What is a good emergency fund target?

Most households aim for 3 to 6 months of essential expenses, and larger variability in income often warrants a bigger buffer.

How does the 50/30/20 rule work?

Allocate 50% of net income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings or debt payoff, then adjust by your real fixed costs.

Use net take-home income for monthly budgeting because it reflects what you can actually spend and save.

Free Personal Finance Tools

Build a practical monthly plan in minutes. Start with your real numbers, then check your spending mix and emergency fund runway.

See how much money remains after planned spending and savings.

Quick target split from your take-home pay.

Estimate your target and timeline based on essential expenses.

What emergency fund size should I use?

Start with 3 months of essentials, then move toward 6+ if income is variable or single-source.

Can I use this for debt payoff planning?

Yes. Add your extra debt payment inside the savings/debt field in the monthly budget section.

Why are my 50/30/20 numbers hard to match?

High housing costs often push needs above 50%. Use the split as a target, then iterate gradually.