Between jobs, on unemployment benefits, or planning a career break? See exactly how many months your savings will last at your current spending rate — and what happens if benefit income is added in.
Calculate your runway
Why “runway” matters more than your total savings number
A savings total on its own doesn’t tell you much — $8,000 lasts very differently depending on whether your monthly expenses are $1,500 or $3,500. “Runway” (a term borrowed from startup finance) answers the actual useful question: how much time do I have before I need income to come in. This calculator subtracts any other income you’re receiving (unemployment benefits, part-time work, a partner’s contribution) from your expenses first, then divides your savings by what’s left.
Building in a safety margin
Once you know your runway, it’s worth planning to have a new income source in place well before that number hits zero — job searches often take longer than expected, and having a buffer reduces the pressure to accept the first offer that comes along out of financial urgency.
Worked example
$8,000 in savings, $2,200 in essential monthly expenses, and $800 a month coming in from unemployment benefits: net monthly burn is $2,200 − $800 = $1,400. Runway is $8,000 ÷ $1,400 = 5.7 months before savings run out — assuming the benefit amount stays the same the whole time.
Runway at different savings levels
For a net monthly burn of $1,400 (expenses minus any other income), here’s how far different savings balances stretch:
| Savings | Runway at $1,400/mo burn |
|---|---|
| $4,000 | 2.9 months |
| $8,000 | 5.7 months |
| $15,000 | 10.7 months |
| $25,000 | 17.9 months |
Frequently asked questions
Should I include non-essential spending in “monthly expenses”?
For the most realistic runway during a period without steady income, use your essential expenses only (housing, food, utilities, insurance, minimum debt payments) — this shows your true minimum runway, which you can extend further by cutting non-essentials.
How do I factor in unemployment benefits that might end partway through?
Run the calculation twice — once with benefits included as “other income,” and once without, to see your runway both during and after the benefit period ends.