Personal finance
50/30/20 budget calculator
One simple frame for a whole budget: half to needs, a third to wants, a fifth to your future. See the split on your take-home pay.
Your monthly money
After tax, what lands in your account.
Rent, groceries, utilities, minimum debt.
Dining, subscriptions, travel, fun.
Your 50/30/20 split
Enter your monthly take-home pay, then press Build my budget.
The 50/30/20 rule is the easiest budget to keep: 50% of take-home pay for needs (rent, groceries, minimum debt), 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and extra debt payoff. Enter your monthly take-home pay to see the split, and your real spending to see where it drifts.
Worked example
On $5,000 of monthly take-home pay:
| Bucket | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Needs (50%) | $2,500 |
| Wants (30%) | $1,500 |
| Savings & debt payoff (20%) | $1,000 |
That is $2,500 for needs, $1,500 for wants, and $1,000 toward savings and debt. The 20% line is the one that builds wealth, protect it first when money is tight.
Questions
What counts as a need versus a want?
Needs are the things you cannot skip: housing, utilities, groceries, transport, insurance, and minimum debt payments. Wants are everything you choose: dining out, subscriptions, travel, upgrades. The line is about necessity, not price.
What if my needs are over 50%?
Common in high-cost cities, and not a failure, the rule is a frame, not a law. The one bucket to defend is the 20% savings line; if needs push past 50%, trim wants before savings.
Should the 20% include retirement contributions?
Yes. Retirement contributions, emergency-fund saving, and extra debt payoff all live in the 20% bucket, anything that improves your net worth rather than funding today's spending.
Related tools
- Paycheck calculator find your real take-home pay first
- Net worth where the 20% goes
- Credit card payoff clear high-interest debt faster
A budgeting frame, not a rule for every situation. Not financial advice.