Budget Spreadsheet

tryingtocutback

Can anyone recommend a good budget spreadsheet that I can use for my monthly finances?

Thanks in advance.

greensalad

What sort of thing are you looking to track?

I have a spreadsheet for our utilities bills. Includes the type of bill, how much, what date it leaves the account, how much we each put in (there are two of us and we pay variable amounts on some things), gives us a personal total (how much we need to pay that month) and an overall total. Happy to email the .xls file.

Then I have a second budget sheet which shows my income, extra income, outgoings, extra outgoings, and repayments/savings.

Then I have a third spreadsheet which works on my monthly budget for "stuff" e.g not bills. This is the most variable one and includes all the things I'm doing that month, all the purchases I want/need.

All three spreadsheets work together but could easily be independent.

Utilities spreadsheet looks like this: http://i.imgur.com/fy1IDyh.png
Personal budget looks like this: http://i.imgur.com/CORLUq6.png
Monthly budget looks like this: http://i.imgur.com/FsEYnmg.png

Pixie5740

I like YNAB although it's not free you can sometimes win a licence watching the webinars.

King_Slayer

Excel has budget spreadsheets available with a range of options. I use the Family Budget and it's very user friendly.

datlex

Hi OP,


Can you give us a bit of info so people can advise you best.


Do you have a fixed monthly income? If not do you have a fixed amount you know plus OT?


Regarding bills such as gas elec phone are these on fixed monthly DDs or do you pay when you get the bill?


Depending on how your bills are set up can make a difference to how a budgeting spread sheet should be set up for you.


I personally prefer to use my own spread sheet as it is made for my own needs. I am sure there are people on here who can guide you on setting up one that meets your needs.


You might also need to look at having a spend tracking spread sheet.

Tixy

This might be another option Money Saving Spreadsheet to use in addition to Martin's

FireWyrm

Try https://www.vertex42.com. Lots of spreadsheets over there, but if you are serious about budgets and finance, you need the correct tool for the job and currently, the best recommendation is undoubtedly YNAB at the moment.

jim8888

I'd also recommend building your own to suit your needs, and it will make you think about your situation. Keep it simple though, it's so easy to drive yourself round the bend with too much detail, technical tweaking and formatting when all you really want to do is track what's coming in and going out every month!

Purplesky_2

I know it's widely criticised here (And with legitimate concerns), but, I actually LOVE the one the government made on the money advice service. It's detailed and user friendly, done on the internet first, but downloads to a spreadsheet that it extremely useful for further study/tweaking.
This is the only tool of theirs that I prefer to the Money saving expert one which is very broad in categories.

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/tools/budget-planner/budget/edit/income

tryingtocutback

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

I dont actually have a lot going out because I pay rent which includes bills. I have a fixed income. So my main expenditures are car costs and my day to day spending - money for work, petrol and weekends. I will take a look at all of your ideas.

Thank you!

enjoyyourshoes

There are three key considerations to cover:-


1. Planning for annual, 1/2 yearly and 1/4ly costs (just build a simple cash flow and calculate how much you need to save to meet these costs over the year cycle). Include all insurances as paying these as an annual fee will save tons on interest payments.


2. Reconciliation of your bank account- done daily and includes all SO/DD, monthly saving for annualised bills (as above) plus all expenses (switch, internet (no paper trail so easily missed), cheques, pay at pump (easily missed as often no paper trail) etc)
This can be a paper exercise no need for fancy spreadsheets here


3. Summary of all your savings accounts including the 'annualised bills' accounts (see point 1 again). Put it in the highest interest account you can find and can subdivide (paper again or spreadsheet) into your different categories (as identified when you did your annual plan)


So you will have 3 separate activities, 1. Planning (annual) 2. Reconciliation (daily) 3. Savings (ad lib)
3 spreadsheets or separate tabs on the same sheet, or 3 Bits paper !