As times are getting difficult, you must become more resilient. You might attempt to develop strategies for efficiently managing your current salary even if you will need to continue working. It can be intimidating to learn how to manage your money especially if you are new to budgeting. You have to make tough choices about how to spend your money besides organizing your income and expenses.
If that sounds like you, then know that you can use the percentage-based budgets to initiate this. Among the percentage-based budgets, the 50/30/20 rule is one of the most popular ones. To find out what it is or how you can effortlessly do budget management using the Spendable app as well as manage your finances, track expenses, create and split events, plan your family budget and more- please continue reading.
What is the 50/30/20 Budget Rule?
One of the most simple and effective approaches to achieving financial balance and security is to consider the 50/30/20 budget rule. When you properly manage your budget, it comes with numerous benefits. Not only, does it allow one to have a clear overview of how the financial situation but also gives a sense of empowerment. As you follow the 50-30-20 budget rule, you can save for emergency funds, save for the future and have a healthier financial outlook.
Breaking Down the 50/30/20 Rule
As mentioned earlier, the 50/30/20 is the popular budget management rule that people follow to allocate their income efficiently. But what do these numbers “50,30,20” signify in the budget? To find out and understand each from a closer perspective, check below
Budget Rule - 50%
In the 50/30/20 rule, the first one signifies that you should keep 50% of your salary for necessities. These necessities may include your daily spending as well as your financial and other commitments. These can include a range of expenses like
- Your child's tuition
- Monthly groceries
- Insurance premiums
- Healthcare
- Rent
- Utilities and more.
Budget Rule - 30%
The remaining 30% of your income should be spent however you like. These expenses should prioritize the lifestyle that you have created in your mind. For instance, if you like to go out for dinner once a week or watch a movie in the theatre every month, then let it happen with 30% of your salary. Even though it is not always necessary, it is totally up to you if you want to enjoy this money or save it.
Budget Rule - 20%
You should put the remaining 20% of your income towards investments and savings. As you save, it provides you with a safety net for unforeseen expenses, medical care, upkeep of homes and other assets. You can also maintain financial readiness for long-term objectives like marriage, buying a dream home, and more. As you set aside a percentage of your salary every month, you move closer to long-term financial security.
As someone new to this rule, it can be daunting to allocate your income accordingly. However, in times like this, you can turn to a budget app like ours at Spendable. We are a one-stop platform that allows you to track every penny while maintaining records of the expenses made.
Practical Steps to Implement
the 50/30/20 Rule
It is simple to apply the 50/30/20 rule where you must assess your financial requirements, desired lifestyle and long-term objectives. Even though it may seem difficult, in reality, it is not. You do not need deep knowledge of money. All you need to do is follow the steps to implement the budget management rule.
Step 1: Calculate Your Monthly Income
Understanding your monthly revenue after taxes is important. You should spend your take-home money on necessities, wants and savings. To know the exact amount, you can review your bank statements.
Step 2: Sort Your Expenses of the Previous Month
Make sure to examine your spending to determine your monthly revenue. You can do this by reviewing your previous bank statements. Also, list the things you needed or saved in the past few months. As you do this, it will allow you to recognize your spending trends and make a proper plan.
Step 3: Determine Budget Cap for Every Category
As you are aware of your monthly income and the proportion that you must devote, you can now quickly determine how much money to set aside for each category each month.
In case you find it daunting to implement the 50/30/20 budget rule, you can simply rely on a budgeting app like ours at Spendable. From tracking all your transactions to getting an insight into the budget and saving time from manual tracking, you can do it all in one place.
Step 4: Time to Review and Modify Expenditures to Adhere to the 50/30/20 Criteria
With the allocation that was determined previously, you can compare the allocation that you currently have. You must find strategies to reduce your expenditure if there is a category where you are spending more than the suggested percentage. In that case, you might need to realign your budget.
Step 5: Make Financial Plans
The estimated allotment on our expense tracking app at Spendable serves as a roadmap for your further financial planning. It is critical to remember this and allocate your revenue appropriately. Every month you can make an effort to adhere to the recommended percentages for each category.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Several challenges come with the 50/30/20 rule. As every problem has a solution, these challenges can also be resolved. So take a look at them and make your finances smooth.
1. High Expenses of Living
It can be difficult to devote 50% of your income to needs in places with a high cost of living. In such situations, you may need to discover ways to cut back on necessary spending or significantly modify the percentages.
2. Unpredictable Income
It is best to build your budget around your normal monthly income if you are an independent worker with an inconsistent income. Additionally, saving more during months with greater incomes might assist balance off months with lower incomes.
3. Limited Financial Literacy
It may be daunting for one to understand and implement the 50/30/20 rule. However, this problem can be solved if budget apps like Spendable are relied upon. Our application allows you to understand and learn personal finance basics to implement the budget rule
4. Discipline
To follow any budget, Discipline is needed. By maintaining motivation, you can be facilitated by establishing reasonable goals and rewarding yourself on occasion.
Conclusion
With a realistic and balanced approach to budgeting, the 50/30/20 rule makes it easier to manage your funds without feeling constrained. You can not only enjoy the pleasures of life but make your basic needs covered and safeguard your finances for the future. When wanting to make it easier to implement the 50/30/20 rule, you can choose to install the Spendable.
The application comes with endless features where you can track your expenses, create split events, shopping lists, family budgets and many more. Having more than 12000 users in a few months, we have raised the standards of how you can manage your finances. Also, our application is available for both Android and iOS devices.