50/30/20 Budget Template

Split take-home pay into 50% needs, 30% wants and 20% savings. Live target vs actual for each bucket.

50 / 30 / 20 Budget
July 2026
Take-home
$4,600.00
50%
Needs
Target
$2,300.00
Actual
$2,400.00 (104%)
  • Rent$1,400.00
  • Utilities$180.00
  • Groceries$420.00
  • Insurance$220.00
  • Transportation$180.00
30%
Wants
Target
$1,380.00
Actual
$725.00 (53%)
  • Dining out$220.00
  • Streaming$45.00
  • Hobbies$160.00
  • Travel$300.00
20%
Savings
Target
$920.00
Actual
$1,000.00 (109%)
  • Emergency fund$400.00
  • Retirement$300.00
  • Debt payoff$300.00
Total allocated: $4,125.00Unallocated: $475.00

Who this template is for

  • Beginners who want one simple rule
  • Anyone tired of category-heavy budgets
  • People starting to save aggressively

How to use it

  1. 1.Set your monthly take-home pay.
  2. 2.Log each expense as a Need, Want, or Savings item.
  3. 3.Target amounts recalculate as income changes.
  4. 4.A bucket bar turns red when spending exceeds target.
  5. 5.Download PDF or CSV.

Frequently asked questions

Is 50/30/20 realistic in high-cost cities?

Rent alone can eat the 50% bucket. Use the actual bar as a reality check — if Needs run at 65%, know you have less room for Wants and Savings.

Is anything saved?

No — everything stays in your browser.

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