Monthly Budget Planner
Put in your take-home pay for the month and what you spend in each area. The planner shows what is left over and how your money splits between needs, wants and savings, compared with the popular 50/30/20 guideline. Use your real numbers from bank statements, not guesses, and print the result when you are done.
Your split vs the 50/30/20 guideline
50/30/20 is a rule of thumb, not a must. High rent areas often need more than 50% for needs.
| Area | 50/30/20 guide | Yours | Difference |
|---|
How it works
- Left over = take-home pay − all spending lines
- Needs = housing, bills, food, transport, insurance and minimum debt payments
- Wants = eating out, subscriptions, shopping and hobbies
- Savings = savings, emergency fund and extra debt payments
- Each share = that area ÷ take-home pay
A zero-based budget gives every dollar a job, so the goal is to get "left over" close to $0 by moving the rest into savings or extra debt payments.
Three things this tool can't see
- Irregular costs. Car repairs, gifts and yearly bills are easy to forget. Divide each by 12 and add it as a monthly line.
- Changing income. If your pay varies, plan with your lowest normal month.
- Cash spending. Small cash buys add up. Track them for a month to find the real number.
The Budget & Debt-Free Planner Kit
Printable and fillable planners for a monthly budget, irregular costs, an emergency fund and a debt payoff plan.
See the full kitThis tool is for planning only and is not financial, tax, legal or investment advice. Talk to a qualified professional about your own situation. We make no income or savings claims. Some links on this site may earn us a commission. Read our disclosure.