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50/30/20 Budget Calculator

Compare what you actually spend against the needs, wants and savings split.

Read the how-to
The formula

How this number is built

targets = take-home × 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings
Step by step

Doing it by hand

Step 1

Use take-home pay after tax and payroll deductions, not gross salary.

Step 2

Classify needs strictly: housing, utilities, groceries, transport, insurance, minimum debt payments.

Step 3

Everything optional is a want, including subscriptions and eating out.

Step 4

Count debt payoff above the minimum as savings — it builds net worth the same way.

Step 5

Adjust the target percentages if you live somewhere with unavoidable high housing costs.

Questions

What people ask next

Is 50/30/20 realistic in an expensive city?

Often not. A 60/20/20 split is a common adaptation; the important part is a deliberate savings percentage rather than whatever is left over.

Where do irregular costs go?

Divide annual costs like insurance or car maintenance by twelve and treat them as a monthly need, so they stop arriving as surprises.

Search intent

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Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.