A Guide to Budgeting: 50/30/20 Method Explained

Updated: October 31, 2024

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There are countless budgeting methods available, but one of the most popular is the 50/30/20 rule. This budgeting method proposes that 50% of your income should be spent on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings. The 50/30/20 budget method helps individuals achieve their financial goals while ensuring they have funds for what they need and want. It's simple, straightforward and easy to use, making this method ideal for budget beginners, students and young professionals.

Fast Facts on 50/30/20 Budgeting

 

The 50/30/20 budget method can provide a helpful framework for managing your funds, allowing you to reach your financial goals.

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Budgeting using the 50/30/20 rule involves dividing your post-tax income into three categories: needs, wants and savings.

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The 50/30/20 is best suited for students and young professionals. It's relatively easy to use, making it ideal for those new to budgeting.

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Although this model provides recommended ratios, you can adjust them depending on your financial situation.

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Expenses that you cannot avoid are needs. These include groceries, insurance premiums, mortgage payments and rent.

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Some expenses aren't necessities — you can categorize them as wants. These are luxuries that are nice to have but not essential.

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You can use the amount allocated for savings for many things, such as investments, retirement funds or debt payments beyond the minimum requirement.

Understanding the 50/30/20 Budget Rule

Managing your finances involves making wise decisions with your money, and knowing how to budget plays a significant role. The best way to determine whether the 50/30/20 budget method works for you is to understand how it works and how to identify needs, wants and savings.

50% for Needs

Needs are expenses that you must pay no matter what. These mandatory costs include groceries, rent (if you don't own your home) or mortgage payments (if you do). Insurance premiums also fall in this category. If you want to determine what should be part of your needs, think about only the essentials — things that you need to survive.

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    Mortgage Payments

    If you're financing your home, you must make your mortgage payment each month. Remember, defaulting on it may cause you to lose your home.

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    Loan Repayments

    It's best to pay off your debts regularly. Otherwise, you could face steep late fees or default on your loans. Debt management strategies like the snowball approach or avalanche method may help.

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    Groceries

    While eating out is categorized as a want, grocery shopping is a need. Everyone needs to eat, and cooking your own meals is usually the cheapest option.

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    Health Care

    Your medical expenses affect your savings significantly. Having health insurance ensures you more affordable access to health care, although you’ll need to pay premiums and deductibles.

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    Car Payments or Public Transportation

    Getting from one place to another costs money. Owning a car means paying for fuel and repairs while taking public transportation entails spending on fares.

30% for Wants

Not everything you spend money on is a must-have. Things like that long-awaited vacation, dinner on a Friday night or spa days with your girlfriends are luxuries.

According to the 50/30/20 rule, you can allocate 30% of your income (post-taxes) to discretionary expenses. Remember, everything you put here is optional, but it's a way to reward yourself and may contribute to your overall well-being.

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    Vacations

    Allocating 30% of your income to discretionary funds may help you save for a trip out of state or to another country.

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    Shopping

    You can use this part of your budget to purchase new items, like a pair of shoes, a handbag or curtains for the living room.

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    Dining Out

    Cooking your own food may be economical, but a dinner date with your partner or eating out with friends can be a good change of pace.

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    Subscriptions

    Streaming video platforms are all the rage these days, and you can use this part of the 50/30/20 rule to pay their monthly fees.

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    Hobbies

    Some expenses allow you to unleash your creativity, whether playing an instrument or taking photographs. Set money aside for lessons and equipment.

20% for Savings and Investments

The 20% in the 50/30/20 budget method goes toward your long-term financial goals. You'll never know when you'll hit a rough patch, and it's always wise to set something aside in preparation for a rainy day. Several things can fall into this category, including putting funds into a savings account, contributing to a 401k or investing in stocks. This part of the budgeting model ensures you have some money set aside for your future.

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    Emergency Fund

    Your emergency fund helps if you have an unexpected expense (like an accident or illness) and the bills go beyond what your insurance covers. You can also use it if you lose your job to tide you over while looking for employment.

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    Investments

    While having a savings account is a step in the right direction, investing your money is an effective way to build wealth. You can invest in stocks or the money market, depending on your risk tolerance level.

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    Retirement

    It's never too early to begin a nest egg. After all, you don't want to work forever, do you? Contributing to 401ks or IRAs ensures financial independence (or at least allows you to be financially comfortable) during your golden years.

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    Paying Off Debt

    Don't confuse this with debt repayment in your needs — that refers to the minimum amount required. Being debt-free is a financial goal for many people, and using your 20% to make additional payments can get you there faster.

How to Use the 50/30/20 Method

Knowing what the 50%, 30% and 20% ratios mean is only the beginning. Let's see how the 50/30/20 budget method works by applying it to a real-life scenario.

We'll work with a specific amount as post-tax income and break it down according to the 50/30/20 rule. We'll also look at the possible expenses under each ratio and discuss how to perform checks and balances after the entire process.

1
Identify Your After-Tax Income

The first thing you must do is determine how much you bring home each month. Remember, you're only looking at post-tax money. Let's say that, after taxes, you come up to a monthly income of $4,000.

2
Divide Your Income Accordingly

Now, let's apply the 50/30/20 rule. Half of your income (50%) goes to your necessities, so that's $2,000. Next, multiply $4,000 by 30% to get your allocation for discretionary spending. That comes to $1,200. The remaining amount ($800) is for your savings — that should be 20% of your income.

3
Detail Your Needs, Wants, Savings and Debt Repayments

Here is where you'll spend a bit of time. We'll go through each ratio allocation and break it down further. First, let's look at your mandatory expenses. Remember, these are non-negotiables — you need to spend on these to survive. Here's how you can break down the $2,000 for this category:

  • Mortgage (or rent): $1,000
  • Utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet): $200
  • Groceries (food and other household items): $400
  • Transportation (gas, public transportation, car insurance): $400

Next, focus on your nice-to-haves. Similarly, let's divide the $1,200 between different wants. Consider the following:

  • Dining out and entertainment: $400
  • Shopping and personal care: $400
  • Hobbies and leisure activities: $200
  • Miscellaneous expenses: $200

Lastly, divide your remaining $800 between your savings and debt repayment. You can split it like this:

  • Emergency fund: $200
  • Retirement savings: $400
  • Debt repayment (credit card, student loans, etc.): $200
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Follow the Budget and Adjust as Needed

Keep your numbers in mind. At the end of the month, see how well you fared and make the necessary adjustments. Remember, the 50/30/20 budget method allows you to meet your necessary financial obligations while also rewarding yourself and ensuring you have something saved for a rainy day.

Pros and Cons of the 50/30/20 Budgeting Rule

All budgeting models have something different to offer. However, none of them are perfect. The 50/30/20 budget method has benefits and drawbacks, and knowing these can help you decide whether or not it's worth a try.

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Advantages
  • Simple and easy to use: Unlike other budget models, you don't have to do a lot of tracking. If you're a student or budgeting novice, it's a good starting point for you. You decide which are essential and non-essential expenses, which may not be the same for everyone.

  • Encourages saving: It ensures that a portion of your income goes into savings, allowing you to grow your nest egg or reduce your debts. How you split this 20% between debt payments and savings is your decision.

  • Easy to redistribute: Using it for several months allows you to see if you're getting positive outcomes. If you aren’t, it's easy to redistribute amounts within the different categories.

  • Encourages balanced well-being: Although its primary purpose is to help you achieve your financial goals, it allocates enough funds to enjoy and reward yourself. This prevents frustration and allows you to have a more holistic approach to your well-being.

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Disadvantages
  • It might not work for everyone: Individuals with low incomes may have challenges meeting the 50/30/20 ratios. Chances are, most of their funds will go to their needs, not leaving enough (or any) for wants and savings.

  • It could encourage overspending: 30% of your take-home amount may be significant if you belong to a high-income household (for instance, imagine if you bring home $20,000 monthly). You might have more discretionary spending than necessary as a result.

  • Progress for multiple financial goals may be slower: You only allot 20% for your savings and debt repayment. If you have both, you'll have to choose between them. If you divide everything, you may see little change, which may be demotivating.

  • Doesn't specify where the extra money goes: If your total needs or wants don't reach the allocated amount, where do you put the money you don't spend? Although logic states it's best to add it to your savings, there are no clear guidelines.

50/30/20 Budget Rule FAQ

The 50/30/20 budget model can be an effective money management tool, but you must consider several factors before deciding if it's your best option. The answers to these frequently asked questions may provide you with additional information.

What is the primary goal of the 50/30/20 rule?
Do you use the 50/30/20 budget model weekly or monthly?
How do you differentiate between wants and needs?
What can I do if I exceed the 50% or the 30% categories?
What if I don’t think this budgeting model works for me?
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Related Resources

Budgeting is an excellent wealth management tool — and you can explore other models and applications to help you with your financial aspirations. We included these online resources that could provide tips, techniques and strategies for budgeting.

About Nathan Paulus


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Nathan Paulus is the Head of Content Marketing at MoneyGeek, with nearly 10 years of experience researching and creating content related to personal finance and financial literacy.

Paulus has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of St. Thomas, Houston. He enjoys helping people from all walks of life build stronger financial foundations.


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