Budget Calculator

How to use the budget calculator

1. Enter your monthly income after tax.
2. Fill in your expenses by category.
3. Read what is left over and your savings rate.
4. Compare against the 50/30/20 guideline.

Building a monthly budget

A budget is just income minus what you spend. As a budget planner it weighs your income and expenses in one place: this budget calculator adds up your expense categories, subtracts them from your monthly income, and shows the money left over. If the figure is positive you have room to save; if it is negative you are spending more than you earn. It also works out your savings rate, the share of income left over, which is a simple health check for a household budget.

The 50/30/20 rule

A popular guideline for splitting income is the 50/30/20 rule: about 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings or paying down debt. The tool shows those target amounts for your income so you can compare them with what you actually spend. It is a starting framework, not a rule, and the right split depends on your cost of living and goals.

Source: the 50/30/20 budgeting guideline was popularised by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi in the book "All Your Worth."

Making the numbers work

If your expenses come out higher than your income, the categories show where the pressure is. Housing is usually the largest, so small changes there often matter most, but trimming several smaller categories adds up too. Aiming to grow the money left over, even a little each month, builds savings and a cushion over time.

An estimate, not financial advice

This is a simple income-minus-expenses view based on what you enter. It does not track spending for you or account for irregular bills, so update it as your real numbers change. This is not financial advice.

FAQ

How do I make a monthly budget?

List your monthly income and your expenses by category, then subtract expenses from income. The tool does the maths and shows what is left and your savings rate.

What is the 50/30/20 rule?

A guideline that splits after-tax income into about 50% needs, 30% wants, and 20% savings or debt. The tool shows those targets for your income to compare against your spending.

What is a good savings rate?

Higher is better, and the 50/30/20 guideline suggests aiming for around 20%, but it depends on your income and cost of living. Even a small positive rate is progress.

What if my expenses are higher than my income?

Then the result is negative, which means you are overspending. The category breakdown shows where to look first, usually the largest items.

Is my information private?

Yes. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing you enter is uploaded or saved.