What is a financial runway?

Financial runway is the number of months you can cover your expenses using your savings, without any additional income. It's calculated by dividing your total savings by your monthly expenses (minus any income).

How much financial runway should I have?

Financial experts typically recommend 3-6 months of expenses for emergencies. For career transitions, 6-12 months is safer. If you're in a volatile industry or planning a major career change, consider 12+ months.

How can I extend my financial runway?

You can extend your runway by reducing expenses (cutting subscriptions, downsizing), increasing income (freelancing, part-time work), or building more savings before making a transition.

Should I include investments in my runway calculation?

Only include liquid investments you can access without penalty. Retirement accounts (401k, IRA) shouldn't be counted unless you're prepared to pay early withdrawal penalties and taxes.

Free Tool

Financial Runway Calculator

Calculate how many months your savings will last based on your expenses. Plan smarter for career transitions, job changes, or emergencies.

Enter Your Numbers

Total Savings

Include checking, savings, and liquid investments

Monthly Expenses

Rent, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, etc.

Expected Monthly Income (Optional)

Passive income, freelance, unemployment benefits

Your Results

Enter your savings and expenses to see your financial runway

How It Works

Enter Savings

Input your total liquid savings

Add Expenses

Enter your monthly costs

Include Income

Add any expected income (optional)

Get Results

See your runway and recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

Want More Detailed Financial Planning?

CareerPhases offers comprehensive financial runway tracking with real-time bank integration, expense categorization, and AI-powered recommendations.

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