What is the 70 20 10 rule for investing?

Asked by: Veronica Hessel  |  Last update: January 30, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (70 votes)

The 70-20-10 budget formula divides your after-tax income into three buckets: 70% for living expenses, 20% for savings and debt, and 10% for additional savings and donations. By allocating your available income into these three distinct categories, you can better manage your money on a daily basis.

Which is better, 50/30/20 or 70/20/10?

It can work well if your essential expenses are within 50% of your income and you want a balanced approach to spending and saving. 70/20/10 Rule: May be better if you aim to save more aggressively or have higher essential expenses that exceed 50% of your income.

What is the 40 30 20 10 investment strategy?

The most common way to use the 40-30-20-10 rule is to assign 40% of your income — after taxes — to necessities such as food and housing, 30% to discretionary spending, 20% to savings or paying off debt and 10% to charitable giving or meeting financial goals.

What is the 70/20/10 budget rule example?

First, calculate your monthly take-home pay, then multiply it by 0.70 to get the amount you can spend on living expenses and discretionary purchases, such as entertainment and travel. Next, multiply your monthly income by 0.20 to get your savings allotment and 0.10 to get your debt repayment.

What is the 50/30/20 rule of money?

One of the most common types of percentage-based budgets is the 50/30/20 rule. The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings.

Budget Money Rules: 70/20/10 vs 50/30/20 - Which is BEST?

30 related questions found

What is the 40-40-20 budget rule?

The 40/40/20 rule comes in during the saving phase of his wealth creation formula. Cardone says that from your gross income, 40% should be set aside for taxes, 40% should be saved, and you should live off of the remaining 20%.

How to budget $3,000 a month?

Here's an example: If you make $3,000 each month after taxes, $1,500 should go toward necessities, $900 for wants and $600 for savings and debt paydown. Find out how this budgeting approach applies to your money.

What is the 70/20/10 rule in stocks?

The 70:20:10 rule helps safeguard SIPs by allocating 70% to low-risk, 20% to medium-risk, and 10% to high-risk investments, ensuring stability, balanced growth, and high returns while managing market fluctuations.

What is the 60 40 rule in money?

It says you should aim to keep 60% of your holdings in stocks, and 40% in bonds. Stocks can yield robust returns, but they are volatile. Bonds provide modest but stable income, and they serve as a buffer when stock prices fall. The 60/40 rule is one of the most familiar principles in personal finance.

How much money should be left over each month?

The answer will depend on your income, expenses, and financial goals. Here's a closer look. Ideally, you want to have 20% of your take-home pay left over after paying all of your bills. Track spending using an app or spreadsheet to determine why there isn't more money left over after bills.

What is the 80 10 10 investment strategy?

A 30-something investor who is willing to assume more risk in exchange for higher return potential might opt for an 80/10/10 portfolio, with 80 percent of her portfolio invested in stocks, 10 percent in bonds, and 10 percent in cash.

What is the rule number 1 in investing?

Rule No.

1 is never lose money. Rule No.

What is 4 3 2 1 investment strategy?

Analyzing the 4-3-2-1 Rule in Real Estate

This rule outlines the ideal financial outcomes for a rental property. It suggests that for every rental property, investors should aim for a minimum of 4 properties to achieve financial stability, 3 of those properties should be debt-free, generating consistent income.

Is 70:20:10 outdated?

70-20-10 Is Good In Theory, But Nobody Does It

The 70-20-10 model is aspirational, but it's not being implemented. The Association for Talent Development concedes that on-the-job learning is difficult to track and measure.

What is the best money rule?

The 50/30/20 rule is a streamlined plan for anyone looking to spend and save responsibly. This rule recommends that you spend 50% of your post-tax income on necessities (housing, food, utilities, transportation, insurance, childcare); and 30% on wants (travel, gym memberships, cable, dining out, etc.).

What is the 80 20 rule for retirement?

Using the 80/20 budgeting method, 80% of your income goes toward monthly expenses and spending, while the other 20% goes toward savings and investments.

Can I retire at 60 with $100,000?

“With a nest egg of $100,000, that would only cover two years of expenses without considering any additional income sources like Social Security,” Ross explained. “So, while it's not impossible, it would likely require a very frugal lifestyle and additional income streams to be comfortable.”

Are bonds still a good investment in 2024?

Strong 2024 performance may be tough to replicate given tight credit spreads, but we still have a favorable view on corporate bond investments given the strong economy.

What is the 50% cash rule?

The 50% rule in real estate says that investors should expect a property's operating expenses to be roughly 50% of its gross income. This is useful for estimating potential cash flow from a rental property, but it's not always foolproof.

What is the 70/20/10 model with examples?

With the 70:20:10 model you learn 70% from “on the job” experience and from doing. You learn 20% from others in the way of observing, coaching and mentoring and 10% is down to formal training like courses, reading and online learning. You never forget how to ride a bike!

What is the 4% rule all stocks?

One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement. In subsequent years, you adjust the dollar amount you withdraw to account for inflation.

Can you live off $3,000 a month in retirement?

You can retire comfortably on $3,000 a month in retirement income by choosing to retire in a place with a cost of living that matches your financial resources. Housing cost is the key factor since it's both the largest component of retiree budgets and the household cost that varies most according to geography.

How to save $1 000 in 3 months?

Set a clear timeline

Breaking down the amount you need to save in shorter intervals can help you make concrete changes to your monthly budget and make the end goal more tangible. If you wanted to save $1,000 in three months, for example, you'd need to save roughly $84 per week.

Can you live with $5,000 dollars a month?

Outside the most expensive parts of the United States, $5,000 per month is typically enough to cover rent or mortgage payments and other lifestyle expenses if you're mindful of your budget.