Cash-Flow Cushion Review
How to review upcoming bills, income, and available cash without relying on advanced scenario modelling.
What Is a Cash-Flow Cushion Review?
A cushion review checks whether your near-term cash can cover upcoming bills, subscriptions, expected income timing, debt payments, and a safety buffer.
This is practical day-to-day planning. It is not financial advice, investment advice, or a probability model of every possible future.
You will use three surfaces together:
- Recurring — see upcoming bills, subscriptions, and expected income
- Debt Planner — test debt payoff order and lump-sum payments
- Reports — compare what changed in spending, merchants, categories, and cash flow
What to Check
Bills Before Payday
Review the bills and subscriptions due before your next paycheque. If several bills land close together, the calendar helps you spot the cluster before it becomes a problem.
Safety Buffer
Set aside a cushion for unexpected spending. Safe-to-Spend treats that cushion as reserved money instead of money available for daily spending.
Debt Payoff
Use the debt planner to compare payoff order and extra payments. Lump-sum payments are useful when you receive a bonus, refund, or other one-time cash inflow.
When to Review Your Cushion
Run a quick review when:
- Your pay schedule changes
- A large bill or annual subscription is coming up
- You add a new debt payment
- Your spending has been higher than usual
- You are deciding whether extra cash should go to debt, savings, or near-term bills
Compared to Recurring Forecasts
The recurring bill calendar gives you a projected path based on confirmed bills, subscriptions, and expected income. The cushion review uses that same information with your safety buffer and debt plan so you can decide what needs attention next.