Free tool
Plan your month in 30 seconds
Enter what you take home. See how much goes to needs, to wants, and to savings.
Your take-home pay
Pick a split. 50/30/20 is the classic; the others suit different lives.
- Needs 50%$2,500Rent, groceries, bills, transport, EMIs: what you cannot skip.
- Wants 30%$1,500Eating out, shopping, trips, subscriptions: what makes the month fun.
- Savings 20%$1,000Emergency fund, investments, paying debt off early: future you.
That's about $346 a week to enjoy, and $12,000 saved by this time next year.
Now see if your month matches the plan
Turn the plan into a budget for each category on Cuzo, and see how much is left as you spend. Shared bills count too: only your share goes in.
What is the 50/30/20 rule?
It splits your take-home pay three ways: 50% for needs, the things you cannot skip like rent, groceries and bills; 30% for wants, the things that make life fun; and 20% for savings and paying off debt. It is popular because it is simple enough to remember and flexible enough to live with.
When to pick a different split
If rent alone takes half your pay, 50% for needs is not realistic, and a 60/25/15 split is a more honest start. Saving for a house or an early retirement calls for more like 40/20/40. These are the same splits Cuzo Analyst's Financial Health checks your month against.
Use take-home pay, not salary
Plan with what actually reaches your account each month, after tax and deductions. If your income changes month to month, use a typical month, or the lowest of the last few.