Know your starting point.
Before you can choose your next money move, you need to know where you stand. Four numbers you probably already know can show you most of the picture.
Why it matters
When money feels tight, it's easy to guess what the problem is. Is it spending? Debt? Not enough saved? Guessing often leads to fixing the wrong thing.
Looking at a few numbers side by side takes the guesswork out. It shows what's helping, what's holding you back, and which area to work on first.
The four numbers
1. Take-home pay
What actually reaches your bank account each month, after taxes and deductions. Not your salary.
2. Monthly spending
Rent, bills, groceries, gas and everything else in a typical month, not counting debt payments.
3. Debt payments
What you pay each month toward credit cards, car loans, student loans and other debts.
4. Savings
Money you could reach in an emergency, like a savings or checking cushion.
Close estimates are fine. You can update them anytime.
What your Financial Health Score means
NextMoveAI turns those four numbers into a score from 0 to 100. It's the average of four areas: Savings Protection (how many months your savings could cover), Debt Health (how much of your pay goes to debt), Cash Flow (what's left each month) and Growth Activity (room to build savings and reach goals).
| Score | Level |
|---|---|
| 85–100 | Excellent |
| 70–84 | Good |
| 55–69 | Fair |
| 40–54 | Needs Work |
| 0–39 | At Risk |
It's a snapshot of today, not a grade on you. And it is not a credit score: checking it has no effect on your credit.
Example
Someone takes home $4,500 a month, spends $2,700, pays $450 toward debt and has $6,000 saved.
- Savings Protection: 63. Savings cover about 1.9 months.
- Debt Health: 78. 10% of take-home pay goes to debt.
- Cash Flow: 66. $1,350 is left each month.
- Growth Activity: 43. The lowest area.
Score: 63 (Fair). The debt isn't the main problem here. The weakest spot is Growth Activity, so their next step is putting part of that $1,350 toward savings on purpose each month.
Quick check
Your job pays $52,000 a year. What should you enter as your monthly take-home pay?
Your next move
Enter your four numbers and see your own score and the one area to work on first. It takes about 60 seconds, with no bank login.
Finished this lesson?
Educational information, not financial advice. Examples are made up to show how the numbers work.