Paycheck Budget Calculator

50/30/20 Budget Calculator

The 50/30/20 rule is a simple guideline: about 50% of take-home pay to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt payments. It's a starting point, not a rule you must follow.

Debt payoff months

Next step: Sort last month's real spending into 50/30/20: convert your statement PDF to CSV

Want this in a reusable template?

Printable and fillable planners from our shop:

New Year Budget Reset 2027Debt Payoff Planner

Household budget spreadsheets

• Paycheck budget spreadsheet: coming soon

• Couples budget spreadsheet: coming soon

• Debt payoff spreadsheet: coming soon

FAQ

What counts as needs?

Typically essentials such as housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, transport and minimum debt payments.

What if my needs are more than 50%?

That is common in high-cost areas. Switch to Custom categories and set your own amounts.

Does this work weekly or biweekly?

Yes. Choose your pay frequency and the table shows per-paycheck amounts.