What personal cash flow really measures
Personal cash flow is the difference between money coming in and money going out over a period. It is not an account balance or net worth: it shows the pace at which money moves and whether reserves are growing or being consumed.
Keep income, expenses and transfers separate
Income comes from outside, expenses leave your finances, and transfers only move money between your own accounts. Keeping transfers separate prevents an inflated and misleading monthly result.
Read the monthly cash flow chart
Compare income and expenses period by period, then inspect categories to explain changes. The level of detail adapts to the selected range.
- Period balance: positive or negative.
- Income compared with total expenses.
- Categories behind the difference.
- Recurring costs that form your fixed baseline.
Start with fixed expenses
Rent, utilities, insurance, subscriptions and instalments return even when nothing else changes. Recording them as recurring transactions reveals the minimum cost of each month and the room left for choices.
Use cash flow to make decisions
Ask whether the period is positive, what remains after fixed costs, and which expense you would repeat. A current number reviewed weekly is often more useful than a rigid budget for every category.
Start measuring your cash flow
Set up your accounts, log transactions in seconds and read the monthly chart with your own data. Free account, no card required.