50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Split your monthly take-home pay between needs, wants and savings using the 50/30/20 rule, or another ratio if your fixed costs are high.
Result
The 50/30/20 rule
Put 50% of your after-tax income toward needs (housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, transportation), 30% toward wants (dining out, travel, entertainment, subscriptions) and 20% toward savings and paying down debt. On $4,500 a month, that is $2,250 for needs, $1,350 for wants and $900 for savings.
When to use a different split
In high-cost areas, housing alone can take more than half of take-home pay. A 60/30/10 or 70/20/10 split is a realistic starting point; the key is saving something every month. If you can, a 40/30/30 split speeds up goals like an emergency fund or early retirement.
Related guide: The 50/30/20 Budget Rule Explained
Frequently asked questions
Is it based on gross or net income?
Net income: what reaches your bank account after taxes. If 401(k) contributions come out of your paycheck, you can count them toward the savings share.
Where do debt payments go?
Minimum required payments are needs. Anything extra you pay to get out of debt faster counts as savings.
What should the savings go toward first?
A common order is a small emergency fund, then the full 401(k) employer match, then high-interest debt, then a fuller emergency fund and other goals.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes only and are not financial, tax, legal or medical advice.