Moving budget
Moving budget calculator: upfront cash and monthly costs
Separate the cash needed to move in from the household’s continuing monthly budget. Enter your own amounts; a deposit still held at the old home is not available savings.
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How the two budgets work
Upfront cash has three parts: the new deposit; the first rent payment plus any additional prepaid rent; and fees, transport, setup, temporary overlap and other transition payments. Count only unpaid amounts. A potentially refundable deposit still needs funding now; payments for equipment are cash outlays, not a valuation of the equipment.
Liquid savings minus protected savings is the maximum you can assign. The cash gap is unpaid upfront payments minus the amount you actually assign, never below zero; the opposite difference is assigned surplus. The old deposit still held is informational and never funds this move automatically. A future refund may be delayed, reduced or absent.
The monthly view uses a typical continuing month: net income minus rent, separately paid services, essentials, debt payments, other commitments and planned saving. It is separate from upfront cash, not added to it. Avoid counting included services or the same prepaid period twice. This is entered-budget arithmetic, not a legal rental formula or a guarantee of affordability.
Questions about moving costs
Can I use the old deposit to fund the move?
Only money already received and available belongs in liquid savings. A deposit still held is shown separately and does not reduce the funding gap. Its return, timing and amount are not guaranteed; use the cash-flow planner to examine a possible future refund.
Why is rent shown upfront and monthly?
The upfront view contains the first payment still due and any extra prepaid rent, each once. The monthly view describes a typical continuing month, not a second charge for the same prepaid period. Do not add the two views as one month’s spending.
Does a positive monthly remainder prove I can afford the home?
No. It is income minus the monthly costs and saving commitments you entered. Missing costs, changed income, later bills and payment timing can alter the outcome. It is not landlord approval, legal advice or a guaranteed budget.