Everyday Money Habits · Worksheet

Give every dollar a job.

A budget is just deciding where money goes before it goes there. Start with your monthly take-home, list what you actually spend in each of three piles, and total each one against the 50/30/20 target.

Beginner
Teen

Name

Date

Audience: For anyone giving every dollar a job
Time: About 20 minutes
Materials: Last month's take-home pay · a pen

Objective

Start from your take-home pay and give every dollar a job across needs, wants, and savings — with the 50/30/20 target beside your own numbers.

Use this when

Money feels like it disappears each month and you want a one-page plan you can redo every paycheck.

The 50/30/20 starting shape — half to needs, a third to wants, a fifth to savings and debt payoff. A starting point, not a law; the totals you fill in below are what actually matter. (The 50/30/20 rule — Warren & Warren Tyagi, All Your Worth.)

Monthly take-homewhat lands in your account after taxes and deductions$

Needs target 50%rent, food, utilities, transport, minimum debt payments

Target — take-home × 50%$

Needs total$

Wants target 30%eating out, subscriptions, hobbies, travel

Target — take-home × 30%$

Wants total$

Savings & debt payoff target 20%emergency fund, investing, extra above minimum payments

Target — take-home × 20%$

Savings & debt payoff total$

Does it add up?the three totals should add back to your take-home — if not, find the gap$

Reflection

One category you'll trim next month — and where that dollar goes instead:

Based on the budget builder.