Can I afford this?

How to tell whether an expense fits your budget

Whether a new expense is sensible doesn't depend on the amount itself, but on what you have left each month. Start by adding up your net income and subtracting your fixed expenses and usual monthly spending. What remains is your free room. If the new expense fits inside it, with margin for setbacks, you can carry it.

As a rule of thumb, this tool treats 10% of your net income as a healthy margin. If you keep less than that after the purchase, it fits but it will be tight: one unexpected bill and you're in the red. If more remains, you're in good shape.

Frequently asked questions

How much money should I have left each month?

A common rule of thumb is to keep at least 10% of your net income as free room, on top of your emergency buffer. If you structurally keep less, there is little room for setbacks.

How do I convert a one-off purchase into a monthly amount?

Divide the price by the number of months you expect to use it. A €600 phone that lasts three years costs €16.67 per month.

Where do I find what I currently spend per month?

Fill in the free VasteLast calculator: you line up your income and fixed expenses and instantly see what you keep each month. This field is then prefilled automatically.