Monthly Budget Calculator

What is this? This zero-based budget calculator helps you allocate your entire monthly income across all spending categories. It uses the popular 50/30/20 rule as a baseline and shows exactly where your money goes — tracking needs, wants, and savings in real time.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to take control of their finances, budget for the first time, or compare their spending habits against proven budgeting frameworks.

Fixed Expenses (Needs)

🏠 Housing (Rent/Mortgage)

💡 Utilities (Electric, Gas, Water)

🚗 Transportation (Car, Gas, Transit)

🛡️ Insurance (Health, Car, Life)

💊 Healthcare (Copays, Medications)

📚 Childcare / Education

💳 Debt Payments (Minimums)

📱 Phone & Internet

Variable Expenses (Wants)

🛒 Groceries & Household

🍽️ Dining Out & Delivery

🎬 Entertainment & Subscriptions

🛍️ Shopping & Personal

✈️ Travel & Vacations

🎁 Gifts & Donations

💰 Other Wants

Savings & Investments

🏦 Emergency Fund Savings

📈 Retirement (401k/IRA)

🎓 College Savings / 529

🏠 Extra Debt Payoff

Budget Breakdown

50/30/20 rule: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings

🔵 Needs (Fixed + Essentials)—

🟣 Wants (Discretionary)—

🟢 Savings & Investments—

Total Budgeted—

50/30/20 Comparison

Your Needs %

—

Target: 50%

Your Wants %

—

Target: 30%

Your Savings %

—

Target: 20%

If your percentages differ significantly from 50/30/20, review your spending to see where you can adjust.

Track Your Budget Automatically

Zero-based budgeting works best with software that links to your accounts and categorizes transactions automatically:

YNAB — You Need A Budget →

Recommended Tools

Pair your zero-based budget with these top-rated financial platforms:

Betterment — Automated Investing → Wealthfront — Automated Investing → SoFi — Personal Finance → ProjectionLab — Retirement Planning →

* These are affiliate links. We may earn a referral fee when you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

For educational purposes only. Budget percentages are guidelines, not strict rules. Adjust to your income, cost of living, and financial goals.

FTC Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission from Betterment, Wealthfront, SoFi, YNAB, and ProjectionLab when you sign up through our links, at no additional cost to you. This does not affect our editorial independence. We only recommend products we believe in.

Track Your Budget Automatically

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