Budget Calculator
Split your take-home pay into needs, wants, and savings with the popular 50/30/20 budgeting rule — or your own custom split.
The 50/30/20 rule splits take-home pay into 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and extra debt repayment. On $4,000 a month after tax that is $2,000 for needs, $1,200 for wants, and $800 toward savings. The percentages are a starting framework, not a fixed rule, and can be adjusted to your cost of living.
Adjust the split (optional)
Splits add up to 100% ✓
A budget you can actually stick to
The 50/30/20 rule is popular because it’s simple: half your take-home pay covers needs, a third covers the things you enjoy, and a fifth goes toward building your future. Enter your monthly income to see each bucket in your currency, and tweak the split if your life calls for it.
Put the savings portion to work: build a cushion with the savings goal calculator or knock out balances with the debt payoff calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 50/30/20 budget rule?
It splits your after-tax income into three buckets: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and extra debt repayment. It's a simple starting framework you can adjust to your life.
What counts as a need versus a want?
Needs are essentials you can't easily avoid — housing, groceries, utilities, transport, insurance, and minimum debt payments. Wants are discretionary: dining out, subscriptions, travel, and hobbies.
Should I use after-tax or gross income?
Use your take-home (after-tax) income — the amount that actually reaches your account. That's what you have available to allocate.
What if 50/30/20 doesn't fit my situation?
It's a guideline, not a rule. In high cost-of-living areas needs may take more than 50%; if you're aggressively saving you might push the savings share higher. Adjust the percentages above to match your goals.
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