Lastly, Excel makes it easy to tally up a total cost across columns. You can estimate how much you’ll pay per month for utilities, or if you know that you have a fixed rate for mortgages and loans, you can fill in the blanks ahead of time.
Your rows can be tied to the months in this year where you’re anticipated to make monthly payments or save for major repairs. In an Excel template, you can create new sheets for each of these major categories, then break them down to specific expenses.įor example, create a new sheet, name it Housing, and then dedicate a column to the expenses that fall under this category (monthly mortgage payments, anticipated home repairs, etc.). Goals: Something you might be saving for in the long term, whether it’s a new car, an appliance upgrade, or sending a child to college.Emergency savings: Create an emergency savings fund and be prepared for anything.Entertainment: streaming subscriptions, video games, live shows, upcoming vacations and weekend getaways.Utilities: gas, water, heat, electricity, and Internet.Transportation: auto loans, public transit fare, car maintenance and repairs.Housing: mortgage payments, home repairs, homeowners’ insurance, and property taxes.Important categories in your personal budgetįor the average household, expense trackers usually contain the following: The fundamental questions you want to be able to answer with a quick glimpse are, “What did I spend my money on, and how much did I spend?” Spreadsheet software like Excel is ideal for displaying this information in rows and columns. Money Dials could include things like fitness, convenience, luxury items, travel, self-improvement , and social status.Manage your finances with this free expense tracker template Go to Excel By honing in on your Money Dials-the things you really love to spend on-you can prioritize your spending in a way that makes sense for you. Following this logic, you categorize your expenses into essential fixed costs, important investments, savings goals, and-last but not least-guilt-free spending.īy allocating space in your budget for the fun stuff (minus the guilt), you’re more likely to stick to that budget in the first place. Instead, consider trying a conscious spending plan. The truth is that living a life of constantly telling yourself “no” isn’t sustainable (or enjoyable). Many people assume that effective money management means scrounging, saving, and never enjoying life. You might also have smaller, more short-term goals, like saving for your dream wedding or buying a luxury car. Smart money management can help you achieve those objectives. You likely have some financial goals in your life, whether it’s improving your net worth, paying off your college student loans, or achieving FIRE (financial independence, retire early).
But without planning for expenses, a big income can lead to big debt. But it doesn’t have to be! I spoke with a couple in episode 114 of my podcast who overspent on holidays because their earnings combined were a lot. The entire point of these tools is to simplify money management so you can think about your money less, not more.įor many people, budgeting and planning for big expenses like vacations are a struggle. Simplified spreadsheets help develop your plan, and budgeting apps, like those that automate expense tracking, help you stick to it. Finally, you need to stick to your plan.īudgeting spreadsheets and tools are great resources for creating a conscious spending plan. You then need to decide how much money to allocate to each bucket. You need to start with a bullet-proof budget, categorizing all of your expenses into one of these four buckets: fixed costs, investments, savings, and guilt-free spending. Conscious spending is a great way to enjoy life while still building a financially secure future.