Free download · updated 2026-07-17
Free Monthly Budget Template (Excel & Google Sheets)
A clean, free monthly budget you can use in one sitting — no signup. Enter your take-home income, set a planned amount per category, then fill in actuals through the month. The sheet shows the difference per category and how much you have left to budget.
What is a monthly budget spreadsheet?
A monthly budget spreadsheet is a single sheet where you plan what you intend to spend by category and track what you actually spent, so the gap is visible. This free version starts from your monthly take-home income and subtracts the total of your planned categories to show your 'left to budget' number — the amount not yet given a job.
How to use the planned-vs-actual columns
Put your best estimate in the Planned column at the start of the month. As money goes out, update the Actual column. The Difference column (Planned − Actual) turns negative and red when a category goes over, so overspending is obvious without any charting. Type over the seven sample categories or add your own.
When to upgrade from a single-month budget
A one-month sheet is enough to get control of a normal month. If you want the whole year at a glance, sinking funds for irregular bills, a debt-payoff plan, net-worth tracking and a savings-rate dashboard, that is what the paid 2026 Ultimate Budget Bundle adds. This is not financial advice.
Questions
Is this budget template free?
Yes — a free .xlsx with no email required. The 2026 Ultimate Budget Bundle ($24) is the paid upgrade with year-overview, sinking funds, debt payoff, net worth and a savings-rate dashboard.
Does it work in Google Sheets and Excel?
Both. Open it directly in Excel or LibreOffice, or upload to Google Drive and open with Google Sheets, then File → Make a copy.
Is this for couples or one person?
It is built for a single income and shared household spending. For two incomes with an income-proportional split calculator, see the Couples Budget Spreadsheet.