The 50/30/20 Rule for budgeting (2024)

Most people save too little, and unknowingly spend too much. The 50/30/20 rule for budgeting is a way to become more aware of your financial habits and limit overspending and under-saving (by spending less on the things that don’t matter to you, you can save more for the things that do).

Because this is just a rule of thumb for planning your budget you’ll also need to supplement it with a system to monitor spending as outlined in this article.

What is the 50/30/20 rule?
The 50/30/20 rule is a guideline for allocating your budget to three categories, ‘needs’, ‘wants’ and financial goals as follows:

50% to Needs

Needs are what you can’t live without, or at least very easily. They include things like:

  • Rent/Mortgage payments
  • Groceries
  • Utilities, such as electricity and water

30% to Wants

Wants are things that you desire but don’t actually need to survive. They might include:

  • Hobbies
  • Holidays
  • Dining out
  • Digital and streaming services like Netflix and Amazon.
20% to Financial Goals

This category includes savings and money set aside for debt payments.

How to use the 50/30/20 rule

  1. Calculate yourmonthly income. Add up how much guaranteed income you receive in your bank account each month.
  2. Calculate a spending threshold for each category: Multiply your take-home pay by 0.50 (for needs), 0.30 (for wants), and 0.20 (for financial goals) to see how much you should ideally spend in each category.
  3. Plan your budget around these numbers: Think of these three categories as “buckets” that you can fill withmonthly expenses. List and tally your monthly expenses under the category each falls into and see if you’re spending less than the monthly targets you established in the prior step.
  4. Follow your budget: Track your expenses each month, and make changes where needed, in order to stick to your spending thresholds going forward

50/30/20 Rule vs. Other Budgeting Methods

The 50/30/20 rule of thumb isn’t the only game in town. Here are a few otherbudgeting techniques to consider:

80/20 Rule: With this method, you immediately set aside 20% of your income into savings. The other 80% is yours to spend on whatever you want, no tracking involved.

70/20/10 Rule: This rule is similar to the 50/30/20 rule but you instead parse out your budget as follows: 70% to living expenses, 20% to debt payments, and 10% to savings.

The 50/30/20 Rule for budgeting (2024)

FAQs

The 50/30/20 Rule for budgeting? ›

Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

Is the 50 30 20 rule a good budget? ›

The 50/30/20 rule can be a good budgeting method for some, but it may not work for your unique monthly expenses. Depending on your income and where you live, earmarking 50% of your income for your needs may not be enough.

What is the 50 30 20 rule of budgeting examples? ›

Suppose, the employee is earning 20,000 rupees per month. Now, as per the rule, the person will be spending 50% on the needs which is equivalent to 10,000 rupees. The person will spend 30% on 'wants' which will be 6,000 rupees. Now, the remaining amount will be saved, that is 4,000 rupees.

What is the alternative to the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 60/30/10 budgeting method says you should put 60% of your monthly income toward your needs, 30% towards your wants and 10% towards your savings. It's trending as an alternative to the longer-standing 50/30/20 method.

Is $1000 a month enough to live on after bills? ›

But it is possible to live well even on a small amount of money. Surviving on $1,000 a month requires careful budgeting, prioritizing essential expenses, and finding ways to save money. Cutting down on housing costs by sharing living spaces or finding affordable options is crucial.

Is 50/30/20 or 70/20/10 better? ›

The 70/20/10 Budget

This budget follows the same style as the 50/30/20, but the percentages are adjusted to better fit the average American's financial situation. “70/20/10 suggests a framework of 70% of your income on essentials and discretionary spending, 20% on savings and 10% on paying off your debt.

Should I do a zero based budget or 50 30 20? ›

The 50/30/20 rule is a budgeting strategy that divides your income into three buckets: 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt payoff. What Is a Zero-Based Budget? A zero-based budget has you give every dollar you earn a job so that no money is left unaccounted for.

What are three disadvantages of using the 50/30/20 budget? ›

Drawbacks of the 50/30/20 rule:
  • Lacks detail.
  • May not help individuals isolate specific areas of overspending.
  • Doesn't fit everyone's needs, particularly those with aggressive savings or debt-repayment goals.
  • May not be a good fit for those with more complex financial situations.
Sep 6, 2022

What is the best budget rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is the 50 30 20 rule for 401k? ›

Key Takeaways

The 50/30/20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should be split between savings and debt repayment (20%) and everything else that you might want (30%).

What are the flaws of the 50 30 20 rule? ›

While the 50 30 20 rule can be a useful way to manage your finances, it may not be suitable for everyone. Here are some potential disadvantages of the 50 30 20 rule: Some people might need more than 50% of their income for needs: some individuals or families may have higher essential expenses.

How much money should you have left over after bills? ›

As a result, it's recommended to have at least 20 percent of your income left after paying bills, which will allow you to save for a comfortable retirement. If your employer offers matching 401(k) contributions, take advantage so you can maximize your investment dollars.

How much of my paycheck should I save? ›

According to the 50/30/20 budgeting strategy, you should put about 20% of your paycheck in savings. Of course, you can save more depending on your personal financial goals. For example, you might reserve a portion of this percentage for a retirement account, unexpected expenses, a family trip or a home purchase.

Is $2000 a month livable? ›

Retiring on $2,000 per month is very possible,” said Gary Knode, president at Safe Harbor Financial. “In my practice, I've seen it work. The key is reducing expenses and eliminating any market risk that could impact your savings if there were a major market downturn.

What is a good amount of money to live comfortably? ›

On average, an individual needs $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city. This includes being able to pay off debt and invest for the future.

What is the average amount of money needed to live per year? ›

The study found that a person needs an average of $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city.

Is the 30 rule outdated? ›

The 30% Rule Is Outdated

Rather than looking at what consumers should be spending on housing, however, the government selected these percentages because that's what consumers were spending. Abiding by the 30% rule as the de facto personal finance rule is outdated and does not accurately reflect today's living expenses.

What is the ideal budget rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is the 40 40 20 budget? ›

The 40/40/20 rule comes in during the saving phase of his wealth creation formula. Cardone says that from your gross income, 40% should be set aside for taxes, 40% should be saved, and you should live off of the remaining 20%.

Is $4000 a good savings? ›

Ready to talk to an expert? Are you approaching 30? How much money do you have saved? According to CNN Money, someone between the ages of 25 and 30, who makes around $40,000 a year, should have at least $4,000 saved.

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