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Budget Planner

Where does my money go each month?

Enter your monthly take-home pay and your spending. See your split across Needs, Future You and Wants.

Rules as of 2026 Runs in your browser, nothing stored No sign-up
MONTHLY BUDGETYour money split$4,500take-homeNeeds50%Future You30%Wants20%✓Budget balancedAll categories on target↗Future You firstAuto-transfer on payday
Finance Woman
Your planBudget PlannerWhere does my money go each month? · Created · thefinancewoman.com/tools/budget-planner

Your inputs

Needs · guide 50%

Housing, groceries, transport, childcare, minimum debt payments

Future You · guide 30%

Emergency fund, savings, extra debt payments

Wants · guide 20%

Dining out, shopping, travel, self-care

Add an expense
Your month

Left over after everything

$700
Needs
62% $2,770
Future You
12% $550
Wants
11% $480

Black line = guide percentage.

Needs is 62% of income, above the 50% guide.

Future You is 12% of income. Moving $800 a month gets you to 30%.

Your next 3 steps

  1. Set an automatic transfer to savings on payday for your Future You amount.
  2. Pick one Want to trim this month and move the difference to Future You.
  3. Review this budget at the end of the month and adjust.

Keep your plan

Save it as a PDF on your device. We don’t store your numbers.

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How this works

Our version of the 50/30/20 rule puts your future first: about 50% for Needs, 30% for Future You (savings and debt payoff beyond minimums) and 20% for Wants.

These are guides, not rules. In high-cost cities, Needs often take more. The goal is to see your real split and choose your next move.

Educational estimate only. Finance Woman shares financial education, insights and general information for women in Canada. We are not a registered or licensed financial, investment, tax or legal adviser, and we do not sell or recommend financial products. Do your own research and speak to a licensed professional before you act.

Questions

Does the 50/30/20 rule work in Canada?

It is a useful starting point, but housing costs in many Canadian cities push Needs above 50%. Adjust the split to your life and review it often.

What counts as Future You?

Emergency savings, retirement and other savings, and paying down debt faster than the minimum.

Is my data saved?

No. Everything runs in your browser. Print or save your result as a PDF to keep it.

Learn more

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