Free tool · INR
Zero-Based Budget Calculator
Plan your month the zero-based way: enter your take-home pay, give every rupee a job, and adjust until nothing is left to assign. Built for Indian salaries — rent, EMIs, SIPs, money sent home and festival funds included. It runs entirely in your browser.
Try it
Give every rupee a job
Change your take-home pay or any job until nothing is left to assign.
How to use the calculator
- Enter your take-home pay — what actually lands in your account each month, not your CTC.
- Fill the fixed jobs first: rent, EMIs, insurance, SIPs and your emergency fund.
- Add irregular costs as monthly amounts. Expect ₹24,000 for Diwali? Plan ₹2,000 a month.
- Plan everyday spending from last month's real numbers, not hopeful ones.
- Balance to ₹0. Positive means money without a job — send it to a goal. Negative means you've planned more than you earn — trim a flexible category.
What “zero” really means
A zero-based budget doesn't mean spending everything. Savings, SIPs and your emergency fund are jobs too. Zero means every rupee has a purpose before the month begins — the core idea behind zero-based budgeting in India.
After the calculator: keep the plan alive
A plan is only as good as the month that follows it. Record spends as they happen, check categories once a week and move money when needed. Our guide to budget management lays out a 30-minute monthly routine, and personal finance in India shows where budgeting fits in your bigger financial plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is a zero-based budget calculator?
It's a tool that helps you plan a zero-based budget: you enter your monthly take-home pay, assign amounts to each job your money does, and the calculator shows how much is still left to assign. When it reaches ₹0, every rupee has a job.
Should I enter my CTC or take-home salary?
Use take-home pay — the amount that actually reaches your bank account after TDS, PF and other deductions. You can only plan money you actually receive.
What if the calculator shows a negative number?
You've planned more than you earn. Reduce flexible categories like eating out or shopping, or move a goal to next month, until the result is ₹0.
Is my data saved or sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is stored or sent to us.
How do I track the budget after planning it?
Record spends against each category through the month and move money between categories when reality differs. Samya, our zero-based budget app for iPhone, is built to do exactly this.