How to

How to budget your salary

The secret to budgeting a salary is timing: decide where it goes on payday, before day-to-day spending decides for you.

Here's how to allocate a monthly salary well.

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  1. 01

    Budget on payday

    The day your salary lands is when you plan it — assign it to categories before it starts leaking.

  2. 02

    Cover needs and fixed costs first

    Set aside rent, bills, EMIs and other essentials right away.

  3. 03

    Automate or set aside savings

    Move savings early in the month so they aren't just whatever survives to month-end.

  4. 04

    Track the discretionary part

    Watch the flexible spending closely, since that's where a salary usually slips.

Doing it with Balance

Balance is built for this rhythm: set your expected salary credit date, plan allocations around it, and track your spending against the plan all month — with a safe-to-spend widget on your home screen.

Frequently asked questions

How should I split my salary?

A common starting point is 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings — allocated on payday. Balance lets you plan around your salary date and track against those amounts.

Is Balance really free?

Yes. Balance is free to use with no ads and no mandatory subscription. Core expense tracking, categories, analytics, receipt scanning and CSV export are all included at no cost.

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