If I have take-home pay of, say, $2,000 a month, how can I pay for housing, food, insurance, health care, debt repayment and fun without running out of money? That’s a lot to cover with a limited amount, and this is a zero-sum game.
The answer is to make a budget.
What is a budget? A budget is a plan for every dollar you have. It’s not magic, but it represents more financial freedom and a life with much less stress. Here’s how to set up and then manage your budget.
How to budget money
Calculate your monthly income, pick a budgeting method and monitor your progress.
Try the 50/30/20 rule as a simple budgeting framework.
Allow up to 50% of your income for needs.
Leave 30% of your income for wants.
Commit 20% of your income to savings and debt repayment.
Track and manage your budget through regular check-ins.
Understand the budgeting process
Figure out your after-tax income: If you get a regular paycheck, the amount you receive is probably it, but if you have automatic deductions for a 401(k), savings, and health and life insurance, add those back in to give yourself a true picture of your savings and expenditures. If you have other types of income — perhaps you make money from side gigs — subtract anything that reduces it, such as taxes and business expenses.
Choose a budgeting plan: Any budget must cover all of your needs, some of your wants and — this is key — savings for emergencies and the future. Budgeting plan examples include the envelope system and the zero-based budget.
Track your progress: Record your spending or use online budgeting and savings tools.
Automate your savings: Automate as much as possible so the money you’ve allocated for a specific purpose gets there with minimal effort on your part. An accountability partner or online support group can help, so that you're held accountable for choices that blow the budget.
Practice budget management: Your income, expenses and priorities will change over time, so actively manage your budget by revisiting it regularly, perhaps once a quarter. If you're struggling to stick with your plan, try these budgeting tips.
Before you build a budget
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Frequently asked questions
How do you make a budget spreadsheet?
Start by determining your take-home (net) income, then take a pulse on your current spending. Finally, apply the 50/30/20 rule: 50% toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and debt repayment.
How do you keep a budget?
The key to keeping a budget is to track your spending on a regular basis so you can get an accurate picture of where your money is going and where you’d like it to go instead. Here’s how to get started:
1. Check your account statements and categorize your expenses.
2. Keep your tracking consistent.
3. Identify room for change. Free online spreadsheets and templates can make budgeting easier.
How do you figure out a budget?
Start with a financial self-assessment. Once you know where you stand and what you hope to accomplish, pick a budgeting system that works for you. We recommend the 50/30/20 system, which splits your income across three major categories: 50% goes to necessities, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt repayment.
Try a simple budgeting plan
We recommend the popular 50/30/20 budget to maximize your money. In it, you spend roughly 50% of your after-tax dollars on necessities, no more than 30% on wants, and at least 20% on savings and debt repayment.
We like the simplicity of this plan. Over the long term, someone who follows these guidelines will have manageable debt, room to indulge occasionally, and savings to pay irregular or unexpected expenses and retire comfortably.
The 50/30/20 budget
Find out how this budgeting approach applies to your money.
Your 50/30/20 numbers:
Necessities
$0
Wants
$0
Savings and debt repayment
$0
Do you know your “want” categories?
Track your monthly spending trends to break down your needs and wants.
Your needs — about 50% of your after-tax income — should include:
Groceries.
Housing.
Basic utilities.
Transportation.
Insurance.
Minimum loan payments. Anything beyond the minimum goes into the savings and debt repayment category.
Child care or other expenses you need so you can work.
If your absolute essentials overshoot the 50% mark, you may need to dip into the “wants” portion of your budget for a while. It’s not the end of the world, but you'll have to adjust your spending.
Even if your necessities fall under the 50% cap, revisiting these fixed expenses occasionally is smart. You may find a better cell phone plan, an opportunity to refinance your mortgage or an opportunity for less expensive car insurance. That leaves you more to work with elsewhere.
Leave 30% of your income for wants
Separating wants from needs can be difficult. In general, though, needs are essential for you to live and work. Typical wants include dinners out, gifts, travel and entertainment.
It’s not always easy to decide. Are restorative spa visits (including tips for a massage) a want or a need? How about organic groceries? Decisions vary from person to person.
If you're eager to get out of debt as fast as you can, you may decide your wants can wait until you have some savings or your debts are under control. But your budget shouldn't be so austere that you can never buy anything just for fun.
Every budget needs wiggle room — maybe you forgot about an expense or one was bigger than you anticipated — and some money to spend as you wish. If there's no money for fun, you'll be less likely to stick with your budget.
Commit 20% of your income to savings and debt repayment
Use 20% of your after-tax income to put something away for the unexpected, save for the future and pay off debt. Make sure you think of the bigger financial picture; that may mean two-stepping between savings and debt repayment to accomplish your most pressing goals.
Priority No. 1 is a starter emergency fund.
Many experts recommend you try to build up several months of bare-bones living expenses. We suggest you start with an emergency fund of at least $500 — enough to cover small emergencies and repairs — and build from there.
You can’t get out of debt without a way to avoid more debt every time something unexpected happens. And you’ll sleep better knowing you have a financial cushion.
Priority No. 2 is getting the employer match on your 401(k).
Get the easy money first. For most people, that means tax-advantaged accounts such as a 401(k). If your employer offers a match, contribute at least enough to grab the maximum. It's free money.
Why do we make capturing an employer match a higher priority than debts? Because you won’t get another chance this big at free money, tax breaks and compound interest. Ultimately, you have a better shot at building wealth by getting in the habit of regular long-term savings.
You don’t get a second chance at capturing the power of compound interest. Every $1,000 you don’t put away when you’re in your 20s could be $20,000 less you have at retirement.
Priority No. 3 is toxic debt.
Once you’ve snagged a match on a 401(k), if available, go after the toxic debt in your life: high-interest credit card debt, personal and payday loans, title loans and rent-to-own payments. All carry interest rates so high that you end up repaying two or three times what you borrowed.
If either of the following situations applies to you, investigate options for debt relief, which can include bankruptcy or debt management plans:
You can't repay your unsecured debt — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans — within five years, even with drastic spending cuts.
Your total unsecured debt equals half or more of your gross income.
Priority No. 4 is, again, saving for retirement.
Once you’ve knocked off any toxic debt, the next task is to get yourself on track for retirement. Aim to save 15% of your gross income; that includes your company match, if there is one.
If you’re young, consider funding a Roth individual retirement account after you capture the company match. Once you hit the contribution limit on the IRA, return to your 401(k) and maximize your contribution there.
Priority No. 5 is, again, your emergency fund.
Regular contributions can help you build up three to six months' worth of living expenses. You shouldn’t expect steady progress because emergencies happen, and that's when you should pull money from this fund. Just focus on replacing what you use and building higher over time.
Priority No. 6 is debt repayment.
These are payments beyond the minimum required to pay off your remaining debt.
If you’ve already paid off your most toxic debt, what’s left is probably lower-rate, often tax-deductible debt (such as your mortgage). Tackle these when the more-basic goals listed above are covered.
Any wiggle room you have here comes from the money available for wants or from saving on your necessities, not your emergency fund and retirement savings.
Priority No. 7 is you.
Congratulations! You’re in a great position — a really great position — if you’ve built an emergency fund, paid off toxic debt and are socking away 15% toward a retirement nest egg. You’ve built a habit of saving that gives you immense financial flexibility. Don’t give up now.
Consider saving for irregular expenses that aren’t emergencies, such as a new roof or your next car. Those expenses will come no matter what, and it’s better to save for them than borrow.
One of the most common percentage-based budgets is the 50/30/20 rule. The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings.
40% of your income goes towards your savings. 30% of your income goes towards necessary expenses (food, rent, bills, etc.). 20% of your income goes towards discretionary spending (entertainment, travel, etc.). 10% of your income goes towards contributory activities (donations, charity, tithe, etc.).
How the 70/20/10 Budget Rule Works. Following the 70/20/10 rule of budgeting, you separate your take-home pay into three buckets based on a specific percentage. Seventy percent of your income will go to monthly bills and everyday spending, 20% goes to saving and investing and 10% goes to debt repayment or donation.
The 50/30/20 has worked for some people — especially in past years when the cost of living was lower — but it's especially unfeasible for low-income Americans and people who live in expensive cities like San Francisco or New York. There, it's next to impossible to find a rent or mortgage at half your take-home salary.
Quite simply, the method involves putting cash into allocated envelopes of different categories. It's based on an accounting concept known as 'zero-based allocation budgeting'. Many who use cash stuffing feel more in control of their spending, which serves as a reminder that the money you have is real funds.
The 80/20 budgeting method is a common budgeting approach. It involves saving 20% of your income and limiting your spending to 80% of your earnings. This technique allows you to put savings first, and it's both flexible and easy.
What's the 80-20 Rule? The 80-20 rule is a principle that states 80% of all outcomes are derived from 20% of causes. It's used to determine the factors (typically, in a business situation) that are most responsible for success and then focus on them to improve results.
Ideally, most of the money should go to retirement investments, since financial planners commonly recommend putting at least 10 to 15% of your paycheck away for retirement. The remaining 80% goes toward needs and wants, including food, rent and entertainment. But how you choose to spend that money is up to you.
With 50% of your monthly income going towards your needs and 30% allocated to your wants, the remaining 20% can be put towards achieving your savings goals, or paying back any outstanding debts.
That rule suggests you should spend 50% of your after-tax pay on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings and paying off debt. While this may work for some, it's often better to start with a more detailed categorizing of expenses to get a better handle on your spending.
The Rule of 72 works best in the range of 5 to 12 percent, but it's still an approximation. To calculate based on a lower interest rate, like 2 percent, drop the 72 to 71; to calculate based on a higher interest rate, add one to 72 for every three percentage point increase.
So, to answer the question, we believe having one to one-and-a-half times your income saved for retirement by age 35 is a reasonable target. It's an attainable goal for someone who starts saving at age 25. For example, a 35-year-old earning $60,000 would be on track if she's saved about $60,000 to $90,000.
The rule of 70 is used to determine the number of years it takes for a variable to double by dividing the number 70 by the variable's growth rate. The rule of 70 is generally used to determine how long it would take for an investment to double given the annual rate of return.
Which Bills Should Be Paid First? Generally, the bills you should pay first are the ones that cover necessities — the main resources that keep you and your family safe and healthy. These necessities include shelter, water, heat and food. Once necessities are paid for, focus on expenses related to your vehicle.
While it's not technically impossible to live without a credit score, it can make life incredibly difficult. So it's something to keep in mind if you plan on adopting a cash-only lifestyle long-term.
Generally, any person in a trade or business who receives more than $10,000 in cash in a single transaction or in related transactions must file a Form 8300. By law, a "person" is an individual, company, corporation, partnership, association, trust or estate.
You could lose it to fire or theft, or you could forget where you hid it. Jason Speciner, a certified financial planner at Financial Planning Fort Collins in Fort Collins, Colorado, advises keeping on hand only enough cash to cover about one week's worth of living expenses — and storing it in a fire-proof safe.
What Is Dave Ramsey's Envelope System? The envelope system is a way to track exactly how much money you have in each budget category for the month by keeping your cash tucked away in envelopes. At the end of the month, you can see how much cash is left by taking a quick peek in your envelope.
Do you know the Rule of 72? It's an easy way to calculate just how long it's going to take for your money to double. Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.
1. Keep essentials at about 50% of your pay. Things like bills, rent, groceries, and debt payments should make up about 50% of a gross (before taxes) paycheck.
The rule of 72 is a simple way to calculate how long it will take for an investment to double. All you need to do is divide 72 by the annual rate of return. For example, if you're earning a 6% annual return, it will take 72/6, or 12 years, for your investment to double.
Try a simple budgeting plan. We recommend the popular 50/30/20 budget to maximize your money. In it, you spend roughly 50% of your after-tax dollars on necessities, no more than 30% on wants, and at least 20% on savings and debt repayment. We like the simplicity of this plan.
The Pareto principle states that for many outcomes, roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. In other words, a small percentage of causes have an outsized effect. This concept is important to understand because it can help you identify which initiatives to prioritize so you can make the most impact.
For example, if you eat 3 meals a day x 7 days a week, you eat 21 total meals.80% of that is 17 meals, leaving you 4 flexible meals for the 20%. Making those 17 meals something that is pre-portioned and calorie controlled can take some of the variability and guesswork out of this approach.
Once you have an estimate of your annual retirement spending, you can begin to work out how much you need overall by multiplying your annual spending by the number of years you expect to spend in retirement, figuring in an extra 3% per year for inflation.
One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement.
To determine a weekly allowance amount, take your discretionary spending amount each month and divide it by four. That amount will be how much you can spend each week without blowing your overall budget—while still getting to indulge in some things you want.
When you make a monthly budget, consider overestimating your expected costs. This way, you may end up with leftover funds, which can go right into savings. Real-life reasons to save are the best motivators.
A list of recommended personal budget categories is a great place to start when creating a budget. Here are two ways you can get the most out of the list:
The simplest budget, the 80/20 budget, advocates committing 20% of your income to savings and 80% to everything else. Similarly, the 50/30/20 budget has you put 20% into savings, then divides the remaining portion into 50% for needs and 30% for wants.
One can use this method to estimate how much time it will take to triple the wealth. Here you have to divide 114 by interest rate to get in how many years your money gets tripled.
When does money double every seven years? To use the Rule of 72 to figure out when your money will double itself, all you need to know is the annual rate of expected return. If this is 10%, then you'll divide 72 by 10 (the expected rate of return) to get 7.2 years.
A good retirement income is about 80% of your pre-retirement income before leaving the workforce. For example, if your pre-retirement income is $5,000 you should aim to have a $4,000 retirement income.
By age 40, you should have three times your annual salary already saved. By age 50, you should have six times your salary in an account. By age 60, you should have eight times your salary working for you. By age 67, your total savings total goal is 10 times the amount of your current annual salary.
A Rule 69 agreement is a partial or complete settlement between the parties in a family law case. Once you've entered into the agreement, the Court will treat the agreement as valid and binding.
For short-term investors hoping to make money quickly, flipping and renting is probably the better option. However, if you need a regular income and have more time and money to invest, you could consider buying a rental property.
What Is Micro-Flipping? Micro-flipping is a type of short-term real estate investment that involves buying properties in need of renovations and reselling them quickly for a profit, usually without improvements.
The 60/40 budget is a monetary plan that prioritizes different financial goals simultaneously, so you may have to cut some expenses to save the 30% (I don't include the 10% of wants here) you need with this budgeting method.
Key points. The 80/20 budgeting method is a common budgeting approach. It involves saving 20% of your income and limiting your spending to 80% of your earnings. This technique allows you to put savings first, and it's both flexible and easy.
In a 60/40 portfolio, you invest 60% of your assets in equities and the other 40% in bonds. The purpose of the 60/40 split is to minimize risk while producing returns, even during periods of market volatility. The potential downside is that it likely won't produce as high of returns as an all-equity portfolio.
A 3 percent withdrawal rate would equal 33.3 years, while a 2 percent withdrawal rate would equal a portfolio that would last 50 years. So you can figure out your own safe withdrawal rate depending on how long you want your assets to last.
The rule works just like it sounds: Limit annual withdrawals from your retirement accounts to 4% of the total balance in any given year. This means that if you retire with $1 million saved, you'd take out $40,000 the first year. Even so, you'd also adjust this amount annually for inflation.
For a low-cost budget for a family of four, you can plan on spending $234.10 a week or between $936.40 and $1,014 a month. Moderate-cost plan. For a moderate budget for a family of four, you would spend $291.50 a week for groceries or between $1,166 and $1,263.5 a month.
If you're a single adult, depending on your age and sex (the USDA estimates are higher for men and lower for both women and men 71 and older), look to spend between $229 and $419 each month on groceries. For a two-adult household, the figure above will double: $458 to $838.
Coined the 80/90 rule it suggests listening to no louder than 80% of the total volume output for no longer than 90 minutes at a time. One 90 minute listening session, which is an estimated 89 dBA, would give the listener about 50% of there daily dose of loud sound.
The Rule of 69 is a simple calculation to estimate the time needed for an investment to double if you know the interest rate and if the interest is compound. For example, if a real estate investor can earn twenty percent on an investment, they divide 69 by the 20 percent return and add 0.35 to the result.
Why an 80/20 portfolio strategy could be the new 60/40 in a rising rate environment. It's an investment strategy as old as the hills — allocate 60% of a portfolio to equities and the other 40% to fixed income.
Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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