Budgeting basics: The 50-30-20 rule (2024)

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For one easy way to plan your spending, try this method.

2-minute read

In brief

  • Understanding your spending can help you better plan for the future.
  • The 50-30-20 rule organizes spending into needs, wants, and goals.

Creating a budget can help you make confident decisions and enjoy peace of mind. A detailed budget, though, can be complex to manage.

The 50-30-20 rule splits expenses into just three categories. It also offers recommendations on how much money to use for each. With some basic information, you can get on the road to financial well-being.

Getting started

Start by taking a look at your paycheck. If taxes are withheld, subtract that amount from your total earnings. Do not subtract other amounts that may be withheld or automatically deducted, like health insurance or retirement contributions. 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. Let’s take a closer look at each category.

Budgeting basics: The 50-30-20 rule (1)

Needs: 50%

About half of your budget should go toward needs. These are expenses that must be met no matter what, such as:

  • Utility bills
  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Health care
  • Groceries

If you can honestly say “I can’t live without it,” you have identified a need. Minimum required payments on a credit card or a loan also belong in this category.

Wants: 30%

You subscribe to a streaming service to watch your favorite show, not because you need the subscription to live. Wants are things you enjoy that you spend money on by choice, such as:

  • Subscriptions
  • Supplies for hobbies
  • Restaurant meals
  • Vacations

Savings: 20%

The remaining 20% of your budget should go toward the future. You may put money in an emergency fund, contribute to a retirement account, or save toward a down payment on a home. Paying down debt beyond the minimum payment amount belongs in this category, too.

In summary

Options to save for the future at UNFCU include savings accounts and share certificates.

The 50-30-20 rule is just one way to consider organizing your budget. To find the perfect fit for your situation, consult a professional financial planner.

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Budgeting basics: The 50-30-20 rule (2024)

FAQs

Budgeting basics: The 50-30-20 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.

How does the 50 30 20 rule work for budgeting? ›

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%).

How do you distribute your money when using the 50 20 30 rule group of answer choices? ›

Our 50/30/20 calculator divides your take-home income into suggested spending in three categories: 50% of net pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt repayment. Find out how this budgeting approach applies to your money.

What is the 50 20 30 savings rule of thumb group of answer choices? ›

The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. Learn more about the 50/30/20 budget rule and if it's right for you.

What is the 50 30 20 rule of budgeting basics where 50% 30% and 20% of monthly income goes toward ___________ respectively? ›

The 50/30/20 rule is a budgeting strategy that allocates your income into three distinct categories: 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt payoff. Making a budget is an important step in gaining control of spending and paying off debt.

What is a 50 30 20 budget example? ›

Applying the 50/30/20 rule would give them a monthly budget of: 50% for mandatory expenses = $2,500. 20% to savings and debt repayment = $1,000. 30% for wants and discretionary spending = $1,500.

What is one negative thing about the 50 30 20 rule of budgeting? ›

Depending on your income and expenses, the 50/30/20 rule may not be realistic for your individual financial situation. You may need to allocate a higher percentage to necessities or a lower percentage to wants in order to make ends meet. It doesn't account for irregular expenses.

Is the 50 30 20 rule realistic? ›

For many people, the 50/30/20 rule works extremely well—it provides significant room in your budget for discretionary spending while setting aside income to pay down debt and save. But the exact breakdown between “needs,” “wants” and savings may not be ideal for everyone.

How to do the math for the 50 30 20? ›

Applying the 50/30/20 rule would give you a budget of:
  1. 50% for mandatory expenses = $2,000 (0.50 X 4,000 = $2,000)
  2. 30% for wants and discretionary spending = $1,200 (0.30 X 4,000 = $1,200)
  3. 20% for savings and debt repayment = $800 (0.20 X 4,000 = $800)
Oct 26, 2023

What is the easiest budget method? ›

1. The zero-based budget. The concept of a zero-based budgeting method is simple: Income minus expenses equals zero. This budgeting method is best for people who have a set income each month or can reasonably estimate their monthly income.

How much does Dave Ramsey say to save? ›

According to the Ramsey Solutions post, the recommendation is to invest 15% of your household income for retirement. The article uses the example of a household income which is $80,000 annually. Based on these earnings, each year you need to invest $12,000 towards your retirement savings.

How could you start using the 50 20 30 rule? ›

The 50/30/20 rule is an easy budgeting method that can help you to manage your money effectively, simply and sustainably. The basic rule of thumb is to divide your monthly after-tax income into three spending categories: 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings or paying off debt.

How much money should I have in my savings account at 30? ›

Fidelity Investments recommends saving 1x your salary by 30. At the end of 2021, the average annual salary was $49,920 for 25 to 34-year-olds and $58,604 for 35 to 44-year-olds. So the average 30-year-old should have $50,000 to $60,000 saved by Fidelity's standards.

What is the best way to budget monthly? ›

50/30/20 rule: One popular rule of thumb for building a budget is the 50/30/20 budget rule, which states that you should allocate 50 percent of your income toward needs, 30 percent toward wants and 20 percent for savings. How you allocate spending within these categories is up to you.

What are the three categories to which the numbers in the 50 30 20 budgeting plan refer? ›

The Takeaway

Using them, you allocate your monthly after-tax income to the three categories: 50% to “needs,” 30% to “wants,” and 20% to saving for your financial goals. Your percentages may need to be adjusted based on your personal circ*mstances and goals.

How do you pay yourself first? ›

What is a 'pay yourself first' budget? The "pay yourself first" method has you put a portion of your paycheck into your savings, retirement, emergency or other goal-based savings accounts before you do anything else with it. After a month or two, you likely won't even notice this sum is "gone" from your budget.

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%.

What is the 75 15 10 rule? ›

The 75/15/10 rule is a simple way to budget: Use 75% of your income for everyday expenses, 15% for investing and 10% for saving. It's all about creating a balanced and practical plan for your money.

When might the 50 30 20 rule not be best saving strategy? ›

But the exact breakdown between “needs,” “wants” and savings may not be ideal for everyone. If you're behind on your retirement savings or have a lot of credit card debt to pay down, you might want to allocate more than 20% of your take-home pay to that category.

When using the 50 30 20 rule to budget what category are loan payments in? ›

Key takeaways:

The rule allocates 50% of your take-home pay to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings. Debt payments are technically in the savings bucket. You'll need to decide how to split that 20% between debt payments above the minimums and cash savings.

References

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