A simple structure for tracking income and spending each month — without a spreadsheet or subscription.
Monthly budgets align with most pay cycles and make it easier to plan for quarterly or annual expenses like car registration, insurance renewals, and rates.
Start with what actually hits your account after PAYE tax, student loan deductions, and KiwiSaver. Do not use gross income — it will skew your entire budget.
List every fixed monthly cost: rent or mortgage, hire purchase, insurance, internet, phone, subscriptions. These are your baseline obligations.
Review 3 months of bank statements to get realistic averages for groceries, petrol, dining, entertainment and clothing. Most people underestimate this category.
Total all annual costs (car registration, WOF, rates, school fees), divide by 12, and treat that as a fixed monthly transfer to a savings account.
Income minus all expenses reveals your surplus or deficit. Allocate surplus deliberately to KiwiSaver top-ups, emergency fund, or investments.
Put these ideas to work with our free budgeting calculators — no sign-up required.
Open MrBudgetingMultiply fortnightly pay by 26, divide by 12 to get a monthly equivalent.
Around $100-$150 per person per week in 2026, varying by location and diet.
Automate savings on payday, use separate accounts for different categories, and review monthly.
Your employer deducts repayments before you see your pay — factor in any voluntary extra repayments.