50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Turn your paycheck into a plan in seconds. Enter your monthly take-home pay and the calculator splits it into needs, wants, and savings using the 50/30/20 rule — adjust the split with the sliders to fit your real life.
Savings is whatever's left: 20%. The classic rule is 50 / 30 / 20.
Why a simple budget beats a perfect one
The best budget is the one you'll actually follow. The 50/30/20 rule works because it's coarse enough to stick to — three buckets, not forty line items. Get the big split roughly right and automate the savings portion, and you'll outperform someone with an elaborate spreadsheet they abandon in March.
The savings slice is where wealth actually gets built. If you can only change one thing, nudge that number up a point or two and send it somewhere automatic before you can spend it.
Common questions
What is the 50/30/20 budget rule?
It splits after-tax income into 50% needs (housing, food, utilities, minimum debt), 30% wants (dining, travel, subscriptions), and 20% savings and extra debt payoff. A simple starting framework, not a strict law — adjust it to your cost of living and goals.
What if I can’t fit my needs into 50%?
Common in expensive areas — and fine to adjust. If housing alone is 40% of your income, you might run 60/20/20 for a while. The rule's value isn't the exact numbers; it's forcing every dollar into a category so nothing leaks away. Use the sliders to build a split you can live with.
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This calculator is for education and general information only — not financial, investment, or tax advice. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you enter and do not predict actual returns.