Survival Number Calculator

Written By Tony Manning

The fundamental step of securing your assets is finding your Survival Number. While traditional budgeting is important, knowing your bare-minimum requirement sets the stage for true financial stability. Your Survival Number removes the "fear of the unknown" by defining your absolute floor.

Here’s the first step: calculate your Current Spending. Find your bank statements from the last three months and start adding up your transactions in these six categories: Shelter, Utilities, Heath & Hygiene, Food, Transportation, and Debt. We’ll use this to calculate your Current Spending

  • Shelter: rent, mortgage, and HO insurance if applicable.

  • Utilities: lights, water, gas, cellphone, daycare, Wi-Fi, subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, gym memberships, and other misc. recurring payments), etc.

  • Health & Hygiene: medicine, pharmacy, and basic hygiene products

  • Food: grocery store, take-out, and Amazon transactions. Food, Health, and Hygiene are often linked together since they are usually purchased together

  • Transportation: this is your automo-bills [Alexa?! Play Bills, Bills, Bills], car insurance, gas, and transit fees like (Uber, Greyhound, or Lyft).

  • Debt: any remaining bills like credit cards, loans, etc.

From here you’ll add the categories separately and then all together; and that’s it. That’s your Current Spending. If your current spending is more than your monthly income, we call that The Gap.

The next step is simple, cut back. Anything unnecessary must go. That’s the essence of the Survival Number, separating the needs from the wants. Note any balances from missed payments from any debt going forward.

Here are some examples of cuts you could make.

  • Shelter: If your mortgage company didn't escrow your insurance or you're behind on rent, identify that gap now and add it to your debt balances.

  • Utilities: Cut any memberships you don’t use and switch the cellphone that’s almost paid off to a prepaid plan

  • Health & Hygiene: Unnecessary vitamins and skin care can take a back seat until we catch up.

  • Food: Take-out should be limited if not cut out completely. Meal prepping saves headache throughout the week, is cheaper, tastes better, AND is healthier; no brainer. Also try to choose cheaper alternatives at the store.

  • Transportation: Be honest here, is your image worth more than the money in your account? If a car payment is suffocating you, trading for a more modest vehicle can also lower your insurance costs.

  • Debt: If you’re making principal payments, use the minimum payment amount to calculate the Survival Number. Take the money you save from budget cuts and gradually apply it to outstanding balances.

    Aim to live off 80% of your income, use the other 20% to save, and eventually, catch up.

This won’t be for the rest of your life, just until you catch up. It may be three months, six, or even a year. In any case, commit to your well-being. You may find that some of these cheaper alternatives aren’t half bad.

Once you’ve made your cuts, add it all up. Voila! You have your Survival Number. Complete the form below to be redirected to a Google Spreadsheet version of the calculator.



Purchasing the Secure Package (coming soon) will allow you to create an account with us where you’ll upload your documents to our encrypted portal, meet with me to discuss goals and options, then receive a summary report. This report will include a bill log and audit, a budget setup, and suggested next steps to make the most of your investment here at The Transmute Group.

Tony Manning