiday, a new sofa, a weekend away. Enter what it costs and when it lands to see the effect on the year ahead.
The whole thing — flights, hotel, spending money.
When you'll actually pay for it.
The next twelve months
| Oct | £20 |
|---|---|
| Nov | £20 |
| Dec | £20 |
| Jan | £20 |
| Feb | £320 |
| Mar | £320 |
| Apr | £320 |
| May | £320 |
| Jun | £320 |
| Jul | £320 |
| Aug | £320 |
| Sept | £320 |
- Over 3 months
- £60
- left after everything planned
- Over 6 months
- £720
- left after everything planned
- Over 12 months
- £2,640
- left after everything planned
Setting aside £300 a month for 4 months covers it, leaving £20 a month for everything else.
An estimate based on the figures you entered. It assumes your income and costs stay roughly the same, and doesn't include interest, pay rises or anything you haven't listed. It's a planning tool, not financial advice.
The costs worth mapping a year ahead
| Cost | Typical timing | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance and MOT | Annual | £40–£80 |
| Home and travel insurance | Annual | £15–£40 |
| Christmas and birthdays | Concentrated in one quarter | £30–£100 |
| Summer holiday | Once or twice a year | £100–£250 |
| Boiler service and repairs | Unpredictable | £15–£30 |
Illustrative ranges to help you build your own list — your figures will differ.
Where to go next
- How to plan your finances 12 months ahead
- Budget planner for UK households
- How Budget Like A Pro works
Questions people ask
What is a future budget planner?
A plan for the months ahead rather than a record of the month behind. You map income and committed costs forward across the year, so irregular bills and planned trips are already accounted for before they arrive.
How is it different from a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet is a snapshot you have to maintain. A planner keeps the forward view current as money moves, so the amount you can safely spend updates on its own.