4 Free Budgeting Templates and Spreadsheets
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Creating a spreadsheet from scratch takes time, and maintaining it takes discipline and consistency. But there are free online templates and spreadsheets that can simplify the process, whether you’re looking to build a household budget, holiday budget or business budget.
We rounded up some free online tools you can use, including spreadsheets and our very own 50/30/20 budget calculator, to make sticking to a budget easier.
Microsoft Office Excel budget template
How it works: Save yourself the hassle of setting up rows, columns and formulas by using a pre-made Excel template from Office. Templates include budgets for households, holidays, events and businesses.
What we like: There’s a template for just about every budget situation, from simple to complex. Access Excel online and collaborate with others in the same document at the same time.
Where to get it: Visit templates.office.com and type “Budgets” in the search box to find an Excel file to download. Or sign in to Microsoft and edit in your desktop browser. The downside is that you need Microsoft Office software to open the Excel file, which you’ll have to purchase if you don’t already have it on your computer.
Google Sheets budget template
How it works: Google Drive is a file storage service where users can create, upload and share files. Get 15GB of storage for free or upgrade if that's not enough. The Sheets app for Drive includes pre-made templates, such as an annual budget and monthly budget. Google Sheets also provides annual business budget templates for entrepreneurs who want to track their expenses.
What we like: You can bring your budget with you by logging in to your Google Drive account from your smartphone, tablet or computer. You can also share access to a household budget with other members of your family.
Where to get it: Sign in at google.com/sheets, then browse the template gallery, which you can find at the top right of the page.
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NerdWallet’s budget planner
How it works: The budget planner enables you to input your monthly income and expenses. With that information, the worksheet shows how your finances compare with the 50/30/20 budget breakdown, which recommends that 50% of your income goes toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and debt repayment.
It's OK if your budget doesn’t perfectly align with the 50/30/20 breakdown. For instance, if you live in an area with a high cost of living, a 60/30/10 budget might be a better fit. In this budgeting framework, the “needs” category is increased to account for rising prices, while the “wants” bucket is a bit smaller.
What we like: This planner prompts you to consider a wide range of expenses — from life insurance premiums to travel expenses to credit card payments — so you don’t miss anything. You can also see worksheets specific to your life stage or situation, whether you’re a college student, parent, homeowner or senior.
Where to get it: Learn more about the free budget planner and use it directly on NerdWallet. You can also download the spreadsheet, which is compatible with Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers.
The Federal Trade Commission’s budget worksheet
How it works: The Federal Trade Commission offers a website to educate consumers about money, including how to budget. To get started, consult its "Make a Budget" worksheet. Download the PDF and fill in the fields to see how your money is allocated each month and what changes — if any — you want to make.
What we like: Numbers and formulas can make budgeting a turnoff, but this simple worksheet is the furthest thing from intimidating. It’s a great jumping-off point if you’ve never budgeted before.
Where to get it: On Consumer.gov, download the budget PDF from the "Toolbox" tab. In addition, a quick internet search for “FTC budget worksheet” should bring the PDF to the top of your search results.
What to do after you find a budgeting template
Researching budget tools is a solid start in managing your money. Here are some things to consider before taking the next steps:
Only download tools from trusted websites
Find a template or spreadsheet you like? Do your research before downloading. Taking the steps to make sure the budgeting tool comes from a reliable source can help you avoid phishing viruses and scams. While the four options on our list come from trusted sources, check online reviews for unfamiliar tools, apps and websites before downloading.
Don’t settle for something that doesn’t fit your needs
If the tools above aren’t a good fit, you’ve got other options. Consider managing your money using the free NerdWallet app. With this easy-to-use tool you can view your cash flow and see how it matches the 50/30/20 budget guidelines.
Or maybe you're looking for an app-based experience rather than a spreadsheet. Many budgeting apps link with your bank accounts and categorize spending to create a more hands-off, automated approach. Check out some of the best budget apps.
Feel over your head? Step back and get clarity
Maybe looking at all the budgeting spreadsheets has made you realize that the budget you’ve been working with isn’t cutting it. It could be outdated, not detailed enough or not inclusive of your priorities and goals. Either way, now’s the time to back up and learn more about budgeting, including the various monthly expenses you’ll want to track.
