Your snapshot
Set your income to get started.
Export a snapshot of your income, budget, spending, and savings goal as a text file you can save and refer back to.
Budget planner
Set how much you plan to spend per category.
Log spending
Record what you actually spend.
Understanding your payslip
Know what every line means before it lands in your account.
Your full salary before anything is taken off. This is the figure your employer agreed with you. It is not what lands in your bank.
Deducted automatically through Pay As You Earn. The amount depends on your tax code and how much you earn. If your code looks wrong, contact HMRC or your payroll team.
A contribution towards state benefits including the NHS, State Pension, and statutory pay. You pay this once you earn above the threshold (around £12,570 per year in 2025/26).
If you are auto-enrolled in a workplace pension, a percentage of your qualifying earnings goes in here. Your employer also contributes. This is your money, not lost money.
Only deducted if your income is above the repayment threshold for your loan plan. It is collected automatically and shows on your payslip.
What actually hits your bank account. This is your real monthly budget to work from. Always use this figure in your tracker, not your gross salary.
Financial confidence tips
Small habits that make a real difference.
The moment your pay comes in, move money into pots or separate accounts for bills, savings, and spending. What is left is yours to use freely.
A £3.50 coffee five days a week is £910 a year. It is not about cutting everything, it is about making intentional choices rather than unconscious ones.
Set a reminder every three months to check what is coming out. Subscriptions quietly add up. Cancel what you do not use.
Before saving for anything else, aim for one month of expenses set aside somewhere you will not touch it. That buffer changes how stress feels.
50% on needs (rent, food, bills). 30% on wants. 20% into savings. It is a guide, not a rule. Adjust based on your real situation and cost of living.
Financial wellbeing improves when people talk openly about money. If you are struggling, speak to your university's student support team. There is usually more help available than people realise.