Budget Health Check
Enter 6 key financial metrics and get an instant diagnosis of your budget health — with a letter grade, color-coded ratings for each area, and a personalized action plan.
Your Financial Metrics
Enter your monthly figures below. All fields are required for an accurate diagnosis.
Car loans, student loans, credit cards, personal loans — all minimum payments.
401k, IRA, brokerage, bank savings — everything you set aside each month.
Total cash you could access within a week if you lost your job.
Dining out, entertainment, shopping, subscriptions — everything non-essential.
Take Control of Your Budget
Now that you know your budget health score, take the next step with our Notion Budget Tracker to monitor your spending automatically.
Get the Notion Budget Tracker →What Is a Budget Health Check?
A budget health check is a quick diagnostic that evaluates how well your money is working for you. Instead of tracking every dollar, it focuses on 5 key ratios that financial advisors use to assess overall financial wellness. Think of it as a blood pressure check — but for your wallet.
How Scores Are Calculated
Each of the 5 metrics is scored on a 0–20 scale, then combined for a total out of 100:
- Housing Ratio — Rent or mortgage as a percentage of take-home pay. Under 30% is healthy; below 25% earns a perfect score.
- Debt-to-Income — Total debt payments divided by income. Under 20% is ideal; zero debt earns full marks.
- Savings Rate — Percentage of income saved each month. 20%+ is recommended; above 25% is excellent.
- Emergency Fund — Liquid savings divided by monthly expenses. 6 months is gold standard; 3+ months is solid.
- Discretionary Ratio — Non-essential spending as a share of income. Under 30% is good; under 20% is excellent.
How to Improve Your Score
- Start with the reddest metric. Fixing your worst area gives the biggest score jump.
- Automate savings first. Set up automatic transfers on payday so saving happens before spending.
- Negotiate housing costs. Refinance, get a roommate, or move to a lower-cost area.
- Attack high-interest debt. Pay minimums on everything, then throw extra at the highest-rate balance.
- Audit subscriptions. Most people can cut 10–20% of discretionary spending by canceling unused subscriptions.
- Build emergency fund in stages. Aim for $1,000 first, then 1 month, then 3 months.
Related Tools
- 50/30/20 Budget Calculator — Split your income using the popular budgeting rule
- 50/30/20 Rule Breakdown — Detailed allocation with custom percentages
- Debt Payoff Calculator — See when you will be debt-free
- Emergency Fund Calculator — Find your ideal emergency fund target
- Savings Rate Calculator — Calculate your savings rate and FIRE timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good budget health score?
A score of 80–100 (A grade) means your budget is in excellent shape. 60–79 (B) is good but has room for improvement. Below 60 means one or more areas need attention. Most Americans would score in the 40–65 range.
How often should I check my budget health?
Once a month is ideal — run this check after you close out each month's spending so you can track trends over time. Quarterly at minimum.
Does this replace a full budget?
No. This is a diagnostic tool — it tells you where the problems are, not how to track every dollar. Pair it with a budget tracker (like the 50/30/20 calculator) for a complete system.
Should I include my partner's income?
If you share expenses, yes — combine both incomes and all shared costs for the most accurate picture. If you keep finances separate, run individual checks.
What if my score is below 40?
Do not panic. A low score highlights the areas that need the most work. Focus on the single reddest metric first — improving one area at a time is more sustainable than trying to fix everything at once.