What is personal cash flow?
Cash flow is the money that moves into and out of your accounts over a period of time. Where net worth is a photograph, cash flow is the film.
The calculation
Net cash flow = money in − money out, measured over a month or any period you choose.
Money in includes pay, interest, dividends, transfers from other people and refunds. Money out includes rent, bills, purchases, loan payments and subscriptions.
Cash flow is not income
Income is one input. Two people earning the same amount can have very different cash flow because of what leaves their accounts, and when.
Timing is the hidden variable
A month can be positive in total and still dip below zero midway, if rent clears before a paycheck lands. Looking at the monthly figure alone hides this. The sequence of inflows and outflows matters as much as the sum.
Why it predicts more than a balance
A balance tells you where you stand today. Cash flow tells you whether that position is strengthening or eroding. Persistent positive cash flow increases net worth. Persistent negative cash flow draws it down, however comfortable the balance looks now.
Seeing it ahead of time
MizuFlow detects your recurring income and bills and projects the next 30 days of your cash accounts, marking the lowest point and the date a balance would fall below zero, if it would.