Budget Planner
Take control of your finances by planning exactly where your money goes.
Example: The 50/30/20 Rule
How a $4,000 monthly income should be allocated for financial health:
- • Rent/Mortgage
- • Groceries
- • Utilities
- • Transport
- • Dining Out
- • Entertainment
- • Hobbies
- • Shopping
- • Emergency Fund
- • Investments
- • Debt Repayment
- • Super Top-up
1. Your Income
2. Expenses
No expenses added yet.
Summary (weekly)
"The 50/30/20 rule suggests spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings."
Complete Guide to Budget Planning
Why Use a Budget Planner?
Budgeting isn't about restricting yourself; it's about making sure your money is going towards the things that actually matter to you. A budget planner helps you visualize your cash flow, so you can stop wondering where your money went and start telling it where to go.
Our free Australian Budget Planner is designed to help you take control of your finances, pay off debt, and build wealth.
How It Works
- Add Income: Enter your take-home pay (net income) from all sources. You can add multiple income streams with different frequencies (e.g., weekly wages + monthly side hustle).
- Track Expenses: List your regular expenses. We've categorized them into "Needs" (Rent, Utilities) and "Wants" (Entertainment, Dining) to help you analyze your spending habits.
- Review Balance: The planner automatically calculates your surplus (savings) or deficit (overspending) for the year.
- Set Goals: Use the insights to adjust your spending and reach your savings goals faster.
The 50/30/20 Rule
A popular and effective budgeting strategy is the 50/30/20 rule. Our planner helps you visualize how close you are to this ideal balance:
Why Australians Love This Tool
- 100% Private: Your financial data never leaves your browser. We don't store or see your budget.
- Australian Pay Cycles: Built for weekly, fortnightly, and monthly pay frequencies common in Australia.
- Annual Projections: See the long-term impact of your daily coffee habit.
- Emergency Fund Calculator: Automatically calculates your 3-month safety net goal.
- Visual Charts: Interactive pie charts make it easy to see where your money goes.
- Free Forever: No subscriptions, no hidden fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Budget Planner work?
Enter your net income (after tax) and frequency, then add your expenses by category. The planner automatically calculates your remaining balance and shows you annual projections, daily breakdowns, and savings milestones.
What's the difference between income and net income?
Net income is your take-home pay after tax, Medicare levy, and other deductions. You can use our Tax Calculator to determine your net income from your gross salary.
How are annual projections calculated?
Annual projections are calculated by multiplying your income and expenses by the appropriate frequency multiplier (52 for weekly, 26 for fortnightly, 12 for monthly). This gives you a clear picture of your yearly financial situation.
What is an emergency fund?
An emergency fund is a savings buffer typically equal to 3-6 months of expenses. Our Budget Planner calculates a 3-month emergency fund goal based on your current expenses and shows you how long it will take to save at your current rate.
Can I save my budget?
Currently, budgets are stored in your browser session. We recommend taking a screenshot or printing your budget for future reference. Your data never leaves your device for privacy.