If you’ve just entered the real world as a newly independent adult, or if you’ve been spending more money than you can afford, it’s time to figure out a budget. To get started, you can use my free personal budget spreadsheet template in Excel or Google Sheets to track your income and expenses using a common set of budget categories. You can easily change the categories as needed.
If this is your first time trying to create a personal budget, you may want to read the article “How to Make a Budget.” It explains how to use a spreadsheet to track your expenses, and then how to turn that information into a budget.
The personal budget spreadsheet below is one of my original budget templates. It provides a simple way to create a budget, especially if you need ideas for budget categories. If you want a more complete system that helps you track, plan, and analyze your spending, try the Money Management Template.
Like my Family Budget Planner, this personal budget spreadsheet can be used to create a yearly budget. By planning many months ahead, you can account for variable expenses and estimate how major life changes like moving, changing jobs, or purchasing a home may affect your financial future.
