Household Budget Calculator — 50/30/20 Rule

A budgeting framework: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings. Popularised by Elizabeth Warren in "All Your Worth".

Essentials: rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, transport to work, minimum loan payments, insurance.

Non-essentials: restaurants, streaming services, gym, holidays, hobbies, clothing beyond basics.

First build an emergency fund (3–6 months of expenses), then pay down high-interest debt, then invest.

Start with 5–10% and increase over time. The important thing is consistency, not the exact percentage.

Yes — in high cost-of-living cities, 60/20/20 or 70/15/15 may be more realistic. The rule is a starting point.

Use the average of the last 3–6 months as your base, or budget from the lowest expected monthly income.

Always use net (take-home) income — what actually reaches your bank account after tax and ZUS.

Use a budgeting app (e.g. YNAB, Mint), bank statement categorisation, or a simple spreadsheet.

Income minus all spending (needs + wants + savings). A positive balance means you spent less than you earned.