50/30/20 budget calculator
Enter your monthly take-home pay and see how much should go to needs, wants, and savings or debt payments. Free and in Colombian pesos (COP).
Calculate your budget
What lands in your account after health, pension and withholding tax deductions.
Adjust percentages manually
Savings and debt payments = whatever is left: 20%
How are you doing today? (optional)
Enter how much you spend each month in each group and we’ll tell you how you’re doing.
Enter your income and what you spend to see how you compare.
Everything is calculated in your browser: what you type here is never sent or stored.
Let the math do itself
In Dineri you log each expense in 3 taps and your 50/30/20 updates automatically, with alerts when you get close to a group’s limit.
Meet DineriWhat is the 50/30/20 rule?
It’s a simple way to split your monthly income into three parts, without keeping a budget for every single category:
- 50% for needs: what you have to pay no matter what to live and work.
- 30% for wants: what you enjoy but could cut back on if needed.
- 20% for savings and debt payments: what builds your peace of mind for the future.
The goal isn’t to hit the percentages to the letter, but to have a clear reference to know whether you’re on track and where to adjust.
Example with an income of $3,000,000 COP
| Group | % | Per month | What it covers, for example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needs | 50% | $1,500,000 | Rent, utilities, groceries and transport. |
| Wants | 30% | $900,000 | Going out, delivery, streaming services, a treat. |
| Savings and debt | 20% | $600,000 | Emergency fund and extra payments on your credit card. |
What goes in each group?
Needs (50%)
Rent or mortgage, building fees, utilities (water, electricity, gas), internet and a basic phone plan, groceries, transport to work or school, health and medicine, school or university, and mandatory insurance.
Wants (30%)
Restaurants and delivery, going out, travel, clothes and tech you don’t strictly need, subscriptions (streaming, music, gym), gifts and hobbies.
Savings and debt payments (20%)
Emergency fund, savings for goals, investments and your debt payments: credit cards, personal, car or student loans. Paying off debt counts as progress, because every peso you pay down is interest you no longer pay.
What if my income doesn’t stretch that far?
In Colombia it’s very common for rent and transport to take more than half of your salary. If that’s you, that’s okay: start with a more realistic split, like 60/30/10 or 70/20/10, and move toward 50/30/20 as your debts go down or your income goes up. What matters is that savings never hit zero.
If you have high-interest debt (credit cards, cash advances), put that 20% toward paying it off first: almost no investment returns what a credit card costs you. If another bank offers to take over your debts, check with the debt consolidation calculator whether it’s worth it.
Already behind on payments? Find out how long a Datacrédito report lasts and how much shorter it gets if you pay today.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 50/30/20 rule based on gross or net income?
On net income: what actually lands in your account after health, pension and withholding tax deductions. If you’re self-employed, use what’s left after paying your social security contributions and taxes.
Do debt payments go under needs or savings?
In Dineri, credit card and loan payments count toward the 20% for savings and debt, because every payment reduces what you owe and the interest you pay. If your payments are very high, adjust the split while you bring them down.
What if my income changes every month?
Do the math with the income of a slow month, not your best one. Whatever comes in above that, send it straight to savings or to paying off debt.
Can I use other percentages?
Yes. The rule is a guide, not a law. If rent takes more than half your income, start with 60/30/10 or 70/20/10 and adjust as you go. In the calculator you can move the percentages to fit you.
Updated October 4, 2026 · By the Dineri AI team. This calculator is for guidance only and does not replace professional advice.