The short version
A job search is a cash-flow problem as much as a career problem. This free calculator turns your savings and monthly burn into a runway number, so the next application week runs on a plan instead of panic.
Best if you want to
- See runway in weeks, not vague months.
- Separate must-pay bills from flexible living costs.
- Factor in EI, gig, or part-time income while searching.
- Spot whether the next 4 weeks are safe before they arrive.
Why Shelter fits
The product is built around read-only bank connections, forward-looking alerts, and clear next steps instead of category policing.
Runway math before bill panic
Total cash against monthly burn gives a single number: roughly how long the search can run. That is the figure every other decision hangs on.
Bills and living costs kept separate
Rent, utilities, and debt minimums behave differently from groceries and transit. Splitting them shows which side to squeeze first.
Search income counts
EI payments, gig shifts, or part-time work extend runway directly. Enter what you actually receive and the burn adjusts.
Tied to bill timing, not just totals
A monthly total hides the week everything collides. Shelter connects the same runway thinking to your real bill dates and paydays automatically.
Common questions
How long should my runway be during a job search?
There is no universal number. It depends on burn. Three to six months of essential costs is a common planning target, but the honest answer is your cash divided by your monthly burn. That is what this calculator estimates.
Does EI count as income here?
Yes. Enter Employment Insurance, severance spread across months, gig work, or part-time pay as monthly income while searching. It reduces monthly burn directly.
What bills should I cut first after a job loss?
Protect housing, utilities, food, transport, and debt minimums first. Pause or cancel non-essential subscriptions next, then look at whether any flexible bill dates can move away from the tightest week.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is a rough planning estimate from the numbers you enter. Shelter provides educational information and software, not personalized financial advice.
How does Shelter help beyond the calculator?
Shelter connects read-only bank data to forecast bills before payday, flag the payment that creates the first gap, and track what each paused subscription protects. The calculator is the manual version of that thinking.
Keep exploring
These related pages and articles cover the buying questions people usually ask next.
See your own numbers
Connect one account read-only. Shelter cannot move money.
Reviewed by Shelter's product and editorial team
We separate product facts from comparisons, check material claims, and correct errors. Shelter provides educational information and software, not personalized financial advice.