Monthly budget for £17,700 a month
On £17,700 of take-home pay a month, the 50/30/20 rule splits your money three ways. Here is what that looks like in pounds, with one example of how to divide it up.
Needs
£8,850
50% a month
Wants
£5,310
30% a month
Savings and debt
£3,540
20% a month
One way to divide it up
An example only - your own rent, travel and bills will shift these around.
| Category | Group | A month |
|---|---|---|
| Rent or mortgage | Needs | £5,310 |
| Energy, water and council tax | Needs | £1,416 |
| Groceries | Needs | £1,770 |
| Transport | Needs | £1,239 |
| Phone, broadband and insurance | Needs | £885 |
| Eating out and entertainment | Wants | £1,770 |
| Shopping and hobbies | Wants | £1,770 |
| Holidays, gifts and other | Wants | £1,770 |
| Savings and investments | Savings and debt | £2,655 |
| Extra debt repayment or pension | Savings and debt | £885 |
Build your own budget
Your pay after tax, plus any other regular monthly income
Needs
£1,775
Essentials you can't easily go without. Guideline: 50% of take-home pay.
Wants
£445
Lifestyle spending you choose. Guideline: 30% of take-home pay.
Savings and debt
£150
Saving, investing and clearing debt faster. Guideline: 20% of take-home pay.
Monthly budget
Left Over Each Month
£15,330.00
Against the 50/30/20 guideline
£7,075 a month under the 50% guideline
£4,865 a month under the 30% guideline
£3,390 a month under the 20% guideline
The 50/30/20 split (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings and debt) is a rule of thumb, not a rule. High rents push many UK households above 50% on needs, which is fine as long as the budget still balances and something goes to savings. Use it to spot where the money is going, not as a pass or fail.
Why the split is a guide, not a target
On £17,700 a month, a strict 50/30/20 split leaves £8,850 for essentials. In much of the UK, rent alone can take most of that, so spending more than 50% on needs is common and not a failure. The point of the split is to see the shape of your spending and decide what to change, whether that is a big fixed cost or a few discretionary categories that have crept up.
Other monthly incomes
Want it based on your real spending?
Enter your actual bills and see what is left and where it is going.