The one number that matters
Take your monthly take-home income. Subtract your fixed costs (rent/mortgage, utilities, subscriptions, insurance, loan payments). What remains is your variable spending budget. That is the only number you need to manage actively — fixed costs are automated.
The 50/30/20 framework
A rough starting framework: 50% of take-home on needs (housing, food, transport), 30% on wants (eating out, entertainment, clothes), 20% on savings and debt repayment. The percentages are guidelines — someone in London paying 70% of income in rent needs to adjust. The principle matters more than the numbers.
Make it visible
A budget only works if you look at it. Print our free monthly budget template on the first of each month, fill it in on payday, and post it somewhere visible. A budget you cannot see is a budget you will not use.
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