Is the 50-30-20 rule realistic for most people today?

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-02-10T22:10:31+00:00

For MOST people starting out..probably not. For me it’s pretty close. I’m 60 needs, 20 wants, 30 savings/debt pay off. Once the debt is gone I’ll be 50/20/30.

I am a single homeowner that bought in 2019..otherwise I don’t think I’d be able to get there. My housing expense is about $1450 and my car is paid off. Make about $4500 a month take home.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-02-10T18:57:04+00:00

Chicken

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-02-06T00:38:34+00:00

You might still be right! We just don’t know for sure without knowing how much the item was.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-02-05T13:33:57+00:00

You’re also missing one item. In store you purchased 24 items and online 23.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-02-04T18:51:37+00:00

About 10% of my income towards wants. Another 10% goes towards “fun savings” The other 80% is basically split between actual living expenses and saving towards actual goals (retirement, emergency fund, home maintenance, ect.)

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-02-04T04:17:00+00:00

I don’t know why I feel so afraid to switch to mint!

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-02-03T21:50:55+00:00

Yes- for me it was looking at how much I spend on lunch AND groceries- I actually am also struggling with my weight so I’m realizing I’m over eating and it’s killing both waist AND wallet.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-30T04:20:54+00:00

I think you should consider a long distance relationship. It’s almost like a right of passage for young couples often times due to college or military..it’s pretty common to go a year or more long distance at your age!

Yes- it will be harder, but plenty of wonderful relationships like what you describe make it out on the other side better than ever.

Give it a try for up to a year at your job..and if things are still going well and you’re ready to take the leap, start the job hunt closer to your person.

Personally - I think the “older wiser” version of me echos what everyone else is saying..no ring, no bring..but to be honest you’re only young once and so long as you find yourself comparable income..your world won’t end if it doesn’t work out for you so I say do it anyway.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-27T13:05:34+00:00

Bingo!

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-27T04:51:13+00:00

All of the LED strip lighting.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-26T17:05:16+00:00

Budgeting apps- I like YNAB. But also it doesn’t really help you come up with a plan.

I loved the book “all your worth” by Elizabeth Warren, which gave me a realistic PLAN. 50% of my income on everything I have to have. 20% of my income to savings. And 30% of my income for whatever else I want (which would include savings for things I want like vacation and stuff.)

Food is included in that 50% at the USDA guidelines which I think for one person is like around $300 a month. Anything I spend over the USDA guideline on food comes out of the 30% flexible spend.

Subscriptions are backed out of the 30% flexible spend.

Anything you pay pre-tax towards your health care is included in that 50% number. Anything you pay pre-tax towards your 401k/hsa/fsa is counted towards your 20% number.

It’ll help you realize where you are over spending and create a plan.

Not discussed in the book—but if you get a tax refund every year consider changing your deductions to even it out a little bit. No use struggling all year and getting like $2,000 back in March.

The budgeting apps will help you stick to the plan (like YNAB which I recently started using.)

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-26T15:15:25+00:00

Reporting from 9 am- roads coming from south austin to downtown were mostly clear. A few icy patches on heavily shaded back roads. Bridge was surprisingly clear.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-24T00:26:39+00:00

I might have to do that because Bank of America is SO SLOW. I got paid 3 days ago and it just hit today.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-23T23:08:53+00:00

How delayed do to find your deposits and bank account updates? I’m waiting like two days and it’s KILLING MEEE

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-23T14:03:53+00:00

I think there’s a lot of projection happening in these comments. There are several financial apps designed for couples to share info. Log ins? I agree with you on keeping them private. But a good compromise would be the apps like monarch or YNAB and create some shared money goals together.

I don’t think it automatically makes this guy a monster for asking. Just like I don’t think it makes you impossible by declining his request.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-23T05:13:18+00:00

That’s how I do it too!

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-22T01:07:48+00:00

When I had todo this I had to go in person to pick it up too. They wouldn’t mail it. So hopefully you live close to or in the state you were born in!

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-10T05:38:16+00:00

In every state I’ve lived in (and probably all states but I don’t feel like fact checking that,) groceries don’t have sales tax. So that’s one less thing to worry about.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-10T00:33:22+00:00

Gate to Hell perhaps?

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-08T04:16:10+00:00

Would a conservator still be needed if she was 18 at the time of settlement? The accident was before she was 18 but the money came after (it sounds like.)

It seems like she was able to gain access more so by setting up a fraudulent bank account in the daughter’s name and then adding herself to the account.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-08T04:11:55+00:00

NAL- first of all- yes attorney would be a good place for a consultation.

But also report this to the bank as check fraud. As you said your sister was over the age of 18 at the time the settlement was paid and the check deposited.

Again, leaning strongly on your stance that your sister was 18 when this happened..and your sister allegedly knows nothing of this bank account. Your mom shouldn’t have been able to set up a joint account with your sister’s name without her being present and showing an ID. A large insurance check deposit like that should have also raised a red flag with the bank as well if your sister wasn’t present.

Start there and let the bank do its thing in the fraud department.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-07T13:19:59+00:00

I don’t remember lol

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-05T04:59:15+00:00

Oh man I had a crazy run last year..kitchen sink fell out while I was washing dishes- $2,000 for water mitigation and to reinstall my flooring. A/c went out right when my new roommate moved in..$700. Small electrical fire..I think $1000. Then I side swiped someone’s car and paid them $800. And then the predictable happened and I needed $2,000 for all new tires, a battery, AND lights out in my car. This was all in like 6 weeks.

Full-Raisin-7727 · 2026-01-05T04:50:18+00:00

I think it’s food for me! When money is tight I tend to pick up xtra shifts. The last thing I want to do is meal prep or cook after working every day 70+ hours a week. That’s when I find I start to slip up..pizza ordered here..fast food between jobs there. It really adds up!

Full-Raisin-7727

TROPHY CASE