As with many people, you may be afraid of the term “budget. Maybe it’s complicated or boring to understand? Consider it in another approach. A budget outlines precisely what you’ll do with your money, and it can be tailored to your particular lifestyle and circumstances. Even better, the 50-30-20 budget shows that it doesn’t need to be difficult.
If you’re looking to streamline your budgeting process, or are just beginning to budget then the 50-30-20 plan could be the ideal choice. It’s comprised of three easy steps to help you prioritize your financial commitments for the month.
This rule of 50-30-20 is a comprehensive one and covers every aspect. Don’t fret even if you don’t like math since there are calculators that can keep you in the loop with how you budget.
This article will provide a thorough review of the budget 50-30-20 rule, explaining what this rule does and the way it functions. We’ll also look at 50-30-20 budget calculators to ensure you can get started and start right away.
What is a budget of 50-30-20?
In its simplest form, the 50-30-20 budget rule splits your income after tax into three different buckets which include:
50% to Needs
30% to Wants
20% to Savings
This budget keeps your finances simple and simple to follow.
How did the budget for 50-30-20 get its start?
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren came up with a budget of 50-30-20. In her book All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan, Senator Warren explained this easy method to budget. It’s not surprising that it’s been a hit. People are enthralled by how simple it is to comprehend and follow!
The reason why the rule 50-30-20 works?
You may be wondering why this budget is working. There are several reasons.
1. Simplicity
First of all, the budget is actually quite easy to follow. If you’re not interested in the details or just beginning your journey the right way, this budget is secure and simple to put into place. With it, you can concentrate on three buckets: Needs, Wants, and Savings, which are easy to identify.
2. Every dollar has a reason
It also helps you make sure that you are able to track every penny. It starts with your tax-free income after taxes, which makes up all of the money you’re required to account for first, then you sort through the various categories from the top of that.
3. Financial goals
In addition, it can assist you in saving money to pay for big expenses, such as cars or a house. Additionally, it could aid in paying off debt quicker should that be one of your goals initially.
The 50-30-20 rule of budgeting is a simple rule. In order to begin, you must calculate your after-tax income. This number simply represents the amount you’ve left after paying taxes. The taxes you pay include state, federal, medicare, and social security.
Don’t get misled by your gross income which is the sum you receive before tax deductions are made. This is a look at the amount of money remaining in your bank account and then split it into three major categories.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy method to figure out your home may take a look at the stubs of your paycheck.
If you operate your own company, you’ll have to be able to calculate your after-tax income. All you need to do is to take your income gross and subtract the business expenses, as well as any federal or state taxes.
After you’ve calculated your tax-free income after taxes and have figured out your tax bracket, the fun begins. It’s time to divide your income into three categories.
Category 1: 50% Needs
The category of 50% Needs covers all of your essentials for the month. This includes items that you cannot live without. This includes mortgage or rent installments, medical expenses, food utility bills, car loans, and debt repayments.
As you can see, the needs budgeting category only covers what you need to live. You should not include food, entertainment, or expensive meals in this category.
You are likely to satisfy your needs using 50 percent of your monthly earnings after tax. If you’re paying more than this, you might consider reevaluating.
Have you been paying too much rent? You are spending more money on transportation than you can manage? Do you spend a significant portion of your budget on weekly meals? These are good questions to consider.
If you’re in any doubt it is possible to make quick changes to your budget and boost your 50-30-20 budget. Think about moving to a more affordable residence or using public transportation to cut costs. You can also prepare lunch at home and take it to work.
Category 2: 30% Wants
The most sought-after items are the “nice to haves” that you pay for. They are the things you do not need, but maybe they bring you joy. That’s fine! The goal is to maintain an accurate budgeting schedule, to ensure that your spending habits don’t become out of control!
The list of things you want is endless, and it varies between people based on the lifestyle you choose to live.
As an example your list of priorities could include going to the cinema, dining out in eateries, purchasing new gadgets for your electronics, new purses, or tickets for an important game. Other people’s desires could include cable television or Netflix subscriptions, attending concerts, and even paying fees for fitness memberships.
Keep in mind that there are plenty of alternatives to desires that cost nothing to absolutely nothing. You might, for instance, wish to purchase the most recent iPhone but aren’t able to afford it.
You can instead purchase an earlier version and you’ll enjoy the same advantages. Those who are fitness enthusiasts and cannot justify the cost of joining a gym can exercise at home.
There’s always a less expensive alternative when you’re trying to buy an item. You can still balance your wants against them. needs, and you’ll be able to have fun with these things from a time up to time.
Some wants may include high-end experiences that aren’t affordable financially. For instance, a person might desire a brand new BMW even though they could own a Toyota which costs significantly less.
Be aware of your desires because it is simple to justify spending the money when you truly desire something. The category of Wants is usually the most difficult to master.
Category 3: 20% Savings
Perhaps the most important section within the 50-30-20 budget is the savings category since it will determine the future of your financial plan. Savings, in this instance, include both savings as well as investments.
Savings may take different forms, ranging from your emergency account to savings. They could also be a part of any investments in the money market you own.
Investments are any funds you’ve saved up to earn income. This could include making investments in stocks, buying real estate, or establishing your retirement account.
The top priority for this should be your emergency savings. It is essential to have three or six months’ worth of living expenses backed up in your emergency savings account.
In addition, you should focus on your financial savings to retire. You can do this by putting funds into your company’s 401(K) plan, or an IRA. You may want to consult with an advisor to get the plan up.
A brief note on how to pay down the balance of
Do you have debt from your credit card or personal loan debt or maybe student loans that you need to repay? Payments for debts fall under both your savings and needs categories.
Why? The minimum amount you must pay on the unpaid debts is considered a requirement in that you are required to repay it at the exact time every month.
Paying back only just the amount required is a long and costly method to deal with your debt. Instead, we suggest making savings contributions to your category in order to be able to save money in order to pay off debt more quickly.
The money will be used to pay the principal and interest, thereby making it less expensive to pay interest in the future in the future.
Budget calculators for 50-30-20 to take a look at
Calculating your 50-30-20 budget does not have to be a hassle. In fact, it could be as simple as using a simple calculator. Here are a few examples of budget calculators 50-30-20.
Banzai calculator
The Banzai calculator was created in conjunction with Shinhan Bank. It is necessary to input your post-tax income and it’ll do all the work! You’ll be able to easily determine the amount to put into each of the three categories.
Mint calculator
This Intuit Mintlife calculator is identical. Enter your income after tax for the month then the tool will reveal the amount you have left for Essentials (labeled Essentials) as well as Wants and savings.
DIY spreadsheet
Another alternative is to make your own budget spreadsheet for 50-30-20. If you’re proficient in using Excel as well as Google Sheets, you’ll enter the post-tax income in one cell, and create calculations to convert it into the appropriate 50 30 percent, 30%, and 20 percent categories.
Make use of the 50-30-20 budget now!
Budgeting doesn’t need to be difficult. A 50-30-20 budget can be a fantastic method to reach your goals for your budget quickly and effortlessly.
Make sure to take the post-tax income you earn as your starting point and do other calculations based on it. Once you’ve got all the necessary steps in place start getting going today!
P.S. There are two more budgeting options to look into. The budget for 80-20 and thirty-three-30-30-10!
