Small Budget Big Life

Every budget starts with one number.

Your monthly take-home income, after tax. This is what you actually have to work with.

Not sure? Use your average over the last 3 months.

This is where it goes.

The order is the discipline. Most people fund lifestyle first and wonder why there is nothing left. We fund needs, giving, and investing before lifestyle gets a dollar.

Needs
50%
$0
Rent, utilities, groceries, transport. Fund these first.
Giving and Saving
20%
$0
Emergency fund and giving. Both non-negotiable.
Other / Lifestyle
20%
$0
The small things that make life enjoyable. Funded third.
Investing
10%
$0
Funded last. Never skipped. Even $30 counts.
When we started on $1,200/month in Taiwan, our investing bucket was $120. Some months we only managed $30. Six years later that account crossed $23,000. The order matters more than the amount.

Now make it yours.

The percentages give you the target. Your real expenses tell you where you actually are.

Needs Target: $0
Giving and Saving Target: $0
Other / Lifestyle Target: $0
Investing Target: $0
Your total accounted for: $0 of $0

Want to break this down category by category? The full template with every line item is in your inbox.

This is your budget.

One income. Four buckets. One system that works.

Monthly Take-Home Income
$0
Needs
50%
Actual: $0
Giving and Saving
20%
Actual: $0
Other / Lifestyle
20%
Actual: $0
Investing
10%
Actual: $0
Total Accounted For $0 of $0
The framework worked on $1,200/month in Taiwan. It works at any income. The only move that does not work is waiting.

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