📊 Budget Calculator
Plan your monthly budget — track income vs expenses across categories, see your surplus or deficit, and find out your savings rate.
Enter your values
- Total monthly expenses€2,300.00
- Savings rate10%
- Expense ratio76.67%
What this means
- You have a monthly surplus of €700.00 — your income covers all expenses.
- Savings rate: 10% — good. Consider whether you can push closer to 20%.
- Your expenses are well under control. Consider investing any surplus to accelerate wealth building.
Visual results
Detailed breakdown
| Month | Income | Expenses | Surplus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 2 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 3 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 4 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 5 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 6 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 7 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 8 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 9 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
| 10 | €3,000.00 | €2,300.00 | €700.00 |
About this calculator
What this calculator does
This monthly budget calculator helps you understand exactly where your money goes each month. Enter your take-home income and expenses across eight categories — housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare, entertainment, savings, and other — and instantly see your surplus or deficit, savings rate, and expense ratio. The chart plots income, expenses, and surplus across all 12 months so you can visualise your financial picture clearly.
The formula
The calculations are straightforward arithmetic, which is the point — a budget should be transparent:
- Total expenses = housing + food + transport + utilities + healthcare + entertainment + savings + other
- Surplus / deficit = monthly income − total expenses (negative = deficit)
- Savings rate = savings ÷ monthly income × 100
- Expense ratio = total expenses ÷ monthly income × 100 (capped at 200%)
No compounding, no projection — just the clear monthly picture.
How to interpret your results
- Monthly surplus is money left over after covering all expenses including your savings contribution. A positive surplus gives you flexibility; a negative surplus (deficit) means you are spending more than you earn and likely drawing down savings or taking on debt.
- Savings rate is the percentage of income you are directing to savings and investments. Below 10% is a warning sign; 10–20% is solid progress; 20%+ puts you in an excellent position for long-term wealth building.
- Expense ratio shows what fraction of your income goes to expenses. Below 80% is healthy; 80–100% is tight; above 100% is a deficit that needs addressing.
The 50/30/20 rule is a useful benchmark: roughly half your income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and debt repayment. Use the category breakdowns here to see how your real numbers compare.
Common use cases
- Taking stock of your current financial situation at a glance
- Identifying which spending category is squeezing your budget the most
- Modelling the impact of a rent increase, pay rise, or new monthly commitment
- Setting a realistic savings target and checking whether your current income supports it
- Preparing for a major life change — a new job, moving city, or starting a family
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 50/30/20 rule?
The 50/30/20 rule is a simple budgeting guideline: allocate 50% of take-home pay to needs (housing, food, utilities, transport, healthcare), 30% to wants (entertainment, dining out, hobbies), and 20% to savings and debt repayment. It is a starting framework — adjust the percentages to fit your situation.
What should I do if I have a budget deficit?
A deficit means your expenses exceed your income and you are likely drawing down savings or accumulating debt. Start by identifying the largest spending categories and look for cuts. Even small reductions across several categories add up. If expenses cannot be reduced, focus on increasing income through a raise, freelance work, or selling unused assets.
How can I increase my savings rate?
The most reliable method is to pay yourself first — automate a transfer to savings on payday before you spend anything. Beyond that: review subscriptions and cancel unused ones, cook more meals at home, and challenge each discretionary expense. Raising your savings rate from 5% to 15% on a €3,000 income means an extra €300/month — €3,600/year — compounding for decades.