Household stress test
Your real monthly cash, run through rate, income and expense shocks. Example values; replace them with yours. Nothing leaves your browser.
- Monthly cushion today
- $373
- left after every bill
- Payment today
- $2,877
- at 4.58%
- If you renew 2 points higher
- $3,367
- +$490 a month
- Lowest cash, worst case
- -$8,499
- month 11
Estimate, not advice. Educational estimate only, not financial, mortgage, tax or legal advice. Lenders, insurers and governments set their own rules and can change them; confirm with a licensed professional before you decide.
2 of 7 shocks run your cash below zero. Worst: One income lost for 6 months (half of take-home).
The shock deck
Choose a row to solve its recovery levers.
| Scenario | Payment after renewal | Lowest cash | Runs out |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,877 | $15,000 | No | |
| $3,118 | $15,000 | No | |
| $3,367 | $15,000 | No | |
| $3,625 | $10,413 | No | |
| $2,877 | -$8,499 | Month 9 | |
| $2,877 | $2,237 | No | |
| $3,367 | -$6,339 | Month 36 |
What would carry you through: one income lost for 6 months (half of take-home)
About $8,500 more in savings before the shock.
Spend $780 a month less, starting now.
A lump sum of $129,000 from outside cash (a gift, a bonus) lowers the renewal payment enough. Check your prepayment privileges.
Stretching to 30 years doesn't cover it on its own.
Show the numbers
| Month | Nothing goes wrong | Renew 2 points higher | One income lost for 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $16,118 | $16,118 | $16,118 |
| 6 | $17,237 | $17,237 | $12,637 |
| 9 | $18,355 | $18,355 | -$45 |
| 12 | $19,473 | $19,473 | -$8,127 |
| 15 | $20,592 | $20,592 | -$7,008 |
| 18 | $21,710 | $21,710 | -$5,890 |
| 21 | $22,828 | $22,828 | -$4,772 |
| 24 | $23,947 | $23,947 | -$3,653 |
| 27 | $25,065 | $25,065 | -$2,535 |
| 30 | $26,183 | $26,183 | -$1,417 |
| 33 | $27,302 | $25,832 | -$298 |
| 36 | $28,420 | $25,480 | $820 |
| 39 | $29,538 | $25,129 | $1,938 |
| 42 | $30,657 | $24,777 | $3,057 |
| 45 | $31,775 | $24,425 | $4,175 |
| 48 | $32,893 | $24,074 | $5,293 |
| 51 | $34,012 | $23,722 | $6,412 |
| 54 | $35,130 | $23,371 | $7,530 |
| 57 | $36,248 | $23,019 | $8,648 |
| 60 | $37,367 | $22,668 | $9,767 |
| 63 | $38,485 | $22,316 | $10,885 |
| 66 | $39,603 | $21,964 | $12,003 |
| 69 | $40,722 | $21,613 | $13,122 |
| 72 | $41,840 | $21,261 | $14,240 |
Assumptions & sources
Assumptions
- Month 1 is next month. Cash = today's cash + take-home income − mortgage payment − housing costs − other spending − debt payments, month by month.
- Fixed-rate payments with semi-annual compounding. At renewal the payment is recalculated on the remaining balance and remaining amortization at the new rate.
- Shocks are examples, not forecasts: renewal at +1, +2 and +3 points, half of take-home income lost for 6 months, a $15,000 one-time cost, and a +2-point renewal followed by an income loss.
- Extending the amortization at renewal, or prepaying, may count as new lending: a lender can requalify you at the stress-test rate. Income taxes, benefits and EI are not modelled.
Sources
- OSFI — Minimum qualifying rate for uninsured mortgages (effective January 29, 2026). Checked .
- Justice Laws — Interest Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. I-15, s. 6. Checked .
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