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Can I afford to leave?

Money is often the thing that keeps people stuck. Add up what would come in and go out each month on your own, and see where you’d stand. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

By Paige ThomsonFacts checked 25 October 2026For anywhere in the UK

Use your own figures for a month on your own, after you separate. If you don’t know a number yet, put your best guess and come back to it. Your bank statements are the quickest way to find what you really spend.

What to count as income

Use take-home pay, after tax, National Insurance and pension contributions. If your pay changes from month to month, use an average of the last three months.

Many people become entitled to benefits for the first time when they separate, especially with children or on a lower income. You can check what you might get, free and anonymously, with one of the independent benefits calculators listed on GOV.UK. Put the monthly figure it gives you in “Benefits”.

If you’ll be the main carer for the children, child maintenance from the other parent counts too. GOV.UK has a child maintenance calculator that estimates it, and our guide to divorce and benefits explains what changes when you separate.

If the money doesn’t stretch

A gap at this stage is common, and it rarely means you can’t leave. It means you need more information before you decide.

  • Check the benefits you could get. The calculators above take about 15 minutes.
  • Living alone cuts your council tax. In England, Scotland and Wales, you get 25% off if you’re the only adult in the home. GOV.UK explains how to apply.
  • The money you share isn’t settled yet. Savings, property and pensions are usually divided when you separate, and maintenance may be paid. What you’ll have depends on that agreement, so this calculator only shows your monthly budget.
  • Talk to a free money adviser. MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice and StepChange (for debt) are free and impartial.

What to do next

Our guide to getting organised before divorce lists the paperwork worth gathering now, and your free divorce plan puts the steps in order. If you’re a member, the budget in the organiser works out both homes side by side.

If you’re worried about your safety, money can wait. Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline free on 0808 2000 247 or the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327. Our safety page lists helplines across the UK, and help such as refuges doesn’t depend on what you earn. In an emergency, call 999.

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This calculator is general information to help you think about your budget, not financial advice. Facts checked 25 October 2026.