Banking
50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Split your take-home pay into needs, wants, and goals.
Enter your numbers above.
Estimates only — not financial advice. See assumptions below.
How this works
Assumptions
- 50% needs / 30% wants / 20% saving & debt payoff — a starting framework, not a law.
- Based on take-home (after-tax) pay, not gross salary.
- In high-cost areas, needs often exceed 50% — treat the split as a diagnostic.
FAQ
What counts as a 'need'?
Housing, utilities, groceries, transport, insurance, minimum debt payments — the costs that continue even if income stops. Everything else is a want or a goal.
What if my needs are over 50%?
Common in expensive cities. The rule then tells you housing or transport is eating your future — that's the signal to act on, not a failure of the budget.
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