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Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck (Image: Canva)
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News18•06-10-2026, 15:30
Master Your Salary With The 70/10/10/10 Budget Rule
  • •The 70/10/10/10 budget splits your take-home pay into four clear categories to balance living costs, savings, investments, and debt repayment.
  • •Allocate up to 70 percent of your salary to essential household costs like rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation.
  • •Reserve 10 percent as a financial shock absorber for emergencies, repairs, or predictable yearly expenses instead of relying on credit cards.
  • •Direct 10 percent towards long-term wealth creation such as mutual funds or retirement plans to build future financial security.
  • •Dedicate 10 percent specifically toward paying down high-cost debts faster to reduce your overall interest burden.

Key Questions Answered

The 70/10/10/10 budgeting framework divides your take-home salary into four practical categories to manage living costs and build wealth: 70 percent for essential household costs, 10 percent as a financial shock absorber, 10 percent for long-term investments, and 10 percent specifically toward paying down debt.

You should allocate up to 70 percent of your salary to cover essential household costs like rent, home loans, utilities, groceries, insurance premiums, and transportation.

SEBI advises tracking monthly expenses, creating a practical budget, and prioritizing basic needs before desires if your routine costs exceed 70 percent. Additionally, RBI recommends keeping at least three months of living expenses in an accessible savings account as an emergency reserve.