Build your budget in 3 simple steps

Sign up for AARP Money Map™
Create a log in for free to access all AARP Money Map™ tools from any device.
Set a budget
Answer a few questions about your situation and we’ll help you budget to reach your goals faster.
Track your expenses
Use Budget Builder to track your spending and reduce your expenses.

Here’s how AARP Money Map™ can help you build your budget

We enable you to track income and expenses

Use our interactive tool to get a steady handle on how much money comes in each month and where it goes – the key elements of an effective budget.

You get guidance for spending your hard-earned money

Budget Builder will shed new light on what expenses to prioritize every month and which ones you may want to reduce to get ahead.

You’ll discover the quickest route to your financial goals

Your budget can help you uncover funds to put toward savings or paying off debt.

Got questions?
We've got answers

How does Budget Builder work?

AARP Money Map™ Budget Builder guides you through each step for creating your own personal budget. It can help you set your spending priorities, track your income and spending over time, and identify ways to free up funds to put toward your financial goals.
With Budget Builder, you begin the process by adding your estimated net monthly income. From there, using our pre-populated menu of common expenses, you’ll select the expenses you want to include and plug in the monthly amounts for each. Not finding an expense you need in the menu? Create your own. Budget Builder allows you to create up to 10 customized expenses.
To get the most out of budgeting, be sure to set your budget at the start of the month so you can proactively decide how you want to spend your hard-earned money. Also, add your expense transactions and review your budget regularly so you can see where you stand.

What is “net monthly income”?

The first step to building your budget in Budget Builder is to enter your net monthly income. Your net monthly income is the amount you get in cash, checks, or direct deposits after deductions for federal and state income taxes as well as FICA taxes (for Social Security and Medicare). In other words, your net monthly income is the amount of money you “pocket” and have available to spend, make debt payments, and save.
Note that your paycheck also may include deductions for items such as health insurance premiums, retirement savings (e.g., 401(k)s), flexible spending accounts (FSA) for health care or dependent care, parking and transportation, and more. To estimate your net monthly income, add those types of deductions back in to get a more accurate picture of how much you have available to spend, put toward debt payments, and save. And be sure to include those deductions as expense items in your budget.

How do I add a customized expense not listed in the menu?

When prompted to add or edit expenses, scroll down to the “Additional Expenses” category, then click on the link “Add Additional Expenses.” Then, click on “Add Item” at the top and, in the spaces provided, enter the name of the customized expense and amount. You can add up to 10 customized expense items.

How do I add transactions to Budget Builder?

You can record a transaction (i.e., an expense paid) from your AARP Money Map dashboard or anywhere within Budget Builder by clicking on the “Add Transaction” button.

What should I do if my income or expenses change month to month?

In Budget Builder, simply update your monthly net income and expenses to reflect the appropriate amounts. The key is to make sure you review your budget regularly to help you stay on track and update it as needed.

Can I link Budget Builder to an external source to automatically track my income and expenses?

No. Budget Builder cannot automatically pull in your information from external sources. But while the initial data entry to build your budget may take some time, future updates will be quick. Moreover, manually entering your information serves as a hands-on, beneficial exercise—providing you with a deeper understanding of where your money goes so you can more easily identify areas to reduce your spending.
To make the data-entry process more efficient and easier, gather your most recent pay stub, monthly bills, and bank and credit card statements before you begin.

Earn Rewards with AARP Money Map

Get points to put toward sweepstakes entries, local deals, discounted gift cards, and more through AARP Rewards when you regularly use our Budget Builder or Savings Planner tools.

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