← Honed Money

Give every paycheck a simple job.

Enter your monthly take-home pay to see a 50/30/20 starting budget for needs, wants, and savings.

Your income

01 / ENTER

Monthly income after taxes

Enter a monthly after-tax income greater than $0.

50%NeedsMust-pay expenses

30%WantsLifestyle spending

20%SavingsGoals and extra debt payments

Your entry is used only in this tab and is not saved.

503020

One number. Three clear buckets.

Add your monthly take-home pay to turn the rule into dollar amounts.

MONTHLY TAKE-HOME PAY

A starting plan—not a requirement. Adjust the buckets to fit your real life.

50%

Needs

Housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, insurance, and minimum debt payments.

$0per month

30%

Wants

Dining out, entertainment, travel, hobbies, and other optional spending.

$0per month

20%

Savings & extra debt payoff

Emergency savings, retirement, other goals, and payments above required minimums.

$0per month

One year at this pace$0 toward savings goals

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Needs are bills you must pay. Wants are things you could cut back if needed. The final 20% goes to savings goals and debt payments above the minimum.

This rule is a guide, not a test. High housing, medical, caregiving, or transportation costs may push needs above 50%. Start with your real bills, then move the percentages in a direction that works for you.

How the math works: This calculator multiplies monthly after-tax income by 50%, 30%, and 20%. It does not account for taxes, payroll deductions, irregular income, or specific bills.

For informational purposes only.