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50/30/20 Budget Planner
Enter your monthly take-home pay and get the classic 50/30/20 split — needs, wants, saving & debt — plus what each bucket means in practice. Adjust the sliders of your life accordingly.
| Bucket | Covers | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|---|
| Needs — 50% | Rent/mortgage, groceries, utilities, insurance, minimum debt payments, transport to work | If needs exceed 50%, the fix is structural (housing, car), not willpower |
| Wants — 30% | Dining out, streaming, hobbies, travel, upgrades | This bucket is a feature, not a failure — budgets without wants get abandoned |
| Save & extra debt — 20% | Emergency fund, retirement, investing, payments above minimums | Emergency fund first (3–6 months of needs), then high-interest debt, then investing |
A starting framework, not a law. High-cost-of-living areas often run 60/20/20 — the point is deciding on purpose.
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