Budget Planner

The Budget Planner is a detailed monthly budget where you add every income source and every bill or expense, grouped by category, to see exactly where your money goes, whether you have a surplus or shortfall, and how your spending compares to the 50/30/20 rule. Your budget is saved privately in your browser.

Beginner⏱ 5 minutesUpdated 2026-07-06

Monthly income

Bills & expenses

Income

$4,500

Expenses

$3,000

Surplus

$1,500

50/30/20 breakdown

Needs (target 50%)$2,250 · 50%

Wants (target 30%)$350 · 8%

Savings & debt (target 20%)$400 · 9%

You're spending $3,000 of $4,500 — a $1,500 monthly surplus to save or invest.

Your budget is saved privately in this browser — it never leaves your device and no account is needed.

How This Tool Works

Add each income source and each bill or expense with its category. The planner totals everything, shows your monthly surplus or shortfall, breaks spending down by category, and saves your budget in your browser so it is there when you come back.

Formula & Method

Monthly surplus = total income − total expenses. Each expense is grouped into needs, wants, or savings/debt, then compared to the 50/30/20 guideline (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings and debt payoff).

Example Calculation

With $4,500 in monthly income and $3,900 across rent, groceries, transport, and subscriptions, the planner shows a $600 surplus and flags that "wants" are 34% of income — just over the 30% guideline.

Please note: This calculator provides estimates for general informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Actual rates, terms, taxes, and costs vary — consult a qualified financial professional before making financial decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my budget data private?+

Yes. Everything you enter stays in your own browser using local storage — it is never uploaded to or stored on our servers, and no account is required. Clearing your browser data removes it.

What is the 50/30/20 rule?+

A simple budgeting guideline: aim for about 50% of take-home pay on needs (housing, food, utilities), 30% on wants, and 20% on savings and debt payoff. The planner shows how your budget compares.

Can I use this for a household, not just myself?+

Yes. Add every income source (both partners, side income) and every shared bill and expense. The totals and surplus reflect the whole household.

Will my budget still be here when I come back?+

Yes, as long as you use the same browser on the same device and do not clear your site data. It is saved locally, so it will not sync across devices.