Free Budget Worksheet

We at retire sensibly offer a free budget spreadsheet developed in Microsoft Office Excel format and a suggested outline to assist you in gathering important information.

We have a free budget worksheet.  Our free budget worksheet was developed using Microsoft excel.
The dictionary definition of a budget is a systematic plan for the expenditure of a usually fixed resource, such as money or time, during a given period. In other words, a budget is a projection of how you are going to spend your money over a period of time (i.e. one year). A budget is a projection of financial activities for the future. However, a record of past financial activities is an important tool in the budget building process.  Try our free budget worksheet.
The word budget can be somewhat intimidating. It is not a form of punishment. A properly constructed budget should not harm your lifestyle. In fact, it may improve your current lifestyle and is an important process to help you reach your financial goals and enable you to retire sensibly.
There are some very good, relatively inexpensive programs and templates available to help simplify the budget process. Sign up for our newsletter and receive our free budget spreadsheet developed with Microsoft Office Excel.  You may also build your own budget spreadsheet. Unless you are a spreadsheet expert or inclined to take on a project of that magnitude we suggest you purchase an investment program. Most financial programs have features that help you construct an effective budget and measure your progress.
If you have internet banking , you have a feature that allows you to download bank statements up to one year old in a format compatible with some financial programs. Some programs automatically download daily banking transactions. Ask your bank about financial programs that are compatible with their data before making a purchase. If you do not subscribe to internet banking we suggest that you consider the option as there are features that allow you to organize expenses in categories and download financial data.
Once you have decided on your financial program, our free budget spreadsheet or other template, record or import all essential expenditures (auto loan, credit cards, insurance, etc.) for each of the previous twelve months. Organize your expenditures into groups.
  • Household Expenses – Include mortgages or rent, maintenance, utilities, insurance, internet, cable, home phone.
  • Food and other essential purchases – (Basically Include most items purchased at the super market such as food, cleaning supplies, personal supplies, school supplies and meals, first aid supplies, small utensils).  Also include gardening supplies, gas for lawn mower, etc.
  • Clothing
  • Health and beauty – medical and dental insurance, co pays for medical and dental, optical expenses, haircut and beauty salon, fitness club, etc.  
  • Transportation – Include vehicle fuel, maintenance and insurance, parking fees, vehicle registration, other transportation expenses applicable.
  • Miscellaneous payments - Include credit cards, vehicle loans, personal loans.
  • Family entertainment – Include vacations, weekend activities, birthdays,      eating out, movie rentals, books, hobbies, etc. 
  •  Savings and Investments – Savings, IRA account, rainy day savings account, and other investments (I. E. stocks, savings bonds, etc).
  • Other expenditures – Charitable contribution, club and association fees.

Sign up for our newsletter and receive our free budget spreadsheet developed with Microsoft Office Excel.

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