What is the 50 30 20 rule?

Asked by: Prof. Sid McKenzie  |  Last update: May 11, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (75 votes)

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

What is an example of the 50/30/20 rule?

Here's an example: If you make $3,000 each month after taxes, $1,500 should go toward necessities, $900 for wants and $600 for savings and debt paydown. Find out how this budgeting approach applies to your money.

How do you calculate the 50/30/20 rule?

Calculating your target budget

What does this look like? If you make $3000 a month after taxes, then 50% ($1500) would go toward needs, the next 30% ($900) goes toward your wants or discretionary spending, and the remaining 20% ($600) goes toward your savings.

Does the 50-30-20 rule still work?

It absolutely is. The reason the rule exists is to make sure your expenses are in proportion to your income. It may be harder to achieve this now than before but if you can't achieve it, that means your expenses are too high or your salary is too low.

What is the 75-15-10 rule?

The 75/15/10 rule is a simple way to budget and allocate your paycheck. This is when you divert 75% of your income to needs such as everyday expenses, 15% to long-term investing and 10% for short-term savings. It's all about creating a balanced and practical plan for your money.

How To Manage Your Money (50/30/20 Rule)

35 related questions found

What is the 40-40-20 budget rule?

The 40/40/20 rule comes in during the saving phase of his wealth creation formula. Cardone says that from your gross income, 40% should be set aside for taxes, 40% should be saved, and you should live off of the remaining 20%.

What is the 90 10 rule called?

The 90-10 principle, or the Pareto Principle, asserts that approximately 90% of outcomes result from 10% of efforts. This concept originated from the observations of Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who noted that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population.

What is better than the 50-30-20 rule?

The 80/20 Rule

If you think you might fare better following an even simpler plan, consider the 80/20 rule as another option. A stripped-down version of the 50/30/20 rule, this budget advises setting aside 20% of your income for savings and using the remaining 80% for both necessities and luxuries.

What is the best time to start saving for retirement?

It's best to start saving as early on in your career as you can, but no one has a time machine to go back and begin stashing away money earlier if they procrastinated a little longer than they should have.

How much money should you have left over every month?

Ideally, you want to have 20% of your take-home pay left over after paying all of your bills. Track spending using an app or spreadsheet to determine why there isn't more money left over after bills. Consider cutting unnecessary bills (like cable, streaming networks, gym memberships) to save money.

What is one negative thing about the 50-30-20 rule of budgeting?

The 50-30-20 rule doesn't take into account the level of your income nor the type of income you have! If you make the median income in Boston ($35,000 a year) you are going to be spending way more than 50% of your income on needs. If you make $200,000 a year then you'll be spending way less on needs.

What is a good monthly income?

While this figure can vary based on factors such as location, family size, and lifestyle preferences, a common range for a good monthly salary is between $6,000 and $8,333 for individuals.

What is the 50-30-20 rule for 401k?

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

Is saving $300 a month good?

Aiming to save an extra $300 a month is a great place to start. While that amount may sound insignificant, by depositing $300 a month in an average savings account with an interest of . 06%, those savings add up to $18,027.58 in 5 years.

What is the 50 30 20 rule for pets?

50% of your net income goes toward living expenses (i.e. needs). 30% goes toward discretionary spending (i.e. your wants). 20% goes toward savings (or paying down debt).

Does a 401k count as savings?

[See Diversify Your Portfolio, Not Each Investment Account.] Your retirement account is not a savings account. Despite the fact that retirement accounts are designed for long-term goals, it is relatively easy to access your money in the form of 401(k) loans and 401(k) hardship withdrawals.

Is 55 too late to save for retirement?

If you didn't make saving for retirement a priority early in life, it's not too late to catch up. At age 50, you can start making extra contributions to your tax-sheltered retirement accounts (called catch-up contributions). Younger workers can only contribute $23,000 to their 401(k)s and $7,000 to their IRAs in 2024.

What is the largest source of income for a retiree?

The Fed's 2024 report shows Social Security is the most common retirement income source, with 80% of retirees also having private income sources.

Where is the safest place to put your retirement money?

Bank Savings Accounts

If you put your money in a bank account, you can be very confident that you'll be able to access it again in the future. And, deposits in savings accounts from most banks are FDIC insured. That means that even if your bank becomes insolvent, the federal government covers your savings.

When should you not use the 50 30 20 rule?

Depending on your income and where you live, earmarking 50% of your income for your needs may not be enough. For example, if you live in a high-cost area, you may have to put a large part of your income toward housing, making it difficult to keep your needs under 50%.

What is the 70 20 20 rule?

The 70-20-10 budget formula divides your after-tax income into three buckets: 70% for living expenses, 20% for savings and debt, and 10% for additional savings and donations. By allocating your available income into these three distinct categories, you can better manage your money on a daily basis.

What are the three rules of money?

Here are the three basic money rules I want my kids to understand:
  • #1 Security: An emergency fund is important. ...
  • #2 Discipline: Pay attention and monitor what you spend and save. ...
  • #3 Knowledge: Have a basic understanding of taxes and the implications on building wealth.

What is the rule of 100s?

The rule of 100 states that if you spend 100 hours a year, which is 18 minutes a day - in any discipline, you'll be better than 95% of the world, in that discipline!