India's Smartest Budget Planner
Monthly Budget Planner
Enter your take-home salary and instantly get a complete personalised budget. See exactly how much to spend on rent, groceries, SIP and entertainment every month.
✓ 50/30/20 rule
✓ 20+ budget categories
✓ Budget health score
✓ India-specific amounts
Budget Planning FAQs
Common questions about budgeting in India
What is the 50/30/20 rule? +
The 50/30/20 rule is a simple budgeting framework: spend 50% of take-home salary on Needs (rent, food, utilities, EMIs), 30% on Wants (entertainment, dining out, shopping), and save/invest 20%. It was popularised by US Senator Elizabeth Warren. For Indians in high-cost cities like Mumbai or Bangalore, a 60/20/20 split may be more realistic given higher rent-to-income ratios.
How much should I save from my salary in India? +
Financial experts recommend saving at least 20% of your take-home salary. For wealth building and FIRE goals, aim for 30-50%. As a practical starting point: build an emergency fund of 6 months expenses first, then start a SIP. Even ₹1,000/month SIP started at 22 becomes ₹1 crore by 60. Start small, increase by 10% every year.
How much should rent be as a percentage of salary? +
Globally the rule is rent should not exceed 30% of take-home salary. In Indian metros this is often breached — Mumbai and Bangalore rents can easily be 40-50% of a fresher's salary. If your rent exceeds 35%, consider: getting a flatmate, moving to a slightly farther location, or negotiating a raise. High rent is the #1 budget killer for young Indians.
How do I actually stick to a budget? +
The most effective method: automate your savings on salary day. Set up an auto-debit SIP and FD transfer the day you get paid. Budget what's left. This "pay yourself first" approach removes willpower from the equation. Also: track every expense for 30 days using any UPI app — seeing the data shocks most people into cutting unnecessary spending.
Should EMIs be in Needs or Wants? +
Home loan EMI should be in Needs (it's building an asset). Car loan EMI for a car needed for work = Needs. Car loan for a luxury car = Wants. Personal loan EMI = depends on what it was for. Credit card dues = Needs (pay off immediately, never carry a balance). Total EMIs should ideally not exceed 35-40% of take-home salary.