Take-home pay
The money that actually lands in your bank account after taxes and payroll deductions come out of your paycheck.
Take-home pay is your gross pay minus everything withheld. That usually includes federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare taxes, and often state tax. It can also include your share of health insurance and any retirement contributions.
Build your budget from take-home pay, since that is the money you can spend. Your pay stub lists each deduction, so you can see how you get from gross to net.
Example
Gross pay of $5,000 a month − $1,250 in taxes and deductions = $3,750 take-home pay.