Dollar Feeder field guide
50/30/20 budget calculator
Split monthly take-home income into a starting budget for needs, wants, and savings or extra debt payments.
50/30/20 budget split
Translate monthly income into needs, wants, and savings targets.
A starting framework
This tool allocates 50% of take-home income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings or extra debt repayment. It does not decide which costs are essential in your household.
Illustration
With $4,000 in monthly take-home income, the starting amounts are $2,000, $1,200, and $800. If essential expenses actually total $2,700, the suggested needs allocation is short by $700. Adjust the plan to reality rather than borrowing to fit the percentages.
When income varies
Build fixed commitments around a conservative recurring income amount. Track annual bills and benefit-payment gaps separately. A good month can fund a reserve for a lower-income month.
Compare zero-based budgeting and the 30-day reset, then use the school-year cash-flow planner if income follows a school calendar.
Educational estimate. Calculations run in your browser; the values are not submitted to Dollar Feeder.