What is the 50/30/20 budget?
The 50/30/20 rule is one of the simplest ways to budget. You split your monthly take-home pay into three buckets: 50% for needs (the essentials you can't skip), 30% for wants (the things that make life enjoyable), and 20% for savings and paying down debt. It's popular because it's easy to remember and flexible enough for most incomes.
How to use it
Enter your after-tax monthly income above. The calculator instantly shows your target amount for each bucket. Treat these as starting targets — if your rent is high, your "needs" may run above 50%, so trim "wants" to keep your savings on track.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a "need" vs a "want"?
Needs are essentials: housing, groceries, utilities, transport, minimum debt payments, insurance. Wants are everything you could live without: dining out, streaming, travel, hobbies.
What if I can't save 20%?
Start with whatever you can — even 5% builds the habit. Then look for one "want" to trim and redirect it to savings each month.
Is my income saved anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.