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.
The 50/30/20 rule is the easiest budget to actually 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.
After tax, what actually lands in your account.
Rent, groceries, utilities, minimum debt.
Dining, subscriptions, travel, fun.
Enter your monthly take-home pay.
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.