Here is what your 3 Buckets mean:

‍🛡️ 50% PROTECT (The Foundation)
‍This is your survival budget. It includes your Housing, Utilities, Groceries, and Insurance.

• The Rule: If these expenses exceed 50% of your income, you are in the "Danger Zone." You have no margin for error.
• The Fix: If you are over 50%, you do not have a budgeting problem—you have an income or housing problem. You must increase income or lower your "Big Fixed Costs" (like cars and rent) to get back to safety.

🚀 45% ADVANCE (The Engine)
‍This is where you win the game. Most people only save 5% or 10%. We aim for 45% intensity.

• In Grind Mode (Debt): 100% of this bucket attacks your consumer debt.
• In Wealth Mode (Free): Once debt is gone, this bucket builds your Emergency Fund, Retirement, and Kids' College.
• The Secret: The bigger this bucket is, the faster you become free.

😎 5% LIVE (The Sanity Valve)
‍This is your guilt-free spending money.

• ‍Why only 5%? Because you are in a battle to buy your freedom. You can’t eat out 5 nights a week while you owe the bank money.
• ‍The Promise: This is temporary. Once you hit Level 3 (Debt Free), you can increase this percentage. But for now, we sacrifice luxury to gain liberty.

Frequently Asked Questions

"What if my Rent alone is 50%?"
‍You are "House Poor." The calculator flags this because it is the #1 reason people go bankrupt. You need to increase your income immediately (Grind Mode side hustles) to create a gap between your income and your rent.
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‍"Do I really need $2,000 in savings first?"
‍Yes. Most "emergencies" (tires, water heaters, ER visits) cost more than $1,000 in 2026. If you only save $1,000, you will end up using a credit card when life happens. We secure the Level 1 Cushion ($2,000) so you never have to borrow money again.

‍"Can I count my 401k match as savings?"
‍No. The "Advance" bucket is cash flow leaving your checking account. Do not count your employer match or taxes. We work with your Take-Home Pay (Net Income).