Everyday Finance Practice Questions
Everyday finance questions test whether you can turn a real-life situation into the right calculation. This page shows the core methods for bills, contracts, rentals, labour charges, tax, and percentage questions.
The Rules Every Everyday Finance Question Uses
The numbers change from question to question, but the calculation patterns are predictable. Most questions in this pack use one or more of these four rules.
🔢 Rule 1: Find the change first
Meter readings, allowances, and mileage limits usually ask for the difference between two values before anything else can be calculated.
Example: 5534 units - 4968 units = 566 units used
💷 Rule 2: Convert pence before multiplying
Costs such as 25p per unit or 60p per mile need to be treated as pounds when the answer is in pounds.
Example: 566 units at 25p each = 566 x £0.25 = £141.50
🧾 Rule 3: Build the subtotal before tax
Tax is added after the base costs have been combined. Add standing charges, labour, parts, or extras first, then calculate tax from that subtotal.
Example: £143.40 + £141.50 = £284.90, so 10% tax = £28.49
📊 Rule 4: Percentages need the right whole
When a question asks for a percentage of a bill, divide the part by the total before tax, then multiply by 100.
Example: £50 callout from a £272.50 subtotal = £50 / £272.50 x 100 = 18.3%
3 Worked Everyday Finance Examples
One straightforward, one multi-step, and one classic mistake to avoid.
1. Extra Mobile Data
Question: Linda's mobile phone contract costs £9.00 a month and includes 18 GB of data. Last month, she used 28 GB. The network charges £4.70 for every extra GB used over the allowance. How many extra GB did Linda use?
Worked Method
Step 1: Compare the total used with the allowance.
28 GB - 18 GB = 10 GB
Tip: Do not multiply by the extra charge until you know the extra amount. The question asks for the extra GB, not the cost.
2. Car Rental with Extra Mileage
Question: Paloma rented a car for 10 days. The daily rate is £35.00 and 150 miles are included free. Paloma drove 196 miles. The rental company charges 20p per extra mile. What is the final cost including 5% tax?
Worked Method
Step 1: Find the extra mileage: 196 - 150 = 46 miles.
Step 2: Find the extra mileage cost: 46 x £0.20 = £9.20.
Step 3: Find the rental cost: 10 x £35.00 = £350.00.
Step 4: Subtotal before tax: £350.00 + £9.20 = £359.20.
Step 5: Add 5% tax: £359.20 x 0.05 = £17.96, so £359.20 + £17.96 = £377.16.
Tip: Convert 20p to £0.20 before multiplying, otherwise the extra mileage charge will be 100 times too large.
3. Percentage of a Bill
Question: Amalia hired an electrician from 14:00 to 19:00. The callout fee was £50.00, the hourly rate was £37.50, and parts cost £35.00. What percentage of the total bill before tax was the callout fee?
Worked Method
Step 1: Find the time worked: 19:00 - 14:00 = 5 hours.
Step 2: Find the labour cost: 5 x £37.50 = £187.50.
Step 3: Find the total before tax: £50.00 + £187.50 + £35.00 = £272.50.
Step 4: Divide the callout fee by the total before tax: £50.00 / £272.50 x 100 = 18.3% to 1 decimal place.
Tip: The trap is using the wrong whole. The percentage is not £50 as a percentage of the labour cost; it is £50 as a percentage of the total before tax.
Before You Buy
Want to check the level and layout first? Download the free 3-question sample. It uses the same question style, printable format, and answer-key approach as the full pack.
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The full pack includes 90 everyday finance questions across 3 complete test sets, with step-by-step worked answers for every question.
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