FSA Spend-Down Calculator
You have a balance; the clock is running. Enter what's left and your plan deadline, and get the weekly run rate you need — plus a shopping plan that matches how urgent it actually is.
Anonymous. No login. Nothing saved. Pair it with the eligibility checker so every dollar lands on something that qualifies.
Your run rate
$22 / week
Comfortable
An everyday-OTC run rate. Restocking pain relievers, allergy meds, sunscreen, and first-aid supplies as you normally shop will absorb this without a special trip.
At risk
$640
Days left
203
Weeks left
29.0
Where to put it — eligible by default
Big-ticket (clears a large balance fast)
Stock-up (no appointment needed)
Full list on the eligibility checker. Your plan administrator has the final say.
Health-FSA math. Dependent-care FSAs (daycare, preschool) follow different rules and aren't covered here. Your plan administrator has the final say.
FAQ
What happens to FSA money I don't spend?
It's forfeited to your employer. Employers can use forfeitures to offset plan administration costs or redistribute them across plan participants — but you don't get your specific dollars back. That's why the run-rate math matters: the money was already deducted from your paychecks pre-tax.
My deadline passed — is the money definitely gone?
Check two things first. If your plan has a grace period, you have extra time to spend (usually through March 15). Separately, every plan has a run-out period — typically 90 days — to file claims for expenses you incurred before the deadline. Dig out receipts from the plan year; an eligible expense you paid out of pocket in July is still claimable during run-out.
Can I stock up on OTC items to burn the balance?
Within reason, yes. Reasonable household quantities of eligible items — sunscreen, pain relievers, first-aid supplies, contact solution — are fine. Administrators can flag obviously disproportionate quantities of a single item as not being for medical care, so spread a large balance across categories or put it toward a big-ticket item like glasses or dental work instead.
What are the best big-ticket ways to use a large balance fast?
Prescription glasses (a backup pair counts), a year's supply of contact lenses, dental treatment you've been deferring, hearing aids, and prepaid eligible appointments before year-end. LASIK is the classic large-balance play if you were considering it anyway. Each clears hundreds of dollars in one transaction with no eligibility ambiguity.
Does this calculator apply to HSA money?
No — and that's good news. HSA money never expires, so there's no spend-down deadline. If you have both account types, spend the FSA first, always. This calculator is for the use-it-or-lose-it accounts: health FSAs and, with different rules, dependent-care FSAs.
Where does my balance and deadline data go?
Nowhere. The math runs in your browser; there's no login and nothing is stored or sent to a server. We never ask you to connect an HR portal or health account.