Understanding Your Financial Future¶

Doughsense's Timeline feature shows you where your money will be in the future based on your current situation and plans. It transforms uncertainty into clarity by projecting your financial trajectory forward.

What is the Timeline?¶

The Timeline takes everything you've told Doughsense about your finances and projects it forward, showing you:

• How your net worth will grow
• When you'll reach your goals
• How life events will impact your finances
• What happens if you make changes today

Think of it as your financial navigator - charting your course from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow.

How to Use the Timeline¶

Viewing Your Timeline¶

1. Go to any tab (Dashboard, Portfolio, Budget, or Plans)
2. Look for the date selector at the top
3. Tap to see a calendar view of your financial future
4. Select any date to see your projected finances

What You'll See¶

When you select a future date, Doughsense shows:

• Net Worth - Total value of everything you own minus what you owe
• Account Balances - Projected balance of each account
• Debt Balances - Remaining balance on each debt
• Asset Values - Estimated value of your properties and assets
• Cash Flow - Money available for spending

Understanding the Projections¶

The Timeline automatically calculates:

For Your Accounts

• Interest earned on savings
• Investment returns based on your growth rates
• Impact of deposits and withdrawals

For Your Debts

• Interest charges
• Payment progress
• Exact payoff dates

For Your Assets

• Appreciation (like home values going up)
• Depreciation (like car values going down)

For Your Budget

• All scheduled income
• All planned expenses
• The net effect on your accounts

Key Features¶

See Goal Achievement¶

The Timeline shows when you'll reach each goal:

• Emergency fund fully funded
• Debt completely paid off
• Retirement savings targets met
• Down payment saved

Test "What If" Scenarios¶

Want to see how changes affect your future? Try:

• Increasing your savings rate
• Making extra debt payments
• Changing investment contributions
• Adjusting expense amounts

The Timeline instantly shows the impact of any change.

Spot Problems Early¶

The Timeline helps you identify issues before they happen:

• Cash flow shortages
• Delayed goal achievement
• Insufficient retirement savings
• High interest costs

Viewing Options¶

See Values in Today's Money¶

Want to understand what your future money will really be worth? Use the inflation adjustment feature:

1. Click the ⚙️ settings icon in the top navigation
2. Toggle "Today's Money" on
3. All values now show in today's purchasing power

What's the difference?

• Actual Money (Off): Shows actual pounds you'll have

  • Your account will have £100,000 in 2034
  • This is the number you'll see in your bank

• Today's Money View (On): Shows what that money can buy in today's terms

  • That £100,000 might only buy what £75,000 buys today
  • Helps you understand true purchasing power

When to use each view:

• Actual Money: When planning specific amounts (saving for a £20,000 car)
• Today's Money: When planning for lifestyle (maintaining current standard of living in retirement)

Reading Your Timeline¶

Colour Coding¶

Doughsense uses colours to help you quickly understand your timeline:

• Green - Positive cash flow, goals on track
• Yellow - Caution areas, tight cash flow
• Red - Negative cash flow, attention needed

Key Milestones¶

The Timeline highlights important events:

• Goal achievements
• Debt payoff dates
• Retirement eligibility
• Major purchase readiness

Trends to Watch¶

Pay attention to:

• Net Worth Trajectory - Is it steadily increasing?
• Cash Flow Patterns - Any months with shortfalls?
• Goal Progress - Are you on track?
• Debt Reduction - Is it happening fast enough?

Practical Examples¶

Example 1: Emergency Fund Planning - Sarah's Security¶

Sarah wants a £10,000 emergency fund. The Timeline shows:

• Current savings: £2,000
• Monthly contribution: £500
• Interest earned: £50
• Result: Fund complete in 16 months (June 2025)

Example 2: Debt Payoff Strategy - Mike's Method¶

Mike has £15,000 in credit card debt. The Timeline reveals:

• Minimum payments: Paid off in 8 years, £7,200 interest
• Extra £200/month: Paid off in 3 years, £2,400 interest
• Savings: £4,800 and 5 years

Example 3: Retirement Planning - Jennifer's Journey¶

Jennifer, age 35, wants to retire at 60. The Timeline projects:

• Current retirement savings: £50,000
• Monthly contributions: £500
• Projected value at 60: £842,000
• Monthly retirement income: £3,500

Making the Most of Your Timeline¶

Regular Check-ins¶

Review your Timeline monthly to:

• Ensure you're on track
• Spot opportunities to optimise
• Adjust for life changes
• Celebrate progress

Scenario Planning¶

Use the Timeline to answer questions like:

• "What if I get a raise?"
• "Can I afford a new car?"
• "Should I pay off debt or save?"
• "When can I retire?"

Decision Making¶

Before major financial decisions, check the Timeline:

• See long-term impact
• Compare different options
• Avoid costly mistakes
• Make confident choices

Tips for Accuracy¶

The Timeline is only as good as your data:

1. Keep Balances Updated - Monthly updates ensure accurate projections
2. Use Realistic Rates - Conservative estimates are better than optimistic ones
3. Include All Items - Missing accounts or expenses skew projections
4. Inflation is Automatic - Doughsense applies inflation to all projections

Planning for Change¶

When to Update Your Projections¶

Review and adjust your Timeline when:

• Quarterly: Regular check-in to ensure you're on track
• Tax law changes: New rates, deductions, or rules
• Life events: Job changes, marriage, children
• Economic shifts: Interest rate changes, inflation spikes
• Goal changes: New priorities or timelines

The Financial GPS Approach¶

Like a navigation system, your Timeline:

1. Shows your current position - Where you are today
2. Plans the route - Based on current conditions
3. Recalculates automatically - As you update your data
4. Offers alternatives - Test different scenarios
5. Gets you there - Despite detours and changes

Building Resilient Projections¶

Make your projections more robust by:

• Using conservative assumptions - Better surprised than disappointed
• Testing multiple scenarios - Best case, worst case, most likely
• Planning for known unknowns - Buffer for tax changes, rate shifts
• Reviewing regularly - Quarterly updates keep you calibrated

Remember: The value isn't in perfect prediction - it's in having a framework for making informed decisions with today's information, then adapting as tomorrow unfolds.

Common Questions¶

Q: How far into the future can I see?
A: The Timeline projects up to 100 years or to age 100, giving you a complete lifetime view.

Q: What if my projection seems wrong?
A: Check that all your accounts, income, and expenses are entered correctly with appropriate growth rates.

Q: Can I see different scenarios side by side?
A: Currently, you can quickly switch between scenarios by adjusting values and noting the results.

Q: Do projections account for taxes?
A: Doughsense works with after-tax amounts for simplicity. Enter your take-home income and net values. For special cases like pension withdrawals, you can use transfer multipliers to approximate tax effects (e.g., 0.75 multiplier for 25% tax on withdrawal). For investment accounts, adjust the growth rate to include tax drag. This intentional simplification keeps projections adaptable and understandable.

Q: How does Doughsense handle inflation?
A: Automatically! When you set growth rates (using presets or custom values), use nominal rates. Doughsense calculates real returns and applies inflation to all projections. Plan targets can be set as "actual money" or "today's money" (inflation-adjusted).

Your Financial Navigator¶

Remember, the Timeline isn't set in stone - it's a dynamic tool that changes as you make different choices. Use it to:

• Navigate toward your goals
• Avoid financial pitfalls
• Make informed decisions
• Stay motivated by seeing progress

The future is yours to shape, and the Timeline shows you how your choices today create your tomorrow.

Further Resources¶

Understanding Financial Projections¶

• "The Art of Long-Term Thinking" - Resources on future planning and visualisation
• Compound Interest Calculators - Interactive tools to understand growth over time
• Monte Carlo Simulations - Advanced projection techniques for uncertainty

Goal Setting and Planning¶

• SMART Goals Framework - Structured approach to financial goal setting
• The One-Page Financial Plan - Simplified planning methodology
• Future Self Continuity - Research on connecting with your future self

Online Tools and Communities¶

• Financial Independence Forums - Communities focused on long-term planning
• Retirement Calculators - Various approaches to retirement projections
• Scenario Planning Resources - Techniques for handling uncertainty

Next Steps¶

Now that you understand your financial future:

1. Set meaningful goals to work toward
2. Track your progress with key metrics
3. Personalise your projections for better accuracy

Remember: Small changes today can have huge impacts on your future. Use the Timeline to find the changes that matter most for your goals.