Tools · Budget Builder
Budget builder.
Your personalized starting point.
Enter your take-home and current expenses. Get a personalized budget allocation, percentage breakdown vs. recommended targets, and exactly which lines to adjust to reach a 15% savings ratesavings rateThe percentage of your income that you save and invest. The single most powerful lever in building wealth.Full definition. The most useful first step in personal finance is knowing where the money actually goes.
Targets reference US conventions (28% housing, 15% savings rate). Adjust if your local cost structure differs.
WORKED EXAMPLE
$4,200 monthly take-home. Housing $1,400 (33%, target under 28%). Transport $600 (14%, on target). Food $500 (12%, on target). Savings $300 (7%, target 15%+). Everything else $1,400 (33%). Adjustment: $336/month from discretionary to savings reaches the 15% savings target.
INCOME
Net pay after taxes, 401k, and health insurance.
FIXED EXPENSES ($/mo)
VARIABLE EXPENSES ($/mo)
SAVINGS / INVESTING ($/mo)
RESULTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
Enter your numbers above.
Targets and methodology
- Housing target under 28% of take-home (the conservative variant of the 28/36 rule).
- Transport target under 15% (car payment + gas + insurance combined).
- Food target under 12% (groceries + dining out).
- Savings target at least 15%, including 401k contributions if not already deducted from take-home.
- The percentages are guidelines, not laws. Local cost structure (high-cost coastal cities) often pushes housing higher; that just means the savings rate is harder to hit and warrants harder choices.