Enter All Cash, Debit and Check Transactions Into the Budget SpreadsheetĮnter all of the checks, debit card, and cash transactions from your checkbook or online bank account into the Excel spreadsheet. You can use a host of budget templates, but we suggest using the free Excel budget template provided above. Begin Creating Your Excel Budgetīuild a personal budget worksheet for tracking your expenses. W-2 can result in different tax situations). Calculate Your Total Incomeįigure out how much Form W-2 or Form 1099 income you’re going to earn during your budgeting period ( 1099 vs. That’s because you’ll need to set aside money in short-term savings so you have the money when those expenses become due. If you budget for a month, it is critical to remember to add expenses that you don’t pay every month. The most common time periods for a budget are monthly and annually. But other popular goals include saving for down payments on houses, refinancing student loans, affording college for your children, and funding retirement. In my case, my primary financial goal is to make sure I enjoy my retirement. Use it to follow along with the steps outlined below to make sure you are learning how to create a budget in Excel that works for you.Īs an overview, here are the steps necessary to create a budget in Excel: 1. You can sign up in the box below and quickly receive the budget template in your inbox. To make this easier on you, we have created a free budget template. How to Create a Budget Spreadsheet in Excel And you’ll be more likely to be able to retire in the fashion you desire. You will be less likely to run up more debt than you can afford to repay. However, if you make a budget and review it regularly, you’ll make better financial decisions and have more confidence in your finances. And if you don’t do it regularly, you can end up with a problem that’s really difficult to overcome.

Most people don’t find creating and sticking to a budget to be a lot of fun.īut the longer you put it off, the harder it is to do. To be clear: The budgeting process is to your financial health what cleaning your bathroom is to your physical health. You’ll also want to include line items in your budget for different types of saving: emergencies, specific large purchases, and long-term/retirement. Income typically includes your wages, though it can also include things such as investment returns.Įxpenses include every dollar you spend, from housing costs and income taxes to food and fun stuff like vacations, sporting events, and going out for a nice dinner and drinks.

What is a budget? A budget is a listing of your actual income and the amount you can afford to spend on your expenses and put into savings.

Basic budgeting spreadsheet