Money found by AdviceCafé

Money found basics

Money found is calculated using your income, spendable and committed expenses, which is on the Home page of your AdviceCafé account.

Money found = income - spendable - committed expenses

Every dollar of your money found should have a job, which will help you avoid overspending and encourage you to succeed with your spendable.

Learn more about spendable cash flow

Putting your money found to work

How you allocate your money found depends on how much was found by AdviceCafé. Here are some general guidelines on how to use your money found:

Less than $300

Divide money found between a short-term goal and emergency savings.

Between $300-$600

Allocate a minimum of $150 towards both short-term goals and emergency savings, and then put the rest toward future savings.

Greater than $600

Allocate a minimum of $200 towards both short-term goals and emergency savings, and then divide the rest between future savings and debt repayment.

Note: The money found allocation guide may differ from the advice you received from your starred connection (advisor or financial professional), and that's okay. You should follow their advice or ask whether this guide is right for you.

Short-term goals 🌴

Short-term goals are personal goals that motivate you to stay within your spendable, such as a vacation ✈️, season tickets ⚽, or a home renovation 🛠️. When selecting a short-term goal, it should be:

achievable within 6-18 months;
not a financial goal, i.e. paying down debt or saving for retirement; and
something you really want!

Emergency savings ☂️

Emergency savings should be kept in a separate account. We recommend your emergency savings be 4x your monthly committed expenses and spendable.

Example:

Committed expenses - $1,000/mo
Recommended spendable - $400/mo
Emergency savings = $1,400 x 4 = $5,600

Future savings ⏳

If your money found is greater than $300, you can start saving for your future. Regardless of your age, your first long-term savings goal should be saving for retirement.

Debt repayment 💸

If your money found is greater than $600, you can direct funds toward short-term goals, emergency savings, future savings, and debt repayment. Paying down your debt will eventually lower your committed expenses, allowing you to increase your weekly spendable, or put more money towards your other goals.

Updated on: 25/02/2026

Was this article helpful?

Thank you!