The 20/10 Rule - A Finance Rule For Credit Guidance (2024)

What is the 20/10 Rule?

To begin, the 20/10 rule is a conservative rule of thumb for other consumer credit , not counting a house payment. What does this mean exactly? This means that total household debt (not including house payments) shouldn’t exceed 20% of your net household income. (Your net income is how much you actually “bring home” after taxes in your paycheck.) Ideally, monthly payments shouldn’t exceed 10% of the NET amount you bring home.

What's The Purpose For The 20/10 Rule?

The main purpose that this rule holds is to help you create a guided structure on how much debt you should actually be carrying. Not only that but this rule also helps you visually see how much you are spending and where you're spending it, which then allows you to clearly set your financial goals for however long you choose to use this rule.

There are instances where this rule may not work for everyone right away. It all depends on how far into debt you are in and if that debt has reflected negatively onto your credit score. It is important that when planning to use the 20/10 rule, you speak with a professional that can help you with any questions regarding how you can pay off your debt as well as repair your credit to get better rates when trying to pay off the debt itself.

How to Use the 20/10 Rule

This rule is a lot more simple to use than you think. With the 20/10 rule there are only 2 things that need to be calculated.

To begin, you will need to start off by knowing what your monthly income is after tax is taken out. (This is the amount that will appear on your direct deposits or in on your checks).

First Calculation (10%)

After you find out your monthly income, you will need to multiply it by 10%.

The reason we are multiplying your income by 10% is because that is how much you should actually be spending per month on your debt payments.

Let's say that you make $3,000 per month:

$3,000 x 0.10= 300

You should at most be making payments of $300 every month on your debt payments.

Second Calculation (20%)

First you are going to multiply your monthly income after tax by 12 to get your yearly income, then multiply that answer by 20%.

This calculation will allow you to see how much you should be spending on debt payments in a year.

So...

($3,000x 12) x .20 = $7,200

That's right... you should only be spending $7,200 every year on debt payments if you make a monthly income of $3,000. Of course, everyone gets paid differently so these calculations can vary depending on the person.

Conclusion

In summary, the purpose of the 20/10 rule is to show you that you should be limiting your total household debt to 20% of net income and monthly payments to 10%. Using this financial approach will help you visualize and manage your spending which in turn will allow you to set better financial goals. While this may not be an immediate fit for everyone, it can pave the way to looking at things differently and it can show you that there are great ways to manage debt.

Try these calculations out and see how it works out for you!

For more questions about the 20/10 rule, feel free to contact us!

The 20/10 Rule - A Finance Rule For Credit Guidance (2024)

FAQs

The 20/10 Rule - A Finance Rule For Credit Guidance? ›

The 20/10 rule follows the logic that no more than 20% of your annual net income should be spent on consumer debt and no more than 10% of your monthly net income should be used to pay debt repayments.

What is the 20 10 rule for credit? ›

The 20/10 rule follows the logic that no more than 20% of your annual net income should be spent on consumer debt and no more than 10% of your monthly net income should be used to pay debt repayments.

What is the 1020 rule in finance? ›

While it's technically a rule of thumb as opposed to an enforceable decree, the 10/20 rule is a system of budgeting that can work for virtually anyone. The idea is to keep your total debt at or under 20% of your annual income, while maintaining monthly payments at no more than 10% of your monthly net income.

What is the 10 credit rule? ›

Use credit wisely - follow the 20/10 rule

Never borrow more than 20% of your annual after-tax income. Keep your monthly debt payments to less than 10% of your monthly after-tax income. Keep track of your purchases and don't buy expensive and unnecessary impulse items.

What types of payments are not included in the 20 10 rule? ›

What's not included in the 20/10 rule? Because the 20/10 rule applies to consumer debt, your mortgage and student loans usually aren't included. These types of “good” debt aren't usually considered consumer debt.

What is the 10-20 rule in financing? ›

It says your total debt shouldn't equal more than 20% of your annual income, and that your monthly debt payments shouldn't be more than 10% of your monthly income. While the 20/10 rule can be a useful way to make conscious decisions about borrowing, it's not necessarily a useful approach to debt for everyone.

What is the fastest way to pay off credit card debt? ›

How to pay off credit card debt fast
  1. In a nutshell. ...
  2. 4 ways to pay down debt fast. ...
  3. Use a popular debt repayment strategy. ...
  4. Apply for a debt consolidation loan. ...
  5. Consider a balance transfer credit card. ...
  6. Use a debt relief program.
May 13, 2024

What are the 5 C's of credit? ›

Called the five Cs of credit, they include capacity, capital, conditions, character, and collateral. There is no regulatory standard that requires the use of the five Cs of credit, but the majority of lenders review most of this information prior to allowing a borrower to take on debt.

What is the golden rule of finance? ›

1) Debit what comes in - credit what goes out. 2) Credit the giver and Debit the Receiver. 3) Credit all income and debit all expenses.

What is the number 1 rule of finance? ›

Rule No.

1 is never lose money. Rule No. 2 is never forget Rule No. 1.” The Oracle of Omaha's advice stresses the importance of avoiding loss in your portfolio.

What is the 50/30/20 rule in finance? ›

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.

What are the 3 C's of credit? ›

Students classify those characteristics based on the three C's of credit (capacity, character, and collateral), assess the riskiness of lending to that individual based on these characteristics, and then decide whether or not to approve or deny the loan request.

What is the #1 rule to maintain a good credit score? ›

Experts advise keeping your use of credit at no more than 30 percent of your total credit limit. You don't need to revolve on credit cards to get a good score. Paying off the balance each month helps get you the best scores.

What is the 20 10 rule of credit? ›

The 20/10 rule: States that consumers should 1) never borrow more than 20% of yearly net income, and 2) ensure that monthly payments are less than 10% of monthly net income.

What is the 70/20/10 rule in finance? ›

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 is the 70 30 rule in finance? ›

The mistake most people make is assuming they must be out of debt before they start investing. In doing so, they miss out on the number one key to success in investing: TIME. The 70/30 Rule is simple: Live on 70% of your income, save 20%, and give 10% to your Church, or favorite charity.

How much of a $10,000 credit limit should I use? ›

One of the best ways to improve your credit score is to lower your credit utilization ratio. A good rule of thumb is to keep your credit utilization under 30 percent. This means that if you have $10,000 in available credit, you don't ever want your balances to go over $3,000.

What is the 50 30 20 rule for credit cards? ›

Our 50/30/20 calculator divides your take-home income into suggested spending in three categories: 50% of net pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt repayment. Find out how this budgeting approach applies to your money.

What happens if you use 90% of your credit? ›

If you've got a $1,000 limit and spend $900 a month on your card, a 90% credit utilization ratio could ding your credit score. If you pay it off as your balance hits $300, or three times a month, your credit score shouldn't be hurt by a high ratio.

What is the 5 24 rule credit cards? ›

Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.

Top Articles
Audit Logging: A Comprehensive Guide | Splunk
Blockchain Nodes and How They work?
Woodward Avenue (M-1) - Automotive Heritage Trail - National Scenic Byway Foundation
Average Jonas Wife
Tj Nails Victoria Tx
The Realcaca Girl Leaked
Craigslist Nj North Cars By Owner
Think Of As Similar Crossword
Pike County Buy Sale And Trade
Shariraye Update
Top Hat Trailer Wiring Diagram
Best Restaurants Ventnor
Power Outage Map Albany Ny
3472542504
Lima Funeral Home Bristol Ri Obituaries
Moviesda3.Com
Kountry Pumpkin 29
Pinellas Fire Active Calls
Program Logistics and Property Manager - Baghdad, Iraq
Samantha Aufderheide
Fleet Farm Brainerd Mn Hours
Meridian Owners Forum
Dell 22 FHD-Computermonitor – E2222H | Dell Deutschland
897 W Valley Blvd
Srjc.book Store
Www Mydocbill Rada
Funky Town Gore Cartel Video
Nurofen 400mg Tabletten (24 stuks) | De Online Drogist
Nikki Catsouras: The Tragic Story Behind The Face And Body Images
Ancestors The Humankind Odyssey Wikia
Urban Blight Crossword Clue
Pickle Juiced 1234
Rise Meadville Reviews
The Best Carry-On Suitcases 2024, Tested and Reviewed by Travel Editors | SmarterTravel
Etowah County Sheriff Dept
Umiami Sorority Rankings
Mandy Rose - WWE News, Rumors, & Updates
How Much Is 10000 Nickels
Tattoo Shops In Ocean City Nj
Tableaux, mobilier et objets d'art
Royals Yankees Score
15 Best Places to Visit in the Northeast During Summer
Ratchet And Clank Tools Of Destruction Rpcs3 Freeze
Lightfoot 247
Blippi Park Carlsbad
The Plug Las Vegas Dispensary
Game Like Tales Of Androgyny
Where Is Darla-Jean Stanton Now
Naughty Natt Farting
Scholar Dollar Nmsu
Affidea ExpressCare - Affidea Ireland
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Roderick King

Last Updated:

Views: 6224

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roderick King

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

Phone: +2521695290067

Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.