Your Monthly Income
Start with every dollar coming in each month. Use your gross (before-tax) pay — your HFA counselor reviews income just like this.
Tip: Paid weekly? Multiply by 4.33. Paid every two weeks? Multiply by 2.17. That turns any paycheck into a true monthly figure.
Your Spending Plan
Give every dollar a job. Tap a category to expand it and enter what you spend in a typical month. Colored tags show Needs Wants Savings/Debt.
Zero-based budgeting (the YNAB method): keep assigning until “Left to Budget” reaches $0 — not because you spent it all, but because every dollar has a purpose, including savings.
Your Money, Visualized
A clear picture of where your money goes — and how healthy your plan looks.
Enter your income and expenses to see your score.
A trusted guideline: about 50% of take-home to needs, 30% to wants, 20% to savings & debt payoff. The marker shows your target.
Home Affordability
This mirrors the Affordability Study your HFA counselor prepares — using your income, the 30% housing guideline, and a 43% debt-to-income limit.
HFA clients may qualify for Down Payment Assistance. Under the Miami-Dade HAP program, households at ≤80% AMI may receive up to $28,000 and those at 80–140% AMI up to $14,000 — and additional programs (SHIP, Surtax, City of Miami) may stack on top. Add an estimate above, then confirm your exact amount with a counselor.
Ready to make it real?
HFA is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency. Our counselors review your budget, pull down-payment assistance, and build your personalized path to ownership — free.
Money Basics
Short, practical lessons to help your budget go further.
🚨Build a starter emergency fund
Aim for $1,000 first, then work toward 3–6 months of expenses. It’s the buffer that keeps a flat tire or medical bill from becoming credit-card debt — and lenders love to see reserves.
❄️Pay off debt: Snowball vs. Avalanche
Snowball: pay smallest balance first for quick wins and motivation. Avalanche: pay highest interest rate first to save the most money. Both work — pick the one you’ll stick with.
🏠The 30% housing rule
Keep housing (rent or mortgage + taxes + insurance) near or below 30% of gross income. It’s the same front-end ratio HFA uses in your Affordability Study — staying under it keeps you mortgage-ready.
💳Protect your credit
Pay on time, every time, and keep card balances under 30% of your limit. On-time payments and low utilization are the two biggest drivers of your score — and your interest rate.
🎯Give every dollar a job
A budget where income minus everything (including savings) equals zero means you’re intentional with 100% of your money. That’s the heart of zero-based budgeting.
Talk with a HUD-certified counselor
Free, judgment-free guidance on budgeting, credit, and buying your first home — in English, Spanish & Creole.