Budgeting 50-30-20 rule explained: understand all the details

Learn about the 50-30-20 budget rule in a simple way

If you’re looking for a simple and practical way to organize your personal finances, the 50-30-20 rule could be the ideal solution. This methodology is easy to understand and can be applied to any financial situation, helping you to maintain a balance between what you earn, spend and save.

But what is it, how does it work and, most importantly, how can you put it into practice in your daily life? Below, we’ll go into more detail about this method. So read on to the end!

What is the 50-30-20 rule?

The 50-30-20 rule is a financial planning strategy designed to simplify your money management.

It divides your net income (i.e. the amount left over after deductions such as taxes and contributions) into three broad categories:

• 50% for necessities: essential expenses that you can’t avoid, such as housing, food, transportation, electricity, water and internet bills.
• 30% for wants: expenses that make life more enjoyable but are not essential, such as going out for dinner, travel, entertainment and hobbies.
• 20% for savings or investments: money set aside for financial goals, emergencies and building a more peaceful future.

This division helps to create a solid foundation for your financial planning, without giving up small pleasures and ensuring that you are building a security fund.

How to apply the 50-30-20 rule?

Now that you know more about the 50-30-20 rule, it’s time to learn how to apply this method to your day-to-day budget. Remember that with this rule, you can better organize your finances.

Want to learn how to apply this rule? Then let’s take a simple, step-by-step approach to putting it into practice.

1. Find out your net income

First of all, it’s important to know exactly how much you earn net per month. This includes your salary after statutory deductions and any other source of income you have, such as freelancing or rent.

For example, if your salary is R$5,000, but after deductions you receive R$4,000, this is the amount that will be divided.

2. List your monthly expenses

Now it’s time to put everything on the tip of the pencil (or in a spreadsheet, if you prefer). Write down all your expenses and categorize them into needs, wants and savings. This is an important step in understanding where you are spending your money and adjusting as necessary.

Example expenses:

• Needs: rent, groceries, electricity and water bills, transportation.
• Wants: streaming subscriptions, restaurants, travel.
• Savings: investment funds or emergency reserve.

3. Adjust your expenses

With the data in hand, analyze whether the current amounts are within the 50-30-20 ratio. If you notice that you are spending more than 50% on necessities, for example, it may be time to review your lifestyle or look for ways to save money, such as renegotiating bills or cutting waste.

4. Create goals and monitor the results

It’s not enough just to set up a plan; you need to follow it up regularly to make sure you’re on the right track. Use financial control apps or a simple spreadsheet to monitor your progress.

Why does the 50-30-20 rule work?

The simplicity of the rule is what makes it so effective. It creates clear limits for each type of expense, helping you to avoid overdoing it and ensuring that you pay attention to what really matters. Another point is that it is flexible: it can be adapted to your financial reality.

For example, if you have a tighter income, you may need to temporarily adjust the percentages, such as 60-20-20 or 50-20-30. The important thing is to maintain discipline and the end goal.

What are the advantages of applying the rule?

In principle, by adopting the 50-30-20 rule, you gain more clarity about your finances and reduce financial stress. But what are the benefits? Check out all the advantages of this budgeting method!

• Financial control: you know exactly where you’re spending and can avoid unpleasant surprises;
• Freedom to spend on what you like: the 30% set aside for desires allows you to have fun without guilt;
• Security for the future: with the 20% set aside for savings, you build up an emergency reserve and achieve long-term financial goals;
• Flexibility: the rule can be adjusted as your needs change.

The 50-30-20 rule is an excellent way of maintaining a balance between spending, saving and enjoying life. It provides a basis for you not to lose control of your finances and still achieve your dreams, big and small. Start organizing your finances today by following this rule and see how your relationship with money can change!

Written by

Juliana Raquel