What is considered essential spending in my affordability score?

Essential spending includes rent, bills, food, insurance, transport, loan repayments, and other unavoidable monthly costs.

Does Boshhh MoneyApp track my spending automatically?

Yes, we categorise your spending directly from your connected bank account using Open Banking.

Is entertainment or dining out considered essential spending?

No — these are typically classed as non-essential and don’t impact the affordability score directly.

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Back to affordability score

What counts as essential spending

Q: Can reducing my essential spending improve my affordability score?

Yes — cutting down on monthly essentials can increase your disposable income and improve your affordability score.

Q: Why do lenders care about essential expenses?

Lenders need to know how much of your income is already committed to living costs before approving new credit.

Essential spending includes the things you must pay for every month to live, like rent, food, and bills.

What's included in essential spending

Rent or mortgage payments

Your monthly housing costs

Rent or mortgage payments

Your monthly housing costs

Rent or mortgage payments

Your monthly housing costs

Rent or mortgage payments

Your monthly housing costs

Utility bills

Gas, water, electricity

Utility bills

Gas, water, electricity

Utility bills

Gas, water, electricity

Utility bills

Gas, water, electricity

Council tax

Local government charges

Council tax

Local government charges

Council tax

Local government charges

Council tax

Local government charges

Food and groceries

Regular supermarket spending

Food and groceries

Regular supermarket spending

Food and groceries

Regular supermarket spending

Food and groceries

Regular supermarket spending

Insurance

Home, car, health

Insurance

Home, car, health

Insurance

Home, car, health

Insurance

Home, car, health

Loan repayments

Regular debt payments

Loan repayments

Regular debt payments

Loan repayments

Regular debt payments

Loan repayments

Consistent transfers into your account.

Transport

Fuel, public transport, parking

Transport

Fuel, public transport, parking

Transport

Fuel, public transport, parking

Transport

Fuel, public transport, parking

Childcare or family costs

Regular family expenses

Childcare or family costs

Regular family expenses

Childcare or family costs

Regular family expenses

Childcare or family costs

Regular family expenses

Medical, dental and eye care

Healthcare expenses

Medical, dental and eye care

Healthcare expenses

Medical, dental and eye care

Healthcare expenses

Medical, dental and eye care

Healthcare expenses

Why your essential spending matters

These regular expenses reduce your spending power. Lenders look at them to make sure you're not financially overstretched.

Understanding your essential spending helps you see how much of your income is already committed each month, which affects how much you can safely borrow.

These regular expenses reduce your spending power. Lenders look at them to make sure you're not financially overstretched.

Understanding your essential spending helps you see how much of your income is already committed each month, which affects how much you can safely borrow.