How do I budget on a single income?

On one income, your margin for error is thinner, so two things matter most: keeping fixed costs low and holding a deeper emergency fund. Because there's no second paycheck to absorb a shock, aim for the higher end of the cash-cushion range – often six months of essential expenses rather than three. Keep housing and transportation, your two biggest fixed costs, conservative so a single income comfortably covers them with room to save. Automate savings off the top so it happens before lifestyle expands, and protect the household with adequate life and disability insurance, since the whole budget rests on one earner. Map your essential monthly number first, confirm one paycheck covers it with margin, then build savings on top. The emergency-fund calculator at wealthserene.com/tools/emergency-fund can size your target.