50/30/20 Budget Planner
Split your take-home pay into needs, wants and savings using the 50/30/20 rule. Add your monthly expenses to compare what you actually spend against the recommended targets.
How to use the budget planner
- Enter your net monthly income (take-home pay).
- Add each expense with an amount and tag it as a need, want or savings.
- Compare your actual spending to the 50/30/20 targets and check what is left over.
Examples
A $5,000 monthly budget
Income 5000; Rent 1500 (need), Dining 400 (want), Emergency fund 500 (savings)
Targets: needs 2500, wants 1500, savings 1000. Remaining 2600, status surplus.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 50/30/20 rule?
It is a simple budgeting guideline: aim to spend 50 percent of your take-home pay on needs, 30 percent on wants and 20 percent on savings or debt repayment.
What counts as a need, a want or savings?
Needs are essentials like rent, utilities, groceries and minimum debt payments. Wants are discretionary, like dining out or subscriptions. Savings covers an emergency fund, investing and extra debt payoff.
Should I use gross or net income?
Use net (take-home) income, the amount that actually lands in your account after taxes and payroll deductions, so the percentages reflect money you can spend.
What does the status mean?
Balanced means your expenses equal your income, over means you are spending more than you earn, and surplus means you have money left to save or allocate.
Is my budget data private?
Yes. The planner runs in your browser and nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere, so your income and expenses never leave your device.
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