When you hear “budget spreadsheet,” the thought of formulas, functions, and fancy financial modeling might be enough to make your head spin.
But the best budgeting spreadsheets are simple, customizable tools that help you
track your expenses and financial goals in one place. With the right spreadsheet, you’ll have a clear picture of what’s coming in, what’s going out, and where you might be able to save.
A simple monthly budget template can do the heavy lifting for you. Focus all your energy on reaching your financial goals.
What’s a budget template?
A quick search for “how to make a budget spreadsheet” gives you tips for building your own finance tracker in programs like Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. But not everyone has the time or know-how. Instead, budget templates come pre-built, offering an out-of-the-box structure for tracking your finances.
Instead of forcing you to start from scratch, your template comes prepped with categories for things like income and savings. Budget templates also typically come with built-in formulas to help you calculate totals, track spending patterns, and even automatically set financial goals.
Using a personal budget template has lots of benefits, like:
Time savings. No need to waste time creating formulas or layouts — a template makes your budgeting spreadsheet ready to use from the jump.
Tracking simplification. Pre-built categories make it easy to keep an eye on where your money goes.
Customizability. You can tweak templates to match your unique spending habits and goals.
Accessibility. Many templates are free (or at least budget-friendly), and they’re available in widely used formats like Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, and mobile apps.
Stress reduction. With a clear picture of your finances, you can make informed decisions without getting weighed down by financial anxiety.
The 9 best budget spreadsheet templates and apps
Ready to start budgeting? Here’s a look at some of the most beginner-friendly tools and templates to get you on the right track:
1. Vertex42 budget spreadsheets
Founded in 2003,
Vertex42 is a great place to find professionally designed spreadsheet templates for all sorts of contexts, including budgeting and
financial calculations. It caters to the full spectrum of skill levels and needs, from simple monthly budgets to financial planners that get deep in the weeds. Many templates even come with instructional notes to guide you through setup.
2. It’s Your Money budget spreadsheets
It’s Your Money is a finance-focused blog that features a number of insightful articles for education. Plus, it has seven
Excel budgeting spreadsheet templates that you can download for free.
3. PearBudget budgeting tool and spreadsheet
PearBudget offers two options to help you budget: a
free downloadable budget template or an online tool available for $8.99/month (free for the first 30 days). The spreadsheet template is straightforward and quick to set up in Excel, OpenOffice, or Google Sheets, making it perfect for anyone new to budgeting.
4. Tiller Money budgeting tool and spreadsheets
Tiller Money combines the convenience of an online budgeting tool with the customizability of a personal spreadsheet. Just link your bank accounts with Tiller, and your spending, savings, and income data automatically import to a transactions worksheet you create (don’t worry — Tiller has
spreadsheet templates, too!).
5. You Need a Budget budgeting tool
While it’s not a traditional spreadsheet, the user-friendly
You Need a Budget (YNAB) app operates much like a budgeting spreadsheet. With the YNAB Method, you give every dollar a job — a zero-based budget approach that helps you put as much thought into spending money as you put into earning it. While it’s $14.99 per month, there’s a free trial to help you decide if it’s the right investment.
6. Empower budgeting tools
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive tool that integrates with your investments, the free
Budget Planner from Empower might be worth exploring. This financial app includes a dashboard that offers a clear view of your spending and saving habits alongside your investment performance.
7. Google Sheets budget templates
Google offers lots of free budget sheet templates in its Template Gallery. From personal expenses to business budget planners, you’ll find a variety of options that are simple to use and easy to access from anywhere with an internet connection.
8. Microsoft Office budget templates
Like Google, Microsoft has a number of free Excel budget templates available in its Template Gallery — everything from basic monthly budgets to more advanced tools for tracking expenses over time. Excel templates are perfect for anyone already familiar with working in Excel.
9. Smartsheet budget templates
While Smartsheet is primarily a work management platform, this cloud-based software offers
templates tailored for personal and business budgets. The interface might take a little getting used to if you’re accustomed to working in traditional spreadsheets, but Smartsheet’s focus on collaboration makes it a “smart” choice for families, projects, or teams (see what we did there?).
4 tips for organizing your budget
Spreadsheets are far from the only way to get a handle on your finances. Here are some extra tips to get your budget on track:
1. Learn about monthly expenses
Understanding your fixed and variable expenses is the first step to taking control of your budget. Categorize your spending — think rent, groceries, utilities, and fun money — to see what’s necessary and find places where you can cut back.
2. Try a budget calculator
A tool like
EarnIn’s budget calculator gives you key insights into your spending habits. It even shows you how your expenses compare to others in your area, which can help you set realistic expectations as you build your personal budget.
3. Use budgeting apps
Not every budgeting app requires extra work. By syncing your bank and credit card accounts with an app like PocketGuard, your spending will update automatically. The apps even send helpful reminders to keep you on the right path.
4. Try a zero-based budget
With the
zero-based budget method, every single dollar of your income gets a job, whether it’s expenses, savings, or paying back your debts. It’s a great way to make sure you’re intentional with every penny you earn and spend.
Frequently asked questions
Are budget templates easy for beginners?
Absolutely! Budget templates are designed to simplify money management, even if you’re not experienced with tools. Most come with built-in instructions and pre-set formulas to make budgeting straightforward and stress-free.
Is there a business budget template that I can use for a startup?
There are tons of budget templates for small businesses out there. Check out the Template Galleries in Microsoft Office and Google Sheets, where you’ll find business-specific templates tailored for startups like yours.
What’s the 50/30/20 rule?
The
50/30/20 rule is a simple budgeting method that divides your income into three categories: 50% for needs (like housing and groceries), 30% for wants (like dining out or hobbies), and 20% for savings or debt repayment.
Maximize your paycheck with EarnIn
Budgeting plays a huge part in helping you achieve financial wellness. But
managing money can be tricky when you’re stuck waiting for your next paycheck to arrive.
EarnIn can help. The
Cash Out tool lets you access your pay as you work — up to $150 a day with a max of $750 between paydays
— with no interest, mandatory fees, or
impact on your credit score. And with
Balance Shield, you can put low bank balances on high alert
— because when you’re giving your money a job, there’s no room on the payroll for overdraft fees.
Download EarnIn to make every day payday.
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