T
he 70/20/10 rule of money is a popular guideline for personal finance. It’s also called the “One-Third Rule” or the “Rule of 33%.” This rule recommends that you spend 70% of your time, energy, and money on things that are important to your well-being, 20% on things that make you happy, and 10% on everything else. The idea behind this rule is to help you live a balanced life and protect yourself from overspending. To do this, it encourages people to focus more time and energy on their passions and relationships. Spending each day doing what they love will keep them from feeling burnt out or resentful later in life. The one-third rule can help us make sure we don’t forget about ourselves when we’re running around taking care of everyone else!
How does the 70/20/10 rule of money work?
The 70/20/10 rule of money is a guideline, not a rule. It’s a way to help you maintain balance in life. This means that every person’s needs are different and every situation is unique, so there is no one-size-fits-all for the 70/20/10 rule. The idea behind it is to help you prioritize and make sure that your finances aren’t getting out of control. You can use the 70/20/10 rule by asking yourself what percentage of your time, energy, and money you are spending on each category. Remember that this isn’t an exact science; it’s just a way to give yourself some guidelines for how much time and energy you should be using on each category.
How can you use the 70/20/10 rule of time?
1. Think about how much of your time you spend working. Take into account both your paid work and the hours you spend doing household chores, volunteering, or taking care of a family member. If you’re spending more than 70% of your time working, consider whether you really want to be working this much. If so, make sure that your work is something that satisfies you and is worth it to you financially.
2. Think about how much of your time is spent on leisure activities like hobbies and entertainment (20%). If this number seems low for how much free time you think you have, consider how much time some of these activities are taking up. If you’re spending a ton of time watching TV or playing video games, maybe you need to scale back and make more time for the things you really enjoy.
3. Think about how much money you’re spending on your leisure activities (10%). If this number seems low, is it because most of your leisure activities are free or low cost? Or is it because you’re spending too much money on your hobbies? If you find that the latter is true, try cutting back on some of these expenses.
4. Think about how much time and energy you spend pursuing financial goals (70%). This can include everything from paying bills to investing for retirement to planning for retirement to working a side hustle. If this number seems high, is it because you’re spending a lot of time working toward financial goals? Or is it because you’re not making enough progress with your financial goals?
If the latter is true, consider trying to spend less time on work and more time on leisure activities. This can help combat feelings of overwhelming.
5. Think about how much time and energy you spend pursuing non-financial goals (10%). This can include everything from taking care of your health to maintaining a healthy relationship to volunteering in the community. If this number seems low, is it because you don’t have that many non-financial goals? Or is it because you’re spending too much time on work and not enough on these other things?
If the latter is true, try taking some time to pursue these goals.
6. Think about how much time and energy you spend pursuing financial goals (10%). This can include everything from paying bills to investing for retirement to planning for retirement to working a side hustle. If this number seems low, is it because you’re not pursuing many financial goals? Or is it because you’re spending too much time on work and not enough on these other things?
If the latter is true, try taking some time to pursue these goals.
Why is it important to follow the 70/20/10 rule?
It’s important to follow the 70/20/10 rule because it will help you focus on your own needs and priorities. It can also help you avoid burnout by allowing you to spend time and energy doing things that are important to you. If you try to do everything for everyone, you may end up neglecting yourself in the process.
How can I follow the 70/20/10 rule?
You can follow the 70/20/10 rule by spending time with your family and friends, doing things that make you feel good, and making sure that your needs are being met. You might also want to cut some of your activities if they aren’t contributing positively to your life. You might even be able to cut back your job hours by volunteering to help out with some of the things that you’re currently paid to do.
Can I change the 70/20/10 rule?
You can change the 70/20/10 rule by adjusting the numbers in it to fit your own needs. If you’re trying to figure out how much time and energy you should spend on work, family, and friends, try using these numbers as a guide. You might also want to adjust these numbers if you find that they aren’t working for you in your life.
Tips and tricks for following the 70/20/10 rule
You can use the 70/20/10 rule to help you make decisions about what to spend your money on. It’s a good guideline for making sure that you’re spending your money in a way that will make you happy and fulfilled, without going overboard.
The 70/20/10 rule is a good starting point, but it’s important to remember that everyone has different goals and values. You may want to tweak this rule by adjusting the percentages or changing them up completely. For example, if you want to save more money, then maybe you’d replace “spend 20% on things that make me happy” with “spend 40% on things that make me happy.” If you’re working toward achieving major life goals, you might want to replace “spend 20% on things that make me happy” with “spend 10% on things that make me happy and 30% on things that will help me achieve my goals.”
Here are some other tips for following the 70/20/10 rule:
70% of your time: Spend 70% of your time on the things that matter to you. This includes spending time with friends and family, doing what you love, working toward your goals, and taking care of yourself.
20% of your money: Spend 20% of your money on the things that matter to you. This includes going out to eat or buying gifts for others. It also includes spending money on experiences and travel, which are some of the best ways to spend money.
10% on material things: This is for spending on things that make you happy. You may want to spend this money on clothes, a new computer, or a smartphone. It’s also for spending on things that will help you achieve your goals and dreams.
Here’s an example of how someone might use the 70/20/10 rule:
It’s Saturday morning and I’m getting ready to go out with my friends and coworkers to celebrate someone’s birthday. I’m going to spend 20% of my money on the experience, which includes buying drinks and paying for our meals (the restaurant is going to have a cover charge). I’ll spend 10% of my money on material things like a new shirt I saw in the store window or a new pair of shoes that I just have to have. Finally, I’ll spend 70% of my money on the things that matter to me, which include spending time with friends and family, doing what I love (writing), and working toward my goals.
How you choose to use the 70/20/10 rule is up to you. You may want to apply it to every dollar you earn or only apply it to some of your income. For example, you may want to save 70% of your income for retirement and use 20% for day-to-day expenses. You can also apply it differently for different categories. For example, you may want to use 70% of your income for your goals, 20% for your needs, and 10% for your wants.
What Are Your Spending Priorities?
The 70/20/10 rule is simply a guideline that can help you manage your money. It doesn’t mean that you’re going to live by it every day. However, it can help you make better decisions with money. When used properly, it can also help you cut back on frivolous spending and save more of your money so that you can achieve the things in life that are most important to you.
One way to use the 70/20/10 rule is to write down the top three things in each category that are most important to you. Then use the 70/20/10 rule to help guide your spending decisions.
Final Thoughts on What is the 70/20/10 Rule of Money?
Have you ever heard of the “70 20 10 Rule” money? It’s a guideline that provides a simple breakdown of how you should spend your disposable income. Sometimes called the “Eisenhower Principle,” it’s been followed by everyone from Warren Buffet to Bill Gates. I’m sure you want to know what this rule is all about.
Do you want to learn more about building wealth? Check out these Best Books on Wealth Building.
Meet Maurice, a staff editor at Bigger Investing. He’s an accomplished entrepreneur who owns multiple successful websites and a thriving merch shop. When he’s not busy with work, Maurice indulges in his passion for kayaking, climbing, and his family. As a savvy investor, Maurice loves putting his money to work and seeking out new opportunities. With his expertise and passion for finance, he’s dedicated to helping readers achieve their financial goals through Bigger Investing.
