What is the Barefoot Investor method?

The Barefoot Investor method, created by Scott Pape, divides your income into buckets: Daily Expenses (60%), Splurge (10%), Smile for short-term savings (10%), and Fire Extinguisher for emergencies and debt (20%).

Is this budget calculator free?

Yes, the Barefoot Budget Calculator is completely free to use. No signup, no credit card, no hidden fees. All features including savings tracking, debt repayment planning, and historical tracking are free.

How do I use the Barefoot bucket system?

Enter your income, adjust the percentage sliders for each bucket (Daily Expenses, Splurge, Smile, Fire Extinguisher), then click Calculate. The tool shows exactly how much money goes into each bucket and helps you track your progress over time.

Can I track my savings goals?

Yes! You can create unlimited savings goals, assign them to either your Smile or Fire Extinguisher bucket, track your progress with transactions, and see exactly when you'll reach each goal based on your monthly contributions.

Does the calculator work for couples?

Absolutely. You can include your partner's income and the calculator will combine both incomes to show your household budget. Perfect for couples managing finances together.

Free Barefoot Investor Budget Calculator | Australian Money Management Tool

How to Use This Calculator

Step 1: Enter Your Income
Input your income and select your pay cycle (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly). You can also include your partner's income if you're managing finances together.

Step 2: Adjust Your Buckets
Use the sliders to customize how your income is divided across the Barefoot buckets: Daily Expenses (60%), Splurge (10%), Smile (10%), and Fire Extinguisher (20%). You can also fine-tune sub-categories within Daily Expenses.

Step 3: Set Savings Goals
Create specific savings targets (like "Emergency Fund" or "Holiday") and assign them to either your Smile or Fire Extinguisher bucket. The calculator will show you how long it will take to reach each goal.

Step 4: Track Your Progress
Use the "Add Funds" and "Withdraw" buttons to record your actual savings. Your progress is automatically saved in your browser and persists between visits.

Step 5: Export & Import
Export your budget to CSV for record-keeping, or import previously exported data to restore your goals and progress.

Your Income

Your Income ($)

Include partner's income

Partner's Income ($)

Bucket Allocations

⚠️ Validation Error

Total Allocation: 100%

Daily Expenses Sub-total: 100%

Daily Expenses (Blow) 60%

Sub-categories within Daily Expenses must total 100%

Housing 50%

Groceries 17%

Transport 8%

Utilities 17%

Insurance 8%

Splurge (Fun Money) 10%

Smile (Short-term Savings) 10%

Fire Extinguisher (Emergency Fund) 20%

Your Monthly Budget

Income Comparison

Comparison based on Australian median and average monthly income (ABS data)

Budget Breakdown

Visual representation of your bucket allocations

Yearly Projections

Income Scenarios / What-If Analysis

Compare different income scenarios to see how changes would affect your budget.

Scenario 1: Compare Alternative Income

Your Income ($)

Partner Income ($)

Scenario Name

Scenario 2: Compare Another Alternative

Your Income ($)

Partner Income ($)

Scenario Name

Historical Tracking Dashboard

Track your financial progress over time. Save monthly snapshots to visualize your journey.

Save Current Budget as Snapshot

Create a record of your current income and allocations

Total Snapshots

Income Growth

Avg Monthly Savings

Total Saved (Est.)

Snapshot History

Debt Repayment Calculator

Total Debt

Monthly Payment Capacity

Debt-Free Date

Total Interest Paid

Repayment Strategy

Choose your debt payoff strategy. Avalanche saves the most on interest, while Snowball provides quick wins.

Add Debt

Savings Goals

💾 Data Management

Export/Import includes: savings goals, debts, and budget history. Import will merge with existing data.

How to Use This Calculator

Your Income

Bucket Allocations

Your Monthly Budget

Income Comparison

Budget Breakdown

Yearly Projections

Income Scenarios / What-If Analysis

Historical Tracking Dashboard

Snapshot History

Debt Repayment Calculator

Repayment Strategy

Add Debt

Savings Goals

💾 Data Management

Add New Goal