Januworry Cash Flow Planner

Plans your money week by week between an early December payday and the January payday, including festive and back-to-school costs, so January is not a crisis.

What you will need

Date of your December pay (date)
Date of your January pay (date)
December take-home pay (plus any bonus) (R)
Debit orders and fixed costs due before January payday (R)
Festive costs: travel home, gifts, food, family contributions (R)
Back-to-school: fees, uniforms, stationery, transport (R)
Normal weekly living costs (food, transport, electricity) (R)

How it works

days = jan_payday - dec_payday; weeks = ceil(days/7). living_total = weekly_living * weeks. committed = fixed_costs + school_costs + living_total. available_for_festive = pay_amount - committed. shortfall = max(0, festive_costs - available_for_festive). Build a weekly table: for each week, opening balance, debit orders falling due that week (by date), living costs, planned spend, closing balance. Flag any week where closing < 0. Suggestions if shortfall > 0: reduce festive spend by shortfall; ring-fence school_costs and January rent in a separate pocket on payday; agree family contributions in advance; avoid buying school items on credit. Always show: the gap between December and January pay is often 5 to 6 weeks, not 4.

What you get

Days until January pay
Safe to spend on the festive season
Shortfall if you spend as planned
Week-by-week plan

What it means

Your plan runs short before January payday; cutting festive spending now is easier than borrowing in January.
At least one week runs negative; move a debit order date or set money aside on payday.
Your plan covers you to January payday.

Next step: Want help interpreting this? Book a money coach before December.

Runs on the device. Nothing is saved unless the member chooses.