Save-first budget calculator

Give every rand a job—starting with your future.

Build a complete household budget, provide for the costs people often forget and save before lifestyle spending begins.

Budget rule: Earn. Save first. Spend with purpose. Review.
01

Money in

Start with income you can actually use

Gross salaries set the retirement benchmark. Net salaries are the amounts paid into your bank account after payroll deductions. If you are unsure of your net pay, use the income tax calculator first.

Available each monthR 36 000

Salary income

Other income sourcesBusiness, rental, grants, investments, bonuses and more—entered net of taxR 0

Enter amounts net of tax. Use the money that will actually be available in your bank account. If tax is not withheld when you receive the income, first allow for the tax you expect to pay and enter only the remaining amount.

02

Pay yourself first

Savings are a commitment—not what is left over.

Retirement contributions already deducted from a payslip count toward the target but are not deducted from bank cash flow again.

Retirement savings benchmark15%of combined gross salary · minimum benchmark 15%
15%

15% benchmark funded. Keep saving before spending.

Planned saving from your bank accountR 3 000 / monthPlus R 7 500 already saved through payroll.
03

Plan your spending

Make the invisible expenses visible

Open each category. Annual amounts are automatically divided by 12 so predictable costs do not become emergencies.

Planned expensesR 28 996
01Home and utilitiesThe cost of keeping your household running.R 10 600/ month
02Food and householdGroceries plus the small household costs that add up.R 4 500/ month
03Transport and vehiclesInclude ownership costs—not only the instalment.R 5 421/ month
04Health and protectionMedical costs and cover that protect your income and family.R 3 900/ month
05Children and educationRegular costs and the annual school-calendar surprises.R 0/ month
06Debt and obligationsEnter required repayments; extra saving comes before lifestyle spending.R 0/ month
07Communication and subscriptionsReview recurring debits that can quietly multiply.R 1 700/ month
08Lifestyle and personalEnjoy your money—after priorities have been funded.R 2 350/ month
09Family, pets and supportMake visible the costs carried for people and animals you care for.R 0/ month
10Annual, irregular and customTurn predictable surprises into monthly provisions.R 525/ month
04

Your budget review

Your budget has breathing room

Savings are funded first and your planned spending is covered.

Cash remaining after savings and expensesR 4 004,17per month
Monthly income availableR 36 000
Total monthly savingsR 10 50024,1% of money before payroll retirement saving
Essential expensesR 25 571Basic living and committed costs marked essential, including housing, basic food, necessary transport, healthcare, debt and dependant support.
Flexible expensesR 3 425Costs marked easier to adjust, such as takeaways, streaming, eating out, holidays, gifts and hobbies. Flexible does not mean unimportant.
Emergency-fund cover1,2 monthsBased on essential expenses entered
Annual surplus or shortfallR 48 050

Where your bank-account income goes

Payroll retirement saving is shown separately because it happened before net salary reached your bank.

Savings from bank R 3 000 Expenses R 28 996 Remaining R 4 004 Payroll retirement R 7 500

Your spending profile

Monthly equivalent by category

Home and utilities
R 10 600
Food and household
R 4 500
Transport and vehicles
R 5 421
Health and protection
R 3 900
Communication and subscriptions
R 1 700
Lifestyle and personal
R 2 350
Annual, irregular and custom
R 525

Budget prompts

Your main provisions are included. Review the amounts regularly.

Largest flexible amounts

  1. Takeaways and convenience foodR 500 / month
  2. Clothing and shoesR 500 / month
  3. Restaurants and coffeeR 500 / month
These are possible review points—not automatic recommendations to cut.
i

How this budget works

The calculator starts with monthly income available in your bank, funds savings next and then deducts a comprehensive list of expenses. Annual expenses and income are divided by 12. Payroll retirement contributions count toward the retirement benchmark without being deducted from bank cash flow twice.

Principles and assumptions

Save first · spend with purpose
Retirement benchmark
At least 15%
Of combined gross salary, including payroll and additional retirement contributions.
Budget period
Monthly
Annual and occasional entries are converted to monthly equivalents.
Payroll saving
Not double-counted
It counts as saving but is assumed to be excluded from net salary received.
Emergency cover
Illustrative
Current emergency-fund balance divided by essential monthly expenses entered.
Tax
Already deducted
Net salary is assumed to be after PAYE, UIF and payroll deductions.
Your information
Entered in your browser
This calculator does not ask you to submit or create an account for your budget.