Allocate net income across expenses, savings, and debt.
Monthly surplus / deficit
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Total expenses
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Saving rate
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Spend rate
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Your breakdown
Updates live as you type
Step
Amount
Worked example
Take a net monthly income of R35,000. The living costs are R10,000 for housing and rates, R4,000 for transport and fuel, R6,000 for food and groceries, R5,000 for other costs and R3,000 in debt repayments, which is R28,000 of expenses in total. On top of that the household aims to put R4,000 into savings. The surplus is income less expenses less the savings target, so R35,000 minus R28,000 minus R4,000 leaves R3,000 unallocated. Spending runs at 80 percent of income and the savings target is 11.4 percent. The R3,000 left over is the lever: it can lift savings toward the 20 percent guideline, clear debt faster, or absorb a month where groceries or fuel run high.
How it is calculated
The calculator works on net income, the amount that actually lands in your account after PAYE and UIF, because that is the money you can allocate. It sums five spending lines plus your debt repayments into a single expenses figure, treats your savings target as a separate commitment, and subtracts both from income to show the surplus or deficit. A positive number is money you have not yet given a job; a negative number means the plan does not fit and either spending or the savings target has to come down. The spend rate and save rate express each as a share of income so you can sense-check the split against a rule of thumb such as 50/30/20. Budgeting on net income also keeps the picture honest, since gross salary overstates what you can spend by the full value of your monthly tax.
Frequently asked questions
How should I split my monthly budget in South Africa?
A common starting point is the 50/30/20 rule: roughly half of take-home pay on needs, a third on wants, and a fifth on savings and extra debt repayment. This calculator lets you enter your real expenses instead, then shows your leftover surplus or shortfall so you can adjust before the month begins.
Should I budget on gross salary or net take-home pay in South Africa?
Always budget on net take-home pay, which is the amount deposited into your bank account after PAYE tax and UIF deductions. Gross salary overstates your available funds by the full value of your monthly tax bill, so using it as the base leads to an overspend. SARS deducts PAYE automatically each month through your employer.
What counts as a necessary expense versus a discretionary expense?
Necessary expenses are costs that keep a roof over your head and allow you to earn an income: rent or bond repayments, utility bills, food, medical aid, transport to work, and minimum debt repayments. Discretionary expenses are wants you choose to spend on, such as streaming subscriptions, dining out, and clothing beyond basics. Separating the two helps you find cuts quickly when income drops.
How much should I save each month according to South African financial guidelines?
South African financial planners typically recommend saving at least 10 to 15 percent of net income each month, with 20 percent being an aspirational target aligned to the 50/30/20 rule. The National Credit Act does not set a savings minimum, but the National Treasury retirement framework suggests that consistent long-term saving of around 15 percent supports a comfortable retirement. Starting with any fixed amount and increasing it annually is more sustainable than a large target that gets skipped.