As UK residents continue feel the effects of the rising cost of living, an online tool arrives to help us determine how much we need to make to support the lifestyle we desire
In an era where the cost of living in Britain continues to rise, many people are confronted with a simple but pressing question: how much do I actually need to earn to live comfortably? For UK-based developer Busayo Amowe, that question became the foundation for building a practical digital solution.
I spoke with Amowe, the creator of Just What Do I Need To Earn, an online tool designed to help individuals estimate the income they need based on their lifestyle and financial goals. Unlike traditional budgeting advice that focuses on managing a fixed salary, Amowe’s approach reverses the equation.
“Most resources and influencers give a salary and teach you how to make the most of it,” she explains. “I wanted something that could take what I wanted to achieve per month or annum and give the kind of salary that I should be looking for”.
Problem-solving design led by personal experience
The idea was born out of personal necessity. Before building the platform, Amowe found herself navigating the same uncertainties many professionals face. She was trying to align income expectations with real-life needs.
“I needed a tool that could let me know the kind of pay I would like based on my lifestyle and the kind of roles I should aim for,” she says. Conversations around salary differences across regions in the UK further shaped the concept, highlighting how varied people’s earning realities can be depending on location.
Her experience as an immigrant in the UK also played a role in shaping the project. Like many newcomers, she spent time researching salary scales, job opportunities, and negotiating pay. “If I had something like Just What Do I Need to Earn, it would have been really helpful for me,” she reflects.
Reversing the model to think strategically
At its core, the platform addresses a straightforward but often overlooked problem: “I need £X to do all these things at the end of the month, so what do I need to earn?” This reverse budgeting model allows users to think more strategically about their financial decisions.
The tool’s applications extend beyond day-to-day budgeting. It can help individuals negotiate job offers, evaluate career changes, plan savings goals, or even consider relocation within or outside the UK. For Amowe, the potential audience is broad: “To be fair, everyone,” she says. “Students considering careers, people thinking about lifestyle changes, married couples planning finances, even expats trying to decide which country is a good fit. The list is endless”.
Real-life challenges driving innovation
Amowe’s work also reflects a wider shift in how technology is being used to address everyday challenges. Through platforms like GitHub, independent developers are increasingly building tools that respond directly to lived experiences rather than abstract problems. “I think independent developers can identify a pain point in their life first and find solutions for it,” she notes. “That way they are passionate and care about it and in turn it becomes relatable to other people”.
Amowe also points to the growing role of emerging technologies in accelerating innovation. “Now that things can be done faster with AI,” she says, “developers should make use of AI tools to bring their ideas to life”.
An evolving platform with wide reach
Since its launch, Just What Do I Need to Earn has already begun to evolve beyond its initial scope. Originally built with the UK in mind, it now supports multiple countries including the United States, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Ghana, with plans for further global expansion. Amowe is also working on deepening the tool’s functionality. Future updates may include features such as student loan breakdowns, contractor versus employee comparisons, and projections showing how salary increases could impact financial outcomes.
As discussions around wages, inflation, and economic stability continue across the UK, tools like Amowe’s offer a more personalised way for individuals to engage with their finances. They also highlight the growing influence of independent developers in shaping practical, accessible solutions.
For those looking to follow a similar path, her advice is simple and grounded in personal experience: “Your specific experience of the world is a tool. Ship that solution to a problem you’ve personally felt”.
