The 50/30/20 budget, made simple

The 50/30/20 rule is an easy way to balance your spending. It splits your take-home pay into three buckets — no spreadsheets required.

The three buckets

50% goes to needs (rent, bills, food, transport), 30% to wants (eating out, hobbies, subscriptions), and 20% to your future (saving, investing, and paying down debt).

Treat it as a starting point, not a straitjacket. If your rent is high, adjust the percentages — the real win is giving every pound a job, especially that 20% for future-you.