50/30/20 on 4,000
4,000 a month becomes 2,000 for needs, 1,200 for wants and 800 for savings.
Budget Calculator (50/30/20)
Split your monthly take-home pay into needs, wants and savings with the 50/30/20 rule or an alternative.
Result
Enter your values and select Calculate to see the result.
Runs in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to a server.
How the Budget Calculator (50/30/20) works
Enter your monthly take-home pay and choose a rule. The 50/30/20 rule puts half toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and extra debt payments. 70/20/10 and 60/20/20 suit other situations, such as high-cost areas. The table shows what goes into each part.
Formula
amount = monthly income after tax × share %
Examples
70/20/10 on 4,000
2,800 for living costs, 800 for savings and 400 for debt payoff or giving.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the 50/30/20 rule come from?
It was popularized by Elizabeth Warren and her daughter Amelia Warren Tyagi in their 2005 book All Your Worth.
What if my needs are more than 50%?
That's common with high rents. Try 60/20/20, cut wants first, and keep at least some savings every month — even a small amount builds the habit.
Are minimum debt payments needs?
Yes. Payments above the minimum count toward the savings part, because they improve your finances like saving does. This isn't financial advice.
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