Money left to live on: definition and simple calculation
AmanaFi team · Updated · 1 min read
The money left to live on is what remains after paying fixed costs and setting savings aside. It is the most useful number in a budget, because it tells you how much you can spend without getting into trouble.
The formula
Left to live on = month's income − fixed costs − planned savings and sadaqah. Divided by the days remaining, it gives a concrete daily budget.
- Income: what has actually come in.
- Fixed costs: rent, loan, insurance, subscriptions, school fees.
- Savings: what moves aside on payday.
A worked example
With 8,000 DH income, 4,000 DH of fixed costs and 1,000 DH of savings, what is left to live on is 3,000 DH. Over 30 days that is 100 DH a day for food, transport and the rest. The figures are fictional: use your own.
Track it without stress
After each expense, subtract it from what is left. If the figure drops too fast, slow down variable spending before the end of the first fortnight. Splitting the budget into pots (groceries, coffee, fuel) makes the tracking easier to read.
Frequently asked
Does the money left to live on include savings?
No: savings are taken out before the calculation so they are treated like a fixed cost. What is left to live on is what can be spent without touching them.
Put it into practice with AmanaFi
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