Look ahead and forecast what’s possible — so your goals have a timeline, not just a wish.

You’ve got goals.

You know your starting point.

You’ve started tracking the flow of money.

Now it’s time to look forward and figure out:
“Can I actually fund this — and by when?”

That’s what this skill is all about.

Predicting future saving helps you turn financial fog into clarity. You’ll see when your goals are achievable, where pressure points lie, and what decisions you can make today to create a better future.

💭 Why it matters

Most people either:

• Hope it all works out, or

• Guess whether they can afford something

Neither is a strategy.

When you forecast, you don’t have to wonder if you’re on track — you’ll know.

And when you know, you:

• Spend with more confidence

• Save with more urgency

• Adapt without panic

Forecasting is how you trade uncertainty for control.
It’s not magic — it’s math. And it works.

🧱 What you’ll do in this step

You’ll map your expected income, expenses, and goal contributions into the future — month by month.

This lets you see:

• How much you can realistically save

• When your goals are likely to be funded

• Where to tweak spending if needed

🎯 What it gives you

By the end of this step, you’ll have:

• A forward plan for your finances

• Realistic timelines for your goals

• A way to test changes before they happen

• Fewer surprises — and better decisions

Your forecast is your financial weather report — and it’s so much easier to plan when you know what’s coming.

✅ How to predict future saving

Here’s your step-by-step to building a powerful forecast:

1️⃣ Start with your income

List expected income for each of the next 6–12 months. This could be:

• Wages/salary

• Business income

• Government benefits

• Other sources (dividends, side income)

If income varies, use a conservative average.

2️⃣ Map out essential expenses

Add in the fixed costs you’ll need to cover each month:

• Rent/mortgage

• Utilities, bills, insurance

• Groceries, transport

• School or childcare costs

Don’t forget to account for annual or quarterly bills — spread them out over the months.

3️⃣ Add lifestyle spending

Now include the fun stuff:

• Dining, shopping, entertainment

• Gym, hobbies, subscriptions

• Gifts, events, travel

Be honest and base this on your tracked habits. Future-you will thank you for the realism.

4️⃣ Plug in goal contributions

Decide how much you want to save for your active goals each month.

You might split it evenly, or prioritise goals that are more urgent or meaningful right now.

This is where you’ll see how your monthly surplus gets used intentionally.

5️⃣ Flag one-off or irregular costs

This is a big one. Don’t let them sneak up on you.

Examples:

• Christmas and birthdays

• Car rego or servicing

• Holidays or weddings

• School fees

Add these into the forecast when they’ll occur — and smooth them out by saving ahead of time.

6️⃣ Review the timeline

Now look at the big picture:

• Are your goals achievable in the time you hoped?

• Are any months tight or overcommitted?

• Where can you shift or adjust?

This is your chance to tweak the strategy — before reality hits.

7️⃣ Update quarterly

Revisit your forecast every few months (or when life changes). That way, your plan stays relevant and reliable.

💬 Real Story: “We finally felt ahead.”

“One couple we worked with was always reacting — paying things as they came up and hoping the rest worked out.

Once they started forecasting, they saw the gaps coming before they arrived. They created buffers, spaced out goal contributions, and finally started saving consistently.

Their words? ‘We used to feel like we were always behind. Now we feel ahead — and it’s not just a feeling. We are.’”

🚀 Do it faster with Moolah

Inside Moolah, you can:

• Build a 12-month forecast in minutes

• Add and adjust expenses and goal targets easily

• See predicted goal completion dates and monthly saving trends

• Flag pressure points before they become problems

It’s clarity on demand — and the fastest way to make smarter money moves.