Free Monthly Budget Template
Fill in your take-home income and what you plan to spend in each category, and see what’s left to budget as you type. Download it as a spreadsheet for Excel or Google Sheets. Free, no sign-up.
After tax and deductions: what actually lands in your account.
- Budgeted
- $4,800
- Left to budget
- $200
Take it with you
Download your budget as it is now, or a blank spreadsheet with the same categories and formulas that add up for you. Both open in Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets (File → Import).
A template is a plan. Tracking is what makes it work
AI Budgie turns this into a live budget: tell it “Loblaws 86, groceries” and it’s counted against the right category, with what’s left always up to date. No spreadsheet to keep filling in.
Track this budget with AI BudgieFree for 30 days. Your income comes with you.
How to make a monthly budget
Start with what comes in. Use your take-home pay, after tax and deductions. If your income changes month to month, use a cautious amount, such as your lowest month in the past year.
Then give every dollar a job. Fill in needs first (housing, groceries, utilities, getting around, insurance and minimum debt payments), then savings, then wants. The template groups them that way, so you can see at a glance how your budget compares with the common 50/30/20 guide: half for needs, 30% for wants, 20% for savings.
Aim for “left to budget” at zero. Anything left over can go to savings or debt; if you’re over, trim wants first. A budget doesn’t have to be perfect in month one: compare it with what you actually spent at the end of the month, and adjust.
Keep categories few and broad. Ten to fifteen categories is plenty. Too many makes a budget hard to keep; too few hides where the money goes.
Questions people ask
Is this budget template free?
Yes. You can fill in the template on this page, download your budget as a CSV file, or download a blank Excel spreadsheet with formulas, all without signing up. Both files open in Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets.
Can I use this budget template in Google Sheets?
Yes. Download the Excel template, then in Google Sheets choose File, Import, Upload and pick the file. The formulas are simple sums, so they work the same in Google Sheets.
What categories should a monthly budget have?
Most budgets cover housing, groceries, utilities and phone, transportation, insurance, debt payments, dining out, entertainment and subscriptions, shopping, personal care, travel, and savings such as an emergency fund and retirement. Rename or add categories so they fit how you actually spend.
How much of my income should go to each category?
A common starting point is the 50/30/20 rule: about 50% of take-home pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and extra debt payments. Where housing is expensive, needs often take more; then take the difference out of wants first.
What is a zero-based budget?
A budget where every dollar of income is given a job, so income minus everything budgeted, including savings, equals zero. This template shows “left to budget” for that reason: when it reaches zero, every dollar has a place.