<prompt> Human: Pretty new here, so I apologize if this thread is a repeat. Ive been working on a budget all day and ran into some percentages to base a personal budget on from Dave Ramsay. He recommends: Charitable Gifts 10-15Savings 5-10Housing 25-35Utilities 5-10Transportation 10-15Food 5-15Clothing 2-7MedicalHealth 5-10Personal 5-10Recreation 5-10Debt 5-10How do you seasoned personalfinancers match up to these percentages? Do you find it easy to overspend in certain areas? Underspend? Do you think this budget model a good starting point for someone just beginning to be self-sustaining? Any other tips for a newly independent person? Thanks in advance for all the help!  <response>: My opinion:Use the given percentages as the maximum. If you can spend less, do spend less. Servicing your debts should be a higher percentage if youre in debt; savings should be a higher percentage once youre out of debt retirement saving alone should be at least 10; and next to that you also want to save up for a new car, new appliances, health costs etc. If youre deeply in debt, maybe you should cut out charitable gifts and gifts to family and friends until youre out of debt. My expenses:My expenses are about 60 of my total income; so I save 40 of my income. I have no debts so no need to service them :- These are my expenses: Housing 20 20 of all of expensesGroceries 15Fun 15 includes new laptop this yearCharity 10Public transport bike maintenance 8Gifts to friends and family 15Internet and phone 2Clothing 0.5 second hand shops rockInsurances liability, house 5Health insurance 10Total: 100 