Budgeting
Budget & Cash Flow Worksheet
Plan your monthly income and expenses using the 50/30/20 framework. Understand exactly where your money goes and find opportunities to save more.
Target Allocation 50/30/20 Framework
%
%
%
Targets should sum to 100% for a meaningful comparison. Current total: 100%
Monthly Income
$
Side income, rental, benefits
$
Needs — Essential Expenses
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Wants — Discretionary
$
$
$
$
$
$
Savings & Extra Debt Payoff
$
$
$
$
Results
Net Monthly Cash Flow
$0
—
Savings Rate
0%
of net income
Total Income / mo
$0
Monthly net income
Needs
$0
0% of income
Wants
$0
0% of income
Savings / Debt
$0
0% of income
Total Allocated
$0
0% of income
Actual vs Target Breakdown
Needs
0%
Target: 50%
Wants
0%
Target: 30%
Savings / Debt
0%
Target: 20%
Unallocated
0%
Actual vs Target — Visual Comparison
How your spending compares to your 50/30/20 targets
Actual %
Target %
How to Interpret This Worksheet
- 50/30/20 Rule
- A common budgeting guideline: 50% of net income to needs, 30% to wants, 20% to savings and extra debt repayment. It is a starting benchmark — adjust the targets for each client’s situation (e.g. high cost-of-living areas often require a higher needs share).
- Net Cash Flow
- Income minus everything allocated above. A positive number is unallocated surplus — an opportunity to increase savings or invest more. A negative number means spending exceeds income and the client may be relying on credit or drawing down savings.
- Savings Rate
- The Savings/Debt percentage is the client’s savings rate. Above 15–20% is generally considered strong for long-term goals such as retirement or financial independence.
- Needs vs. Wants
- Some categories (e.g. transport) can be split between essential and discretionary. Use consistent judgment across review periods so trends stay comparable over time.
This worksheet is a coaching aid and is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute tax, legal, or regulated financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional for personalised guidance.