FT FinToolSuite

Income Shock Survival Simulator

See how long your savings might last in an income-loss scenario.

Adjust severance, benefits, and spending cuts to understand every runway scenario. The tool stays private, fast, and focused on giving you options—not stress.

Plan inputs

Scenario comparison

Every card updates instantly so you can test ideas without waiting.

Baseline savings only

Core savings without outside support or cuts.

5 mo 14 d

Until savings reach 0 (model estimate)

Runway with severance

Initial balance includes your expected payout.

7 mo 1 d

Until savings reach 0 (model estimate)

Runway with unemployment benefits

Monthly support kicks in after the waiting period.

9 mo 28 d

Until savings reach 0 (model estimate)

Runway with expense cuts

Applies one-time boosts and ongoing reductions.

6 mo 13 d

Until savings reach 0 (model estimate)

Runway with side income

Offsets burn with extra monthly inflows.

6 mo 22 d

Until savings reach 0 (model estimate)

AI insight

Scenario summary (math-only)

Awaiting data

This summary restates your inputs and results. It does not recommend actions.

Use the button above after running the simulator to generate a neutral summary of this scenario using your savings, severance, benefits, and cuts.

Scenario deltas

Quick deltas show what each action changes versus your baseline.

  • Runway with severance: Adds ~2 mo (47 days) of runway.
  • Runway with unemployment benefits: Adds ~4 mo (134 days) of runway.
  • Runway with expense cuts: Adds ~1 mo (29 days) of runway.
  • Runway with side income: Adds ~1 mo (38 days) of runway.

Results explainer

You’ll see how many months your savings might last after an income shock, how severance and benefits timing affect the runway, and how expense cuts or side income change the timeline. A quick summary calls out the levers that lengthen or shorten your buffer.

Disclaimer

Estimates are illustrative and for educational purposes only. This tool does not provide financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Results depend on your inputs and assumptions and may not reflect real-world outcomes.

How it works

The simulator subtracts monthly expenses from available cash each month, adds severance or one-time boosts when they arrive, applies any benefits delay, and layers in side income or expense cuts to project how long funds may last.

Inputs used

  • Starting cash and monthly expenses
  • Severance amount and timing
  • Benefits start delay
  • Monthly side income
  • Expense cuts and one-time boosts

Core formulas

  • Monthly burn = expenses − side income
  • Runway ≈ starting cash ÷ monthly burn (adjusted for severance/benefits timing)
  • Adjusted timeline adds or removes months for cuts, boosts, and delays

Calculation steps

  1. Sum monthly expenses and subtract any side income to find monthly burn.
  2. Add severance or one-time boosts at the month you set.
  3. Apply benefits after the delay you select.
  4. Apply recurring expense cuts from the chosen month onward.
  5. Count how many months the cash remains above zero.
  6. Save and compare scenarios with different cuts, boosts, or benefit delays.

Example scenario

Assume $12,000 in starting cash, $3,200 in monthly expenses, $700 in side income, two months of severance arriving immediately, and a benefits delay of one month. Monthly burn after side income is about $2,500. Severance adds roughly $6,400 across two months, extending the runway to about seven months. Turning on a $400 monthly expense cut from month two could stretch the runway closer to eight months. Saving another scenario without severance shows how much faster the cash may run out.

Interpretation notes

  • Higher expenses or delays in benefits shorten the runway quickly.
  • Side income and expense cuts often add more months than expected.
  • Large one-time boosts help most when the monthly burn stays lower afterward.
  • Results are illustrative and depend on steady inputs; rerun if anything changes.

Limitations & assumptions

The simulator uses steady monthly inputs and does not model taxes, investment returns, debt amortization, or unexpected expenses. Benefits timing and severance are applied as entered without tax treatment. Outputs are directional and for education—confirm details with your own budget and any applicable programs.

FAQs

Quick answers

What does this simulator estimate?

It estimates how long your cash could last after an income shock by combining severance, benefits delays, expense cuts, and side income into a month-by-month runway.

What is included or excluded?

Included: the income loss you enter, severance, benefits timing, one-time boosts, recurring cuts, and side income. Excluded: taxes, market returns, debt amortization, and emergencies unless you add them yourself.

What assumptions are used?

It assumes the inputs stay steady over the modeled months and that cash is drawn down linearly. Results are illustrative, not predictions.

Can I save or export scenarios?

Yes. You can save multiple scenarios locally, compare them, and export summaries.

Is my data private?

Calculations run in your browser. Inputs stay on your device unless you export a file.

Is this financial advice?

No. It’s an educational model. Use it as a guide and consult a professional for decisions.

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