While setting up and adjusting my budget, I often just use a simple budgeting form to run the numbers. While there are fancier budgeting spreadsheets or budgeting software that you can use, I often just stick with a simple form to help me get the budget calculated.
Interestingly, I often have to go find a new budgeting form each time I make an adjustment to it, because I forget to save them! But, no more, but I am writing a post specifically about it, so I always know where to find one when I need it – and who knows maybe it will help you too…
So, I threw together a worksheet that you can use to add up your monthly expenses and income. You just plug in how much you pay for your mortgage, car payment, insurance, etc and then add it all up. It’s nothing flashy, but it is something I find myself needing occasionally, so there you have it…
For your convenience I have a few different options for you to access it…
- View the free budgeting form online. This will allow you to use the spreadsheet online. Just a heads up that anyone in the world can view and edit the information in the sheet, so you may want to clear out your data when finished.
- Download Excel Version of the budgeting form. If you are an Excel junkie like me, you may want to download it for yourself.
- View, save, or print the PDF version of the budgeting form. Or if you hate computers and prefer dead trees, you can print it off as well.
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A spreadsheet like this is a great starting point. But maintaining a budget in a spreadsheet can be very time consuming. I know, I did that myself for several years. That’s one of the reasons I created NeoBudget (www.neobudget.com). It makes maintaining an envelope-based budget a breeze. It usually takes me about 15 minutes a week to update my budget by importing transactions from my bank and assigning them to envelopes. It really is a lot easier.
It’s not free, but it’s really cheap at $2.50/month. For myself, I would consider it worth the small fee to not have to spend as much time maintaining my budget. Check it out, there’s a free trial with no strings attached.
I have been using a spreadsheet budget for the past three years. I used to use quicken to monitor my networth and categorize transactions. Now I use mint.com. I like being able to get a big picture automatically. When my paycheck comes in, I look at my spreadsheet and move everything around. I only leave my food, gas, and free money in my checking account so when that’s gone I’m done. I have a second checking account for my monthly bills. However you work it though, a spreadsheet budget can be really useful. I’ve found the best place to keep it is on Google Docs ( http://docs.google.com ). That way I never lose track of it and can access it from anywhere.
That is a sweet form for budgeting. I’ve saved it to may hard drive and hope it will give me plenty of financial help.
thanks again…
Hey, I created a free budget spreadsheet that takes less than an hour a month to use and only about a half hour to set the entire thing up. It’s simple but people seem to like it. Take a look, http://www.budgetministry.com and let me know if there is anything that I could do to make it better!
Grace and Peace…
I think this article that I just read is a good idea. I just moved into my new apartment and these forms are good to use.