How the score works

Your score is out of 100, split across five areas. It rewards a balanced month — essentials paid, a cushion for surprises and a life worth living. Hoarding every dollar won't win.

• Financial stability

  30 pts

  Paying rent and essential bills. Late fees take a little off.

• Emergency resilience

  25 pts

  Having a savings cushion and covering emergencies without the credit card. Savings you used for an emergency still count — that's what they're for.

• Debt management

  20 pts

  Paying down debt a bit, and not putting everyday spending on the card.

• Planning

  15 pts

  Small planning moves like shopping with a list or setting money aside.

• Quality-of-life balance

  10 pts

  Looking after health, learning and family, plus a little fun. Skipping health care costs points.

Bad luck isn't failure. Emergencies happen to everyone. The score looks at how you handled them, not whether they happened.

Debt Escape score

Also out of 100. Your result is compared with a "minimum payments only" path that faces exactly the same events and choices, so bad luck alone never lowers your score.

• Interest saved vs minimums only

  30 pts

  Interest you paid compared with the minimum-only path. Avoiding about 30% of that interest earns full points.

• Missed payments and fees

  25 pts

  Starts at 25. Each missed minimum payment or late fee takes off 8 points.

• Emergency buffer

  20 pts

  Your emergency pot at the end plus any pot money you spent on surprises — using it for bad luck still counts.

• Debt cleared

  15 pts

  Points for clearing up to half your starting debt; becoming fully debt-free earns all 15.

• Quality-of-life balance

  10 pts

  Health, learning, family and a little fun count. Skipping health care costs points.

This is a simulation, not financial advice. All money and scenarios are fictional.