Google Sheets Budget Template
A monthly budget that compares what you planned with what you spent, category by category, for every month of the year.
What's inside
One workbook, in Excel + Google Sheets. A simple monthly budget template for Google Sheets that compares your plan with what you really spent:
- Start here: five steps and what the colors mean.
- Dashboard: pick a month and see income, spending, what is left to spend and your savings rate, with charts of budget against actual for your largest categories and of income against spending month by month.
- Categories: up to 30 categories, each marked income, expense or savings, with a monthly budget. A "not planned yet" total shows when every dollar has a job.
- Transactions: one row per payment, with a drop-down for the category. Room for 2,000 rows. A red warning flags any row with a missing or misspelled category.
- Month: budget, actual and difference for every category in the month you pick, with a progress bar and a red "Over" flag.
- Year: every category across all 12 months, with totals, a monthly average and the year's budget.
- Sample check: three months of sample numbers with the answers worked out separately. Every row shows ✓ when the formulas are right.
Who it's for
A good fit if you
- Want a budget tracker in Google Sheets you can open on your phone and share with a partner.
- Like the idea of a monthly budget but want the totals done for you.
- Want to see, every month, which category ran over.
Not for you if you
- Want transactions pulled in from your bank automatically. You add them yourself, or paste them from a bank download.
- Want net worth and savings goals as well. The Personal Finance Excel Template adds those.
How it works
- Open the file. It comes filled with three months of a sample budget on $4,800 a month take-home pay.
- Check the sample. Open Sample check and see every row show ✓.
- Type in your own. Set your categories and budgets, delete the sample rows, and add your transactions as you go.
Questions
Does it work in Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes. You get a Google Sheets version and an Excel file (.xlsx). The formulas are the same in both, so you can switch any time.
Is it a monthly or a yearly budget?
Both. You set a monthly budget per category; the Month sheet shows any month you pick, and the Year sheet shows all twelve side by side with the year's totals.
How do I handle money I move to savings?
Give it a category of the type Savings. It is then left out of spending, so your savings rate is right.
Can I change the categories?
Yes. Rename any of them, delete the ones you do not need, or fill the empty slots, up to 30 in all.
Can I use it next year?
Yes. Change the year cell and every sheet shows the new year. Last year's rows can stay in Transactions.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If the template does not work for you, email [email protected] within 30 days of buying and you get your money back. See the refund policy.
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Disclaimer. For general information only. Not tax, legal or financial advice. Check the rules for your country or ask a qualified adviser. Read the full disclaimer.