What this calculator does
This is the flagship LifeCost audit. It takes one month of your real numbers, adds them up, and returns a single scorecard: cash flow, real net worth, and a letter grade. The grade is not a budgeting score; it is a survival-of-math score.
The math
Net monthly cash flow = take-home income − rent − subscriptions − food delivery − other expenses − credit card interest. Real net worth = savings + car value − credit card debt − car loan balance. Grade starts at A and drops if cash flow or net worth turn negative, with extra penalties for deep deficits.
Worked example
With $3,500 take-home, $3,000 in credit cards at 24.99%, an $18,000 car loan on a $15,000 car, $1,200 rent, $85 subscriptions, $180 delivery, $800 other expenses, and $500 savings, the cash flow is negative, net worth is deeply negative, and the grade is D or F.
Why this matters
The audit is the flagship. It takes one month of your real numbers and gives you a single scorecard with cash flow, real net worth, and a letter grade — plus the exact calculators to fix the grade.
Methodology and transparency
This page publishes the exact formula used to compute the result, so you can verify it in a spreadsheet or check the assumptions against your own situation. The worked example uses the tool default inputs; change any number and the result updates live in your browser. No data is sent or stored.
Common questions
How is the grade calculated?
A means positive cash flow and positive net worth. The grade drops to B, C, D, or F as cash flow turns negative, net worth turns negative, or the deficit becomes severe relative to income.
Why include the car value?
Because real net worth counts what you own minus what you owe. A car loan without the car value would overstate the debt.
What should I do with my grade?
Click the driver links the audit gives you. Fix the biggest driver first, then rerun the audit.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is arithmetic. It shows where the numbers are going so you can make a better decision.