Or, if you prefer Google Sheets, then click into a blank Sheet, click File, Open, then Upload, and upload your recent budget template download. Just click it and open it up in Excel (or Numbers for Mac users). The download will appear in the lower left of your screen. You may learn how to use Excel better in the process. Click this link for the free downloadable monthly budget template. If you use and customize any template for your personal budget, make sure you understand how it works and always double-check the formulas. The flexibility comes at the price of possibly deleting or messing up an important formula, or making bad assumptions. In my opinion, the #1 problem associated with using a spreadsheet for your personal budget is the chance that you'll make errors. it's just a disclosure to say that I don't ONLY use Excel any more.Ī spreadsheet may not be the best budgeting solution for everybody. A good rule of thumb for your budget should be to start with all of your expenses. This just leaves you with adding the correct calculations. A good personal monthly budget template will have everything laid out for you. I started out using Excel to do everything, but I began using Quicken after a friend showed me how easy it was to keep track of checks and credit card charges and download transactions directly from my bank. Once you find a template, then Excel will open up the personal monthly budget template spreadsheet for you to work on. A budget is almost useless without tracking what you are spending. For expense tracking, you could use my Income and Expense Worksheet, Checkbook Register, or the newer Money Manager. Tracking your income and spending comes both before and after making a budget.
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For example, I like to use cell comments to explain certain budgeted items in more detail (such as the fact that in May, there is Mother's Day and a couple of birthdays to remember).Ĭreating a simple personal budget (even if it is only on paper) is one of the first steps to gaining control of your spending habits. The reason I use Excel when working with my home and business budgets is that it gives me complete flexibility to keep track of the information the way I want to. If you don't own Excel, then Google Sheets and OpenOffice are free options to consider.
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Microsoft Excel isn't free, but if you already own Excel, then you can create a budget without purchasing other budgeting software.
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42 Effective Ways to Save Money Budgeting Tips for the New Year Why Use Excel for your Personal Budget?įirst reason: it's free.