Budget Properly

How Does My Budget Look?

Enter your full financial picture - income, deductions, spending, debt, and savings - and get a detailed, honest analysis of your budget with category-by-category feedback and a clear action plan. See the Retirement Calculator to plan for the long term.

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Income & Paycheck

If your per-paycheck take-home deposit is left blank, it is estimated from gross. If entered, gross salary is not required; the breakdown will reconcile to this amount.
A 4.5% blended state tax rate is applied. States with no income tax (TX, FL, WA, etc.) will see a lower real take-home - enter your actual paycheck above for precision.
Pre-Tax Deductions (from each paycheck)
Enter the % your employer matches (e.g. 3% = they match up to 3% of your salary).
Dental, vision, life insurance, transit benefits, etc.
After-Tax / Extra Income
Freelance or 1099 income. ~30% withheld for estimated taxes (SE tax + federal/state). Enter gross; we'll net it for you.

Savings & Investments

Deducted from your paycheck after taxes.
Used to calculate how many months of expenses you have covered.
Paid from your bank account, not your paycheck.
House down payment, car fund, college savings, etc.

Housing

Transportation

Spread annual costs (oil changes, tires, tags) over 12 months.

Food & Dining

Debt Payments

Used to calculate true monthly interest cost.
Medical debt, back taxes, etc.

Lifestyle & Personal

Child care, parent care, dependent care, etc.
Streaming, gym, apps, etc.
Hair, skincare, gym toiletries, etc.
Copays, prescriptions, dental, therapy, etc.
Spread annual vacation costs over 12 months.

Paycheck Breakdown

Enter your gross salary above to see a full paycheck breakdown.

Budget Analysis

Fill in your income and spending to get your budget analysis.

So You Want a Better Budget, Huh?

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Understanding the Rules & Useful Tips

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50/30/20 Rule
Allocate 50% of take-home to needs (housing, utilities, groceries, minimum debt payments), 30% to wants (dining out, entertainment, subscriptions), and 20% to savings and extra debt payoff. It's a framework, not a law - adjust based on your income and goals.
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Housing Ratio (28% Rule)
Your total housing costs (rent/mortgage + utilities + insurance) should stay below 28% of your gross monthly income. Lenders use this as the front-end DTI threshold for mortgage qualification.
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Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI)
Total monthly debt payments (housing + car + credit cards + loans) divided by gross monthly income. Under 36% is considered healthy. 36–43% is manageable but tight. Over 43% is a red flag that lenders and financial advisors use to identify financial stress.
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Savings Rate
Total monthly savings (401k + Roth IRA + emergency fund + brokerage) as a % of gross income. Below 10% leaves retirement at risk. 15–20% is solid. Above 20% is exceptional and will significantly accelerate financial independence.
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Emergency Fund
You should have 3–6 months of essential expenses in a liquid account (HYSA or similar). This is your financial safety net before any investing makes sense. Without it, any unexpected expense forces you into debt.
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Transportation Rule (15% of take-home)
Total car costs (payment + insurance + gas + maintenance) should ideally stay below 15–20% of take-home pay. Many Americans overspend here, which crowds out savings and retirement contributions.
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Credit Card Debt
Carrying a balance on a card with a 20–29% APR is one of the fastest ways to destroy a budget. Monthly interest on a $5,000 balance at 24% APR is roughly $100 - money that does nothing for you. Paying it off is guaranteed to return a rate equal to the APR.
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Pay Yourself First
Automate savings and investments before your paycheck hits your checking account. 401(k) contributions happen pre-paycheck. Set up automatic transfers for your Roth IRA and emergency fund the day you get paid.
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Capture the Match
If your employer offers a 401(k) match and you're not contributing at least enough to get the full match, you're leaving part of your compensation on the table. That match is an instant 50–100% return on your contribution.
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Eliminate High-Interest Debt First
Use the avalanche method: pay minimums on everything, then throw every extra dollar at the highest-APR debt. At 22%+ APR, credit card debt destroys wealth faster than almost any investment can build it.
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The 3–6 Month Buffer
Before aggressive investing, build a cash emergency fund in a high-yield savings account. Without it, one car repair or medical bill forces you into debt or pulls from investments at the worst time.
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Housing is a Lifestyle Choice, Not an Investment
Keeping housing costs below 28% of gross income gives you flexibility for savings, enjoyment, and financial shocks. Stretching on housing crowds out every other category.
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Lifestyle Creep is the Silent Budget Killer
Every raise is an opportunity to increase savings before you adjust your lifestyle. Divert at least 50% of any raise increase to savings or debt payoff before touching your standard of living.
Budget Health
Enter your income to start