Name: Cortex Financial Tools
Rating: 4.8 (150 reviews)

Question 1

What is the 50/30/20 budget rule?

Accepted Answer

The 50/30/20 rule suggests allocating 50% of after-tax income to needs (housing, food, utilities), 30% to wants (entertainment, dining out), and 20% to savings and debt repayment. This calculator helps you see how your actual spending compares to this guideline.

Question 2

How do I reduce my monthly expenses?

Accepted Answer

Start by identifying your largest expense categories. Housing typically takes the biggest share — consider if downsizing or relocating could help. Review subscriptions, negotiate bills, and track discretionary spending. The budget optimizer highlights categories where small changes have the biggest impact.

Question 3

What are budget tension metrics?

Accepted Answer

Budget tension metrics measure how stretched each category is relative to recommended allocations. High tension in a category means you are spending significantly more than typical benchmarks, which may indicate financial stress in that area.