✦ Give every dollar a job

Build a budget that fits you.

Start from the 50/30/20 rule or a zero-based plan, tweak the targets to your life, and watch your spending line up against them in real time.

$
%
%
%
Targets total 100%
Needs
50% target
$0 -
Wants
30% target
$0 -
Savings & debt
20% target
$0 -
left to budget
$0
Monthly income
$0
Total assigned
$0
Savings rate
0%

Where your money goes

$0
monthly income

Common questions

What is the 50/30/20 rule?

A guideline that splits take-home pay into roughly 50 percent needs, 30 percent wants, and 20 percent savings and debt payoff. It is a starting point rather than a rule, which is why the targets here are editable.

What is a zero-based budget?

Every dollar of income is assigned a job until nothing is left unassigned. The goal is not to spend everything, but to decide deliberately where each dollar goes, including the money that goes to savings.

What counts as a need versus a want?

Needs are expenses you cannot reasonably avoid, such as housing, utilities, groceries, transport, and insurance. Wants are discretionary. Groceries are a need, restaurant meals are a want.

What if my needs are more than 50 percent of my income?

That is common in high cost areas, particularly with rent. Treat it as information rather than failure. Adjust the targets to something achievable and look for room in the other two categories.

Related tools

Paycheck Calculator start with real take-home pay Debt Payoff Calculator plan the debt line Net Worth Calculator see the long run effect

About the methods: 50/30/20 splits take-home pay into roughly 50% needs, 30% wants, and 20% savings & debt payoff. Adjust the targets to fit your situation. Zero-based means giving every dollar a job until "left to budget" reaches exactly $0. For education and planning only; not financial advice.