Plan your monthly budget and see where your money is going
Enter your monthly take-home income, then add your fixed expenses (rent, utilities, subscriptions), variable spending (groceries, dining, transport) and savings goals. The calculator totals each category and shows your surplus or deficit plus your savings rate, so you can see exactly where the money goes.
Surplus = Total Income − Total Expenses. Savings Rate = Savings ÷ Total Income × 100. A common rule of thumb is the 50/30/20 split — 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings — but any split that leaves a consistent surplus works.
With $5,000 monthly income and $3,250 in expenses, you keep $1,750 per month — a 35% savings rate. Redirecting $250 of that surplus to an emergency fund builds a 3-month buffer within a year.
The 50/30/20 rule is a popular budgeting method: 50% of your income goes to needs (rent, food, utilities), 30% to wants (dining out, entertainment), and 20% to savings and debt repayment.
Most financial advisors recommend spending no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on housing. If you're spending more, you might be "house poor."
Aim to save at least 20% of your income. If that seems impossible, start small—even 5% is better than 0%. The key is consistency.