$tackedHow to see where your money goes each month
Group your regular spending into categories, then divide each category by your monthly income. If rent is $900 and your income is $3,250, rent takes about 28% of your income.
A simple example
This example uses a monthly income of $3,250.
| Category | Per month | Share of income |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $900 | 27.7% |
| Car and gas | $500 | 15.4% |
| Groceries | $400 | 12.3% |
| Everything else | $800 | 24.6% |
| Left over | $650 | 20% |
How to do it yourself
- Find your monthly income. Convert any weekly or bi-weekly pay first.
- List your expenses from recent bank and card statements.
- Put each one in a category.
- Divide each category total by your income, then multiply by 100.
What to look for
- The biggest category. A small change here can matter more than cutting several little costs.
- Anything that surprises you. Small repeating costs are easy to miss until you add them up.
- What's left over. This is the number to watch from month to month.
Let the app do the math
Add your income and expenses once, and $tacked turns them into a clear monthly picture. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Questions
How do I work out what percent of my income goes to something?
Divide what you spend on it by your monthly income, then multiply by 100.
How often should I check my budget?
Often enough to catch changes. Many people find once a month is easy to keep up with.
Related guides
- How to budget with a bi-weekly paycheck
- Fixed vs. variable expenses: what is the difference?
- How to turn weekly, yearly and quarterly bills into a monthly number
- Replacing your budget spreadsheet: what to actually track
This guide is general information, not financial advice. The numbers are examples.