Question 1

What is The Spreadsheet?

Accepted Answer

The Spreadsheet is a UK-focused personal finance app that brings your savings, debts, pensions, investments, and property into one clear picture. Think of it as a financially savvy friend, not a bank.

Question 2

Is The Spreadsheet free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes — creating an account and using all the core features is free. The public tools (salary calculator, mortgage calculator, retirement planner, buy vs rent, and holiday budget planner) are also free and do not require an account.

Question 3

Do I need to connect my bank account?

Accepted Answer

No. The Spreadsheet is entirely manual-entry. You type in your numbers and we do the analysis. There are no open banking connections and no third-party data access.

Question 4

Is my financial data safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your data is stored securely via Supabase, encrypted in transit and at rest. Row-level security policies ensure you can only access your own data. We do not sell or share your information with third parties.

Question 5

Can I delete my account and all my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can permanently delete your account from the Settings page. All your data — goals, investments, budgets, debts, and everything else — is deleted immediately and cannot be recovered.

Question 6

What cookies does The Spreadsheet use?

Accepted Answer

We use strictly necessary cookies to keep you signed in (via Supabase Auth), and optional performance cookies (Vercel Speed Insights) that are only loaded after you give consent.

Question 7

How is my Financial Level calculated?

Accepted Answer

Your Financial Level is scored out of 1,300 points across seven categories: Emergency Fund, Savings, Investments, Pension, Property, Debt, and Income. Each uses a curve that rewards every step forward, not just reaching big milestones.

Question 8

Why does a lower earner sometimes score higher than a higher earner?

Accepted Answer

By design. The scoring model rewards financial behaviour — saving, investing, and managing debt — not income level. A modest earner who saves consistently can outrank a high earner who spends everything.

Question 9

Why are student loans excluded from my debt score?

Accepted Answer

UK student loans function more like a graduate tax than a traditional debt — they are income-contingent and written off after 25–30 years. Including them would penalise graduates unfairly.

Question 10

Are the calculators accurate for the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The salary calculator uses current UK income tax bands, National Insurance rates, and supports student loan repayment plans. The mortgage and retirement calculators are UK-focused. All tools are for guidance only.

Question 11

Do I need an account to use the tools?

Accepted Answer

No. All public tools — salary, mortgage, retirement, buy vs rent, and holiday budget planner — are fully usable without an account.

Question 12

What is a Household workspace?

Accepted Answer

A Household lets you share a financial view with a partner. Once you create a household and invite them, you can toggle between your personal data and shared household data in the navbar.

Question 13

Can I use the app in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Spreadsheet is fully available in English and Spanish. You can change your language from the Settings page at any time.

Question 14

Can I install The Spreadsheet on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Spreadsheet is a Progressive Web App (PWA). On iOS, tap the Share button in Safari and choose Add to Home Screen. On Android and desktop Chrome or Edge, use the install prompt or the Settings page.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Data & Privacy

Financial Level

Tools

Account & Household