Budget & savings calculator
Enter your salary and expenses to see if your lifestyle is sustainable. Compare your split against the 50/30/20, 60/20/20, 70/20/10 and 80/20 methods to save smarter.
Money coming in
What goes out each month
Enter what you actually spend each month. Be honest, it's for you.
Essential expenses (Rent, groceries, bills...)
Fun expenses (Outings, shopping, gifts...)
Money set aside (Savings, investments...)
Choose your goal
Your monthly overview
Your situation vs Goal
Over by
You're short by
The salary you'd need
To cover your current essential expenses () while respecting the goal of %, your net salary should be:
Good to know :
This answer helps you understand a topic or make an estimate, but it is not a substitute for professional advice. For any important decision regarding your health, finances, rights, safety or administrative procedures, please consult an official source or a qualified specialist.
Go deeper
Why use a budget calculator?
Managing money is more than checking your balance on the 25th. Without a method, it's impossible to know whether you're living beyond your means or saving enough. This simulator compares your real habits with financial-literacy standards. The goal: spot the leaks and set a course.
How do the saving methods work?
Percentages let you scale the effort to your salary. Here is what each rule hides:
- 50/30/20: popularized by Elizabeth Warren. 50% for needs (rent, food), 30% for wants (outings), 20% for the future (savings, debt).
- 60/20/20: closer to today's reality, as inflation and housing often push fixed costs toward 60% of the budget. Leisure shrinks accordingly.
- Pay Yourself First (80/20): the no-fuss method. On payday, move 20% to a savings account. Do whatever you want with the remaining 80%, no categories.
3 reflexes to get back on track
If the simulator shows your budget is in the red, three levers are available:
Hunt subscriptions
Streaming, an unused gym, pointless bank fees: these invisible amounts add up fast.
Negotiate or switch
Insurance, mobile plans, energy suppliers: quick savings on fixed costs without lowering your living standard.
Automate saving
Set up an automatic transfer the day after payday. Money you don't see is money you don't spend.
FAQ
Should I use my gross or net salary?
Always your net salary, i.e. the money that actually lands in your bank account. In France, ideally use the net amount after income tax is withheld at source.
What if my essential expenses exceed 60%?
This is common in big cities because of rent. The priority is not forced saving but cost reduction. Use the 70/20/10 method temporarily, and aim to raise your income or change housing.
What is an emergency fund?
Before investing, your first saving goal (the famous 20%) should build a safety cushion. The usual recommendation is 3 to 6 months of your essential expenses (not your salary) on an instantly available savings account.
Related guides
How to calculate real expenses for French taxes: complete method
A simple method to calculate French real expenses: working days, commute mileage, the 40 km rule, meals, supporting documents and comparison with the automatic 10% deduction.
Yoann Begue
Calculate Your Net Salary: What You Actually Take Home
Got a job offer with an attractive gross salary? Learn how to calculate your real take-home pay, understand deductions, and know exactly what you’ll get each month.
Yoann Begue
Handling group expenses without conflict: the BBQ story
Discover how to manage group expenses without creating tension. Through the story of a BBQ with friends, learn how to calculate who owes what and make repayments simple.
Yoann Begue
Related tools
Mortgage simulator
Compute your monthly payment, the total cost of your mortgage, and see the principal / interest / insurance split. Yearly amortization schedule included, no sign-up.
Percentage calculator
Compute a discount, VAT, margin, share or evolution in real time. Fill in any two boxes, the third adjusts automatically. Bi-directional, with full formula and multiplier coefficient so you actually understand the math.
Rule of three (cross multiplication)
Good old cross multiplication, made fast. Enter 3 known values, the tool computes the 4th instantly. Handles units, decimal commas and large numbers. No sign-up.