The Simple Bucket System That Made Budgeting Feel Good

Getting Clear on What I Can Spend

There’s something quietly reassuring about knowing exactly which part of your money is yours to enjoy without a hint of guilt. After sorting out rent, bills, groceries, and even a little savings and investments, having that clear slice of spending cash feels like a tiny peace treaty with yourself. It might seem small, but when money usually stirs up anxiety, that calm clarity is huge.

The Simple Four Buckets That Keep Me Sane

When I started budgeting seriously, I quickly realised that obsessing over every penny — like £15.23 on wellness, or £76.23 on dates — was exhausting. Who has the energy for that? Not me. I needed something simple, forgiving, and flexible enough to keep me sane.

So I landed on these four buckets. They cover all the bases without turning my budgeting into a maths exam:

Needs: The essentials — rent or mortgage, bills, groceries. These go straight into the joint account my partner and I share. It’s a relief knowing the basics are sorted without any drama.
Wants: The fun stuff, like clothes, nights out, or those unexpected imported fizzy drinks I can’t resist (Monzo once told me I’m a Greggs lover — spot on, thanks — sausage rolls and egg & brown sauce sandwiches all day). This is my guilt-free spending money, safely tucked in my personal account.
Savings: The pre-funded “wants” and safety nets — holiday fund, home deposit, Christmas gifts (we keep it simple with a Secret Santa), and the emergency fund. We have a joint savings pot too for house stuff, because life always happens.
Investments: The “pay yourself first” chunk. I automate about 10% of my net income into investments and forget about it — because who has the headspace to micromanage that?
This will take you to a snazzy little calculator to help with the math.

This setup means I’m not sweating over exact amounts every month. Instead, I glance at my personal account and make tiny course corrections if needed. Fancy a cheeky Greggs sausage roll or that rare French fizzy drink I discovered? Go for it. No guilt, no panic.

It’s also helped keep silly impulse buys in check. No PS5 for me — the old one still does the job just fine, and having a “wants” bucket reminds me not to blow the budget on random splurges.

My partner and I love the joint accounts for essentials and bigger savings goals — it keeps things straightforward and collaborative. The personal “wants” money means no one’s policing the other’s treats, which keeps peace at home.

And honestly? Sometimes categorising spending makes me chuckle. Like when Monzo labelled me a Greggs lover — that’s my “wants” bucket shining through. Budgeting isn’t about deprivation; it’s about knowing what really lights you up and making room for it.

The 50/30/20 Rule — A Starting Point, Not a Rulebook

You’ve probably heard of the 50/30/20 budget split:

50% Needs: Essentials — rent, bills, groceries, and the non-negotiables that keep life ticking.
30% Wants: The extras that make life enjoyable — nights out, clothes, hobbies, or the odd imported fizzy drink.
20% Debt repayment and savings/investing: Paying off what you owe and putting something aside for the future.

It’s a neat, easy-to-remember framework that works well for many. It helps you get a handle on your money without drowning in details. But—and this is key—it’s not gospel. Use it as a gentle guide, not a cage. Your life, values, and goals should shape what feels right for you.

Tweaking It for the Slow Burn to Financial Independence

For those of us slowly working towards financial independence, the percentages often shift. For me, it looks more like this:

50% Investing and Savings: Future me is a priority — quietly growing the pot with steady contributions.
30% Needs: Essentials, kept manageable and realistic.
20% Wants: Still making space for treats and life’s little pleasures, without guilt.

Some people lean harder into investing — 70% or even 80% — living off the rest. (I see you, Lean FIRE crowd!) But this split feels sustainable for me: enough investing to grow the pot, enough life now to enjoy, and essentials covered. It’s about balance, not burnout.

My Current Budget Split: Keeping It Real

Here’s what my money looks like on a typical month, with a net income of about £2,200:

Needs (49%): Around £1,075 goes on essentials — rent or mortgage, bills, groceries, and nursery costs (which absolutely count as a need because without it, I couldn’t work).
Savings (8%) & Investing (18%) total (27%): About £600 heads straight into growing my future — that’s my savings (holiday fund, emergency stash) and investments combined. It’s my “pay yourself first” pot, quietly building up without me having to think much about it.
Wants (24%): The rest is mine to spend however I like. If I fancy a takeaway, a cheeky Greggs sausage roll, or that rare imported fizzy drink, I go for it — no guilt, no stress.

This split isn’t perfect or rigid. It’s more like a comfy guideline that keeps me balanced: essentials covered, future growing steadily, and enough wiggle room to enjoy life right now. It feels sustainable for me, and that’s what matters most.

Once the nursery chapter closes, my budget will do a little happy dance and settle into something closer to my dream lineup: Needs at 33%, Savings & Investments waving a proud 43%, and Wants chilling at a respectable 24%. Any pay rise? Straight into investments — because future me deserves a treat too.

Balancing Saving and Enjoying Life Now

I keep things very simple when it comes to balancing saving and enjoying life. I’m happiest when I can stop and smell the roses — literally. Lavender, honeysuckle, fresh air. Sometimes the best things in life don’t cost much, and that helps me relax about money.

Budgeting used to feel like a chore or a source of stress — especially when I tried to predefine spending rigidly (like £30 for clothes, £20 for Greggs, £50 for eating out). No, no, no. Lump it altogether and spend on what you want. Being too directive takes the fun out of life.

Gentle Questions for the Road:

Here’s what I do: I give myself clear boundaries for essentials and investments, then I lump all the “wants” spending together so it feels freeing, not restrictive. I trust myself to make good choices with that money — whether it’s a sausage roll or a rare fizzy drink.

What’s one small tweak you might try to make your budget fit your values better?

How do you decide what money is truly yours to spend?

Do you have a simple way to organise your spending that helps you relax about money?