Use our budget calculator

Use our free budgeting calculator* to see how your monthly spending compares to the 50-30-20 framework.

Enter your income and regular expenses to get a simple breakdown of how much you’re spending on essentials, lifestyle costs and savings.

Budget Calculator

*No personal data is collected in this tool

How our budgeting calculator works

Our calculator adds up your monthly income, spending, and saving, then groups your expenses into the three 50-30-20 categories.

You’ll see:

• Your total monthly income

• Your total monthly spending

• How much you put into your savings

• Whether you have money left over or a shortfall

• How your spending compares with the 50-30-20 framework

You can use the results to spot areas where you might want to cut back, switch providers, or boost your savings, all of which are available to do through MoneySuperMarket.

What is the 50-30-20 framework?

The 50-30-20 framework is a popular way to manage your money. It suggests dividing your after-tax income into three categories:

• 50% on needs: essential living costs like rent or mortgage payments, household bills, and groceries

• 30% on wants: non-essential spending, such as eating out, hobbies, and subscriptions

• 20% on savings: money that you put aside each month for emergencies, paying down debt, or to spend in the future

It’s a guideline rather than a strict rule, but it can help you see whether your budget is balanced or if you're overspending in certain areas.

Why budgeting matters

There are plenty of benefits to staying organised. Keeping track of your spending can help you:

• Stay in control of your finances

• Keep household bills low by switching and shopping for deals

• Avoid relying on credit and help protect your credit score

• Build an emergency fund or other savings pot

• Set money aside for investing

• Plan for bigger financial goals, like holidays or home improvements

Make the most of your savings

Rather than leaving your savings to sit in a current account, keep them separate from the rest of your budget with a savings account to protect them and earn some interest. Compare savings accounts with MoneySuperMarket to find great rates and make your savings go further.

With the MoneySuperMarket app, you can compare, open, and manage your savings accounts in one place. It’s quick, easy, and comes with SuperSaveClub rewards.

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

Even small changes can add up over time

Sorting out your budget doesn't have to be a second job - there are small ways you can keep on top of your spending that can help you cut costs.

Downloading a budgeting app is a good place to start to help you keep track of where your money's going. You can also do regular check-ins of just 10 or 15 minutes at a time to tackle budgeting tasks, like reviewing your subscriptions or looking at what you've spent in the last week.

Budgeting starts with good habits, and starting small is better than not starting at all.