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Paycheck budget calculator
See which bills each paycheck has to cover and how much is left to spend, for your next four paydays.
Your next four paychecks
50/30/20 split of your take-home pay
A starting point for dividing what you earn.
| Part | Per paycheck | Per month |
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Save this plan and keep it current
In Clear-Budget your paychecks and bills repeat on their own, every bill shows the balance left after it, and you check things off as you pay them.
How to budget by paycheck
Most bills are due once a month, but most paychecks don't arrive once a month. If you're paid every two weeks, rent might come out of one check while the other only covers your phone bill. A monthly budget hides that: the month adds up, yet one week is tight and the next feels flush. Budgeting by paycheck gives each check its own job, so you know before payday which bills it has to cover.
To use the calculator, enter what actually lands in your account each payday, how often you're paid and the date of your next payday. Then list your monthly bills with the day each is due. The calculator lays out your next four pay periods, from one payday to the day before the next, and puts each bill in the period it falls in. A bill due on the 31st moves to the 30th in shorter months, the way most companies handle it.
"Left to spend" is the paycheck minus the bills in its period. That's the money for groceries, gas, savings and everything else until the next payday. If a number is red, that check comes up short: set aside some of the paycheck before it, or ask the company to move the due date. The 50/30/20 split shows a common rule of thumb: about half of take-home pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings or extra debt payments. Monthly figures assume 52 weekly, 26 every-two-weeks or 24 twice-a-month paychecks a year.
Questions
How do I budget by paycheck?
List your bills with the day of the month each one is due, then match each bill to the paycheck that arrives on or before its due date. Subtract those bills from that paycheck and what's left is yours to spend or save until the next payday.
Which paycheck should pay a bill?
The last paycheck you get before the bill is due. This calculator puts each bill in the pay period it falls in, from one payday up to the day before the next, so the money is in your account when the bill comes out.
What if a paycheck doesn't cover its bills?
Move a little from the paycheck before it. If the first paycheck of the month has $300 left and the second is $100 short, set aside $100 from the first. You can also ask a company to move a due date closer to a payday; many will.
What is the 50/30/20 rule?
A simple way to divide take-home pay: about 50% for needs like rent, utilities, groceries and minimum debt payments, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and paying off debt faster. Treat it as a starting point and adjust it to your costs.
How many paychecks do I get in a month?
Paid every two weeks, you get 26 paychecks a year, so two most months and three in two months of the year. Paid weekly, you get 52 a year, four or five a month. Paid twice a month, always two.
Is my information saved or sent anywhere?
No. The math runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to Clear-Budget. Your numbers are remembered on this device only, so they're still there if you come back.