google worksheet budget

The Best Google Sheets Budget Template: Full Guide

  • Last updated January 18, 2024

When it comes to financial planning, I’m a huge fan of a Google Sheets budget template. I use them personally and for my business. My preferred spreadsheet helps me track spending and multiple income streams. While I know how to make a budget spreadsheet, having free templates saves me a lot of time. 

In this article, I’ll show you the best free Google Sheets budget template. I’ll also show you other options, all of which are free, and how to use them. Finally, I’ll cover which fundamentals to include if you decide to create a budget template yourself.

Table of Contents

What Is a Budget Template?

Without a way to organize financial information, it’s challenging to keep an eye on funds. A budget template is a file used to track your spending habits and income, as well as plan your finances (which is usually more appropriate for longer-term forecasts). Simply put, a budget template is ideal for seeing where your money is going.

Do I Need a Google Sheets Budget Template? 

If you’re struggling to balance finances, a budget spreadsheet goes a long way to identify potential reckless spending. It’s also great for individuals who want to organize their finances, get “in the black,” or start a business.

Maybe you need to start saving for retirement . Maybe you need to set aside extra cash for potential emergencies. Whatever the reason, financial transparency is the key! 

The 7 Best Free Budget Templates for Google Sheets

Not sure how to create a spreadsheet for your budgeting goals? Don’t worry! I’ve compiled some of the best templates anywhere. Each of these free Google Sheets budget templates is user-friendly and easy to access. All you have to do is download a copy, fill out the necessary details, and you’re done!

1. Zero-Based Budgeting Template for Google Sheets

Zero-Based Budgeting Spreadsheet Template

Access Template

One popular budgeting technique is the idea of “ zero-based .” It’s a very popular way to organize personal finances, and the concept is simple. With a zero-based budget, you allocate all your net income into planned expenses until their difference becomes zero. This is a great way to ensure your hard-earned funds are spent wisely. More importantly, a zero-based budget template helps plan for savings goals.

Note that you can also use it for business transactions. Let’s say you have a startup capital of $20,000 for your soap business. You’d list all crucial operational expenses (like material acquisition, logistics, and marketing). You’ll continue until the budget is exhausted.

Our zero-based budgeting template is easy to use, displaying the total income you’ve generated and comparing it against the total allocated funds. You’ll also see the remaining balance that you’ll need to divide further. Best of all, you can use it for business and individual budgeting!

2. Simple Business Budgeting Template for Google Sheets

Simple Business Budgeting Template for Google Sheets

One of the most important aspects of any business is how its funds flow (i.e., money generated, spent, gained). If you’re in the early years of your enterprise, organizing your income and expenses in a simple budget sheet will provide clearer insight into budget strategy. It’s an essential part of any business plan, and a balanced budget also helps small-business owners plan for the future.

To use this budget template, divide your operating income and expenses into separate categories, and enter each into the Income rows. You can even connect this to another sheet , so it automatically pulls data. Of course, static figures would turn this into a printable budget spreadsheet Google Sheets template instead. Whether you use it online or offline, it’s a good fit for small businesses with multiple streams of income.

Start by listing the money received from various income sources. This might include your company’s profits and gifts received from others. Next, do the same for your expenses. The template will automatically tally your numbers. Since this simple Google Sheets budget template is customizable, feel free to include the company name and year for a more official-looking report.

3. Google Spreadsheet Budget Template for Students

Google Spreadsheet Budget Template for College Students

Learning how to budget your finances as a student can go a long way to saving money for your future. It can also help you pay back student loans more quickly. And, if you’re familiar with the power of compounding interest , you’ll understand why that’s such an appealing idea.

Being responsible for your finances can be a bit overwhelming initially, but you should know that budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated. In our student-friendly Google Sheets budget template, start by listing your total income. That might include part-time work, scholarship grants, internship stipends, or even an allowance from especially generous parents.

Next, include your regular expenses to create a more comprehensive budget planner. Our free budget spreadsheet features four phases (from semester 1 to 4), categorizing the expenses you typically require as a student. That means you’ll have somewhere to include tuition payments, anticipated book costs, and any other planned educational expenses.

4. Simple Household Budgeting Template

Simple Household Budgeting Template

While most of the best budget templates above work for businesses, we wanted to make sure we included a top option for household finances, too. That’s where this one comes in. This free budget spreadsheet lets you determine your remaining funds after buying all your living expenses.

It comes pre-filled with regular housing expenses (e.g., property tax, mortgage ), kids’ school costs, groceries, auto payments, utilities, and more. There’s also a section for allocating money for your wants and investments . We’ve also built our own custom budgets for our own families using this template. In our personal breakdowns, we added additional “spend” categories for savings goals. You may want to edit this Google Sheets budget template to include a house fund, travel fund, or education fund.

5. Monthly Budget Template for Google Sheets

Monthly Budget Template for Google Sheets

This monthly expenses spreadsheet is a simple template that’s divided into different categories. It comes pre-populated with common budget elements (e.g., income, rent), but it’s easy to customize them to suit your specific financial needs and priorities.

Like our other templates, this free Google Sheets template includes formulas to automatically calculate totals for your income plus expenses under each category. This should provide a much clearer overview of your personal monthly budget.

Pro tip : This template is simple and adaptable for any Google Sheet budgeting purposes – from business to household.

6. Weekly Budget Template for Google Sheets

Weekly Budget Template for Google Sheets

This free weekly budget template is a simple, user-friendly document. As you incur expenses throughout the week, record the amounts spent under each category. This template helps you monitor your spending in real time and stay within your budget limits. There are dedicated cells to enter expenses and multiple sources of income (e.g., salary, freelance ). 

The template utilizes built-in formulas to automatically calculate the total income, total expenses, and balance for each week. We recommend this weekly template for efficiently managing your finances, staying accountable to your financial goals, and making well-informed decisions.

7. Annual Budget Calendar Template

Annual Budget Calendar Template

This Google Sheets calendar budget template is a versatile, user-friendly tool designed to help you track your annual finances. Each month, you’ll input your income and budget amounts into dedicated categ ories.

With built-in formulas, this document automatically calculates totals for each category’s planned and actual expenses. This eliminates manual calculations and ensures more accurate budget tracking.

The template also includes a summary that consolidates data from each monthly sheet, adding a holistic view of your yearly financial progress at the bottom. Use this template as a personal,  family, or business spreadsheet!

Related : Top 10 Google Sheets Calendar Templates

How to Create a Custom Budget Spreadsheet

The following annual template is comprised of monthly earnings, expenses (e.g., rent, utilities, vehicle payments), budget, and savings from January to December.

Calculating Monthly Budget

google worksheet budget

  • Fill in all your data in the template sheet.

google worksheet budget

  • Drag the function forward to all other cells.

Conditional Formatting

In line 17 (in the above screenshot), you’ll notice that surplus and deficit automatically change color. Deficits turn red and surpluses turn green, thanks to conditional formatting in Google Sheets . To add this feature to your own Google Sheets budget, select the cells and choose Format > Conditional Formatting . When entering the conditions:

  • As a first condition, choose to color the cell red if the value is less than one.
  • As a second condition, choose to color cells green if they have a value of one or higher.

Calculating Annual Budget

google worksheet budget

You’ve officially set up a budget spreadsheet of your own!

Benefits of Using a Google Sheets Budget Template

Admittedly, these benefits really depend on how you use your budget spreadsheet template. But there are a few tangible benefits that you can gain by using one:

  • Organized finances : Most budget templates feature various categories that help you organize your money flow.
  • Automated computations : Google Sheet budget templates often include built-in formulas that automatically update as details are entered or modified (e.g., instant sums, percentage of total income).
  • Collaboration features : Google Sheets supports easy sharing and collaboration. This is ideal if you need a partner or team to assist with budgeting. 
  • Setting spending limits : If you’re using a zero-based budgeting template, you’ve already allocated every dollar in your wallet and account. This visualization will help you avoid going over the set amount. 
  • Reaching your financial goals : A budgeting spreadsheet template can go a long way to accumulate savings. 

Related : Want to increase your salary? Coursera online classes can take your skills to the next level!

What Should a Good Budget Template Have?

There aren’t really specific benchmarks for budget templates. They can be as simple as listing your expected salary minus the few general payments you have to make. But if you’re planning to create your own budget spreadsheet , here are some nice-to-haves that the best budget templates for Google Sheets should include:

  • Specific categories for your income and expenses : Track your outflow and inflow of money, brainstorm possible money sources, and keep tabs on important payments.
  • Functions and formulas : Create a template that automatically calculates the funds you’ve spent and gained. This keeps you from adding the funds one by one. 
  • Colors for separate categories : While this is optional (and relies on your preferences), you may want a template that utilizes different colors for each category. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does google sheets have a budget template.

Yes, Google Sheets has a few budget templates to choose from . In the template gallery, scroll to the “Personal” category. There are only two options available for you to choose from: Monthly and annual budgeting.

If these don’t meet your requirements, it’s easy to create a customized template or download one of our pre-made templates !

Is Google Sheets Good for Budgeting?

Generally speaking, spreadsheets are excellent for managing your finances. Google Sheets, however, is a free budgeting app that allows for easy collaboration and sharing with colleagues.

How Do I Create a Budget in Google Spreadsheet?

The easiest way to create a budget is with one of our existing Google Sheets budget templates. They contain everything you need to track income and expenses. You can even customize them to suit your personal financial goals.

Can You Use Excel to Create a Budget?

Yes, you can use any spreadsheet software to track your finances. Like Google Sheets, there are multiple Excel budget templates that include all of the same information (though they’re formatted for Microsoft Excel). 

Is There a Free Budget Template?

Yes, there are several free budget templates. While my top picks are all Google-based (choose a free budget tracker in Google Sheets above), I also recommend checking out Excel, Notion, and Smartsheet. 

Final Thoughts

Managing your money in a clear and organized manner is one of the most important elements for individuals and businesses alike. To gain more control of your finances, one of these Google Sheets budget templates is sure to help you! 

  • Free Balance Sheet Template for Google Sheets
  • Best Wedding Budget & Guest List Templates
  • Google Sheets Grocery List Template
  • Free Google Sheets Kanban Board Template + Video Guide

Most Popular Posts

google worksheet budget

How To Highlight Duplicates in Google Sheets

a yearly calendar template

Google Sheets Calendar Templates: The 10 Best for 2024

Copy and Paste the code in the code editor

How to Make Multiple Selection in Drop-down Lists in Google Sheets

IF CONTAINS Google Sheets Formulas

Your Guide to IF CONTAINS Google Sheets Functions

Princess Angolluan

Princess Angolluan

Related posts.

How to Hide Gridlines in Google Sheets

  • Sumit Bansal
  • February 14, 2024

Excel and Google Sheets Drop Down Lists: Complete Guide

How To Make a Google Sheets Heat Map: Easy 2024 Guide

  • Chris Daniel
  • January 25, 2024

How to Make a Character Sheet Spreadsheet

Thanks for visiting! We’re happy to answer your spreadsheet questions. We specialize in formulas for Google Sheets, our own spreadsheet templates, and time-saving Excel tips.

Note that we’re supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission at no extra cost to you.

Like what we do? Share this article!

Michael Saves

How to Use the Google Sheets Budget Template (Free Spreadsheet!)

Google Sheets Budget Tutorial: The Ultimate Guide

If you’re looking for a quick and easy budgeting tool, the Google Sheets budget template is a great option to track your daily expenses.

For the past five years, I’ve used this free budgeting spreadsheet to keep my spending under control.

Google Sheets Budget Template: Step-by-Step Guide

This article and the video below will walk you step-by-step through the process of creating a budget with Google Sheets, including my best tips to customize the template.

Table of Contents:

  • Locate and Open the Google Sheets Monthly Budget Template
  • Start With a Clean Slate
  • Customize a Sample Monthly Budget
  • Make a Copy of the Sample Budget and Plan Your Spending
  • Track Your Expenses Throughout the Month

1. Locate and Open the Google Sheets Monthly Budget Template

Locate Google Sheets monthly budget template

The first step is to find the Google Sheets budget template. When you open Google Sheets from a computer , look for the “Monthly Budget” spreadsheet located near the top of the screen.

If you don’t see a thumbnail for it, click on “Template Gallery” and find it under “Personal.”

2. Start With a Clean Slate

To start with a clean slate, you need to give the budget template a new name .

In the upper-left corner, change the name of the spreadsheet from “Monthly budget” to “SAMPLE BUDGET TO COPY EVERY MONTH.”

You’ll understand why that’s important later on in this article.

Change name of budget to Sample Budget in Google Sheets

Next, you want to delete sample amounts on the Summary and Transactions spreadsheets . Warning: If you don’t follow the instructions below, it may break the formulas in the spreadsheet.

Transactions Spreadsheet

Let’s begin with the Transactions spreadsheet. You can access it by clicking on the Transactions tab at the bottom of the screen.

To delete the sample expenses for Rent and Paycheck, click on the number 5 to select that entire row. Then, click on Delete Values from the Edit drop-down menu.

Google Sheets Monthly Budget - Delete Sample Transactions

Next, scroll down to the bottom of the Transactions spreadsheet. You’ll see that it ends with row 33. That will be a problem if you have more than 33 transactions in a month, so click “Add 1000 more rows at bottom” to avoid any issues.

Now, you’ll have 1,033 rows for transactions.

google worksheet budget

Summary Spreadsheet

Once you’ve made those changes, flip back to the Summary spreadsheet. To start with a clean slate, adjust the starting balance in cell L8 from $1,000 to $0.

Adjust starting balance L8 from $1,000 to $0.

Then, zero out the sample Home (cell D31) and Paycheck (cell J29) amounts shown in the shaded Planned column.

Zero out sample Home and Paycheck amounts in the Planned column of the Summary tab

The Summary spreadsheet ends with row 44. If you think that you may need additional expense categories, click “Add 1000 more rows at bottom” just like you did on the Transactions spreadsheet.

You’ll get a pop-up that warns about editing the spreadsheet, but go ahead and click OK.

Add 1000 rows to Summary tab and click OK when you get the pop-up warning

3. Customize a Sample Monthly Budget

The third step is to customize your sample monthly budget.

Before you adjust the expense categories on the Summary spreadsheet, I recommend that you add a third spreadsheet for Fixed Expenses.

The purpose of this additional spreadsheet is to separate your fixed and variable expenses . Let me explain how I do it.

In the lower-left corner, click to plus sign for “Add Sheet” and change the tab name to Fixed Expenses. Then, list your fixed expenses and how much you spend on them every month.

google worksheet budget

Fixed expenses include things like your rent/mortgage, cell phone bill, TV bill, utilities, subscriptions and insurance payments. You may also want to include irregular expenses in this worksheet.

Total the fixed expenses and flip back over to the Summary spreadsheet.

Fixed Expenses Worksheet Example

Next, change the first line on the expenses column from Food to Fixed Expenses and enter the total from the Fixed Expenses spreadsheet in the Planned column.

Enter Fixed Expenses worksheet total on Summary tab

Now, all of those fixed expenses take up only one line on the Summary spreadsheet.

This is important because it allows you to focus more on the variable or flexible spending categories that have a greater impact on your day-to-day spending.

Next, you can customize your categories based on your household’s spending.

You can safely change the shaded expense and income categories on the Summary spreadsheet through line 41, but don’t fill in the Planned column for your expense categories (except Fixed Expenses) just yet. That’s later.

If you need help determining your budget categories, review your recent credit card and bank statements.

google worksheet budget

How to Add More Custom Categories to Google Sheets Budget Template

If you don’t need additional rows of expenses beyond line 41, you can skip ahead to the next step at this point.

But if you do want to add extra rows or think you may need to in the future, there’s a specific way to do it to avoid messing up the formulas.

Let me explain what you need to do.

First, determine the number of expense categories that you want to add. It doesn’t hurt to have extra blank rows, so I suggest that you add 5 to 10 rows even if you won’t use them all.

Next, follow these steps:

Go to the last row of the expense column (Custom category 3, line 41) and highlight the cells you want to duplicate.

google worksheet budget

Drag down using the blue handle to add the desired number of rows. I added nine rows, so I stopped on row 50.

This is what I suggest that you do — stop at row 50.

Use blue handle to drag down and add desired number of rows to Summary tab expenses

Click OK when prompted with a pop-up warning message to continue.

Click OK to dismiss warning message after adding new rows

Rename the new categories anything you want.

google worksheet budget

After that, jot down the last row that you created . In the sample above, it’s row 50 — “Custom category 12.”

Flip over to the Transactions spreadsheet to continue.

From this spreadsheet, navigate to the category drop-down .

google worksheet budget

You may notice that not all of the new budget categories are reflected.

Here’s how to fix that:

Highlight the first cell under Category on the Expenses side (Row 5, Column E).

Highlight E5

From the Data menu, select Data validation.

Data validation screen Google Sheets

To the right, it should say Data validation rules. Select “Value contains one from range E5:E1033.”

Data validation rules select range

In the Criteria Summary field, click on the “Select data range” icon next to the =Summary!$B$27:$C$44 formula.

Change the last two numbers of the formula to match the number of your last row from the Summary spreadsheet. (That would be 50 from the example.) Select OK.

Adjust data range

Click Done at the bottom of the “Data validation rules” screen.

Then, confirm that all of your expense categories now appear in the drop-down on the Transactions tab.

Confirm categories appear in drop-down on Transactions tab

4. Make a Copy of the Sample Budget and Plan Your Spending

Now that you’ve customized the sample monthly budget, the fourth step is to make a copy of it to save the work that you’ve done so far and actually start budgeting for the upcoming month.

Go to the File menu, select Make a Copy and rename the budget for the upcoming month. For example, January 2023 Budget.

Copy sample budget and rename for the month

I go back to the sample budget every single month to make a new copy.

All of your categories and the Fixed Expenses spreadsheet should be copied over automatically.

From here, follow these steps from the Summary spreadsheet:

  • Plan spending in all of your budget categories on the Expenses side
  • Estimate paychecks and other income sources on the Income side

Ideally, you want your estimated monthly income to be greater than or equal to your planned expenses.

google worksheet budget

IMPORTANT: If you need to make tweaks to your categories or the Fixed Expenses spreadsheet in the future, make those changes to the sample budget before you make a copy . This will save you time.

By creating the sample budget, you don’t need to tweak the formulas every single month.

5. Track Your Expenses Throughout the Month

The key to making this budget work is tracking your expenses throughout the month using the Transactions spreadsheet.

The first transaction that I log every month is for my fixed expenses.

Log fixed expenses on Transactions spreadsheet

I enter the total from the Fixed Expenses worksheet on the Transactions tab. This updates the Actual column for the Fixed Expenses category on the Summary spreadsheet.

After that transaction, I do most of my budgeting on the go with the Google Sheets mobile app .

From the app, I can get an overall snapshot of my spending from the Summary spreadsheet and enter transactions on the Transactions spreadsheet.

Here’s an example…

Before I go to the grocery store, I open the Google Sheets app and look at the Summary tab to see how much money I have left to spend.

In this case, I have $500 remaining in the Groceries category.

Check budget before shopping on Summary tab

After completing my purchase, I immediately record the transaction before I leave the store.

All I do is flip over to the Transactions tab and enter the date, amount, description and category.

Log transaction after shopping on Google Sheets Mobile app

Then, the recent transaction is reflected when I go back to the Summary tab.

After spending $100, I now have $400 left to spend in the Groceries category for the month.

google worksheet budget

Checking in with my budget before every purchase is my secret weapon — it’s saved me a lot of money.

If I realize that I don’t have enough budgeted for something I want to buy, I either skip the purchase or move money from another budget category to cover it.

Let’s say that I have $200 budgeted for groceries and $200 for entertainment. If I’m at risk of going over my budget for groceries, I could pull $50 from the entertainment category. I would then go to the Summary tab and adjust the planned spending to reflect the new budget: $250 for groceries and $150 for entertainment. I’m not changing the overall total planned spending for the month, just the categories.

Another great thing about the Google Sheets budget template is that you can share it.

If you maintain a budget with a partner, you can both make changes to the budget from a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Final Thought

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to budgeting, but the Google Sheets budget template is a simple and powerful tool to take control of your money — and it’s 100% free.

Here are the reasons why I really like it:

  • Google Sheets is free
  • Monthly Budget template can be customized
  • Track expenses on the go with the app
  • Share your spreadsheet with a partner
  • No advertisements or bank information to enter

I use the Google Sheets template primarily to keep tabs on my spending. For net worth tracking, I recommend free apps like Empower .

Learn more about my 10-minute weekly money routine in this related article!

More Content From Michael Saves:

  • Fetch Rewards Review: Earn Free Gift Cards By Uploading Receipts
  • 10 Things to Know Before You Switch to a Cheap Phone Plan
  • Cut the Cord: How to Stream TV and Save Money Compared to Cable

108 thoughts on “How to Use the Google Sheets Budget Template (Free Spreadsheet!)”

Can you also show me how to add “subcategories” for each categories? Please, I really need your help.

I’m not sure how to create subcategories using the standard Google Sheets template that I use, but here’s a helpful resource if you’re creating a custom spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/2IldtC3

Is there a way to change the color in this template? Not super important but… I like to color code by month lol.

Hey idk if you need this info anymore but if you select the bar on the graph or in a certain colored area, at the top you’ll see a sparkline code next to the fx just above the column names (a, b, c, etc). All the way at the end of this sparkline is a “firstcolor” code.

For example, I changed my “firstcolor” code to “#ead1dc” so the script looks like this: “firstcolor”,”#ead1dc” and this changed the color of my End Balance bar from orange to a light pink. You can go in to all of the colored areas and adjust using this! I would advise using color hex or some other color coding website to find the colors that you want! I hope this helped. I just figured it out lmao.

How do you get your custom categories on the summary page to show up on the transaction page?

I mention this in the article because I had the same problem at first!

To add more custom categories to the Summary spreadsheet:

Go to the last row of the expense column (Custom category 3) Highlight the cells you want to duplicate Drag down using the blue handle Rename the new categories anything you want

If you follow these steps, the new custom categories will show up on the transaction page!

Actually, I already did that, but my custom categories do not show up on the transaction page. ???

My custom categories past line 44 do not show up for some reason on the transaction page. Thanks for any insight.

I have added a few custom categories without a problem, but I now see what you’re running into past line 44. I wish I knew the answer. Let me try to do some research.

Update: I found this response on another forum. Can you try?

Right click on the transactions column that uses the drop-down Choose Data Validation Change the range to include the new rows you added

I added in the list of categories about 15 more for all the bank account. But de drop down menu shows only 3 more than the original setup. How can I increase de number of lines in these menu?

I am not sure. I have only added a few categories and have not had a problem. One reason I use that fixed expensive page (one line on the category page) is to reduce the number of categories I have. Sorry I don’t have a good answer for you!

Update: I found this on another forum. Let me know if it works for you!

I am getting a error message when trying to change the range to inlcude my line past 44. How exactly do i do this ?

This worked for me! I did have to add some cell values to the formula on the first sheet for some of the rows – I think because I had re-ordered them and then added more.

How do I keep track when I loan people money and they pay me back in the same month?

Are you able to copy the blank template to another sheet or do you need to start a whole new workbook or file for the next month?

Michael, thank you for this tutorial. Here’s my problem: I’ve entered expenses, in this case, home on the transaction page, but those expenses don’t appear in the summary (31 – D,E,F)

Did you see my second video in the article? It should help! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOrTTtoEGs0

I’m currently having an issue where my transactions sheet doesn’t equal my “actual expenses” number…I’m about $15 off. I thought it was because the actual expensive side was rounding up, but I fixed it to where it has decimals but it’s still off??? This probably doesn’t make sense but I’ve been at this for two hours and my mind is melting

I think I understand, but it has never happened to me. Question for ya: On the Summary tab, is there any chance that you manually entered a value into the “Actual” column? I wonder if that could override the true expenses that you’re using the Transactions tab to track. If it’s taking you two hours, it might be more efficient to start a new sample budget template. Please watch the “How to make custom categories” video in my article if you haven’t. That may save you from another headache. Good luck — and trust me it’s worth it once you get the hang of it. I love budgeting with Google Sheets.

Yes please, I opened a new sheet today and there are amounts and a percentage already on the sheet and there are formulas on those cells which I don’t want to overwrite , what to do now?

Which sheet are you on? Did you watch my two videos? Sometimes I have overridden without a problem, but I generally try not to.

Your info saved my budget!!! Thanks for the help. Is there a way to make the google sheets monthly budget accept and process decimal points. It bugs me that I cannot track to the penny. Or please explain why it does not do it. Thanks again.

Yes it’s quite simple. Basically, from the Summary tab you’re going to want to highlight the entire page, then Format > Number. To highlight the entire sheet, click the box above 1 and to the left of A.

Here are instructions from Google’s FAQ page to help you format or change the format of numbers, dates or currencies in a spreadsheet:

On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets. Select the range of cells you’d like to format or modify. Click Format and then Number. Select the format to apply to the range of cells.

Good luck and thank you for reading my blog!

This is so exciting! Thank you so much for all of the information.

I’m curious as to what you do for future months. Do you make new sheets entirely for each month or do you just add new tabs/sheets at the bottom?

I’ve tried copying and pasting my template into a new sheet to save but all of the formatting changed and didn’t save the formulas.

Just curious as to my next step in February so I don’t have to start from scratch!

Hi Nicole. I make a SAMPLE MONTHLY BUDGET that includes my categories but no dollar amounts. Then I go to FILE > MAKE A COPY every month and rename it for the month. So I make a new sheet every month. Google has an Annual Budget Tracker that you can use to just input the results of your month if you want to see changes from month-to-month. I personally use apps like Mint and Personal Capital for this — Google is just for expense tracking for me. I hope I answered your question!

Is there a way to print these instructions on less then 11 pages? Thank you.

Hmmm. I’ll email you since I don’t have an immediate solution.

  • Pingback: 20 Free Google Sheets Budget Templates

Remarkable! Ӏts truly rewmarkable article, I have gߋt muchh ϲlear idea concerning from ths paragraph.

Hey, great post, thanks for the info.

Currently switching to Google’s free monthly budget spreadsheet in replacement of Quickbooks, because Quickbooks is not compatible with my bank or credit card, and every transaction has to get manually added, so may as well use google sheets for free!

Quick question:

Any idea on how to set the default currency to dollars and not pounds? I’ve manually selected every line and changed it under FORMAT/EDIT…etc, so I have a temporary fix. However, if I need to add a new line, it goes back to pounds even though everything was manually changed to dollars. It’s kinda annoying lol!

Anyhow, your help is greatly appreciated! Keep up the great work 🙂

Hello! Dollars is the default for me, so I didn’t run into this problem. But I think I found the solution for you here: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/56470?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en Go to FORMAT > NUMBER > MORE FORMATS > MORE CURRENCIES. Good luck!

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this site. I really hope to see the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own site now 😉

Good info. Lucky me I found your blog by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve bookmarked it for later!

Please tell me how to update a new month. When I update next month salary in the savings category it just increase the last month savings amount in the summary

I have a template that I make a copy of every month. I do not update info on the same template. I make a copy of my template and then adjust.

Is our information private? Can others see what we input?

It’s private, but you have the ability to share your Google Sheet with anyone (like a partner).

Hello Michael I really appreciate your tips and instructions

I have a question I copied my April budge to be my May budget And deleted Aprils information

In the category section I’ve updated my cell with the data validation in the May budget and saved it but my expense category does not update. When I go back to look at the cell category it is correct and updated

Any suggestions Thanks Kim

Hello! This is why I use a SAMPLE MONTHLY BUDGET template instead of copying months and deleting information.The sample should have the categories but no dollar amounts. Hope this helps!

I’ve updated my Google Sheets Budget Template tutorial with steps that are easier to follow and solutions to some common issues with the formulas. Please see my updated guide and the step-by-step video.

Vert good Mike

This was seriously awesome and so helpful! I’m excited to begin the new month using this budgeting guide. 10/10 guide !

I was super hopeful this would separate month-to-month expenses. But it lumps all expenses and all income into one “month” even if you put in multiple months of data.

Any simple spreadsheet budgets that will allow month-to-month tracking?

I don’t need GnuCash. Just a simple spreadsheet tracker…..

Well, what I do is use Mint and Personal Capital for that. But Google Sheets has another solution. You can use the monthly template every month, then add the totals to the Annual budget tracker template. It’s a good way to see how you’re doing with certain categories from month-to-month. I hope this helps you!

I feel that is one of the such a lot important info for me. And i am happy studying your article. But want to remark on few general issues, The site style is ideal, the articles is in point of fact nice : D. Excellent task, cheers

how do i get my fixed expense total to appear in the actual collumn of my expense summary? Without this, it appears there’s left over unspent budgeted min

Good question. When I bring over the fixed expense total to the planned column, I also fill it in the actual column. I think you get a warning when you do this, but it’s OK. It won’t break anything. So for me D28 is the shaded area. I fill that in, then put the same number in E28.

Is there a way to have savings on there as well? I know it’s in one of the categories but if I put say £500 into my savings, I’ll add this to the expenses and it’s a negative, is there a way to get this so it goes through expenses but on to the income savings column? Or is it best to do a separate spreadsheet for savings?

Sometimes I just add a category for Savings Goals and make a budget for it. I hope this makes sense. I use this spreadsheet for expense tracking mostly. I have Mint and Personal Capital to keep tabs on my savings, checking and investment balances.

I need help with the Budget sheet template

I think that it is helping me out.

Great idea with the Budgeting Sheets. Thanks Michael Timmerman.

Thanks for the tutorial it was very helpful. however when I enter an exact total in a transaction it is rounding the total in the summary to the nearest dollar. I cannot figure out how to undo this. I would really like the totals to transfer from the transaction list to the summary with the exact number that I entered so I can keep an exact record of what I’m spending. Do you know how to make that happen? Thanks in advance

Sure. I think your answer is in this document: https://webapps.stackexchange.com/questions/75073/google-sheets-rounds-numbers-where-not-wanted

WOW!!!!..I never saq so many people complaining when you are offering a FREE template and FREE help…I was using Mint for years, but my bank/credit union will mot allow outside services to access my bank account…. I will definitely try your spreadsheet…Gow difficult is it to add data on a smartphone while spending???

I use it on my smartphone literally every day. The best thing for me is tracking expenses. I open Google Sheets on my phone and record transactions. I also can adjust the summary tab where the spending limits are — all from my phone. However, I do like to set up the budget from a computer every month. It’s faster and gets me into “serious mode” about my finances.

I know you do not use the yearly google template. BUT…. could you do a demo of how it works? Does info automatically transfer from monthly to yearly for example? If so, what is the set up? I realize this is not your solution, but it would be nice to know how these two templates can work together for those who would like to investigate this as a solution.

yes! I do not believe the information transfers, but I’ll look into it.

thank you so much

Amazing points customize a sample monthly budget.. I am thankful for sharing the great information!!!

Hello! Thank you for all this help! I really want this to work but when I try to do the “data validation” step to add more categories, something is wrong and it won’t let me save with those values entered in.

I can’t post a picture but these are the values I have: Transactions!E5:E1000 Summary!B27:C55

Do you have any idea what I could be doing wrong? Thank you!!

Can you send me a screenshot of your summary page and then the transaction page? [email protected] .

If you didn’t add 1,000 rows to both pages (transactions and summary), it probably won’t let you enter Transactions!E5:E1000 Summary!B27:C55. I explain it in the video in the order to do it.

Fantastic! 🙂

This was an informative, effective, concise tutorial. I really appreciate you putting it together for us!

  • Pingback: Google Sheets Budget Template - How to Organize Your Money

Michael, We have a son on the autistic spectrum. He is working on “Finances – Make a spreadsheet of where your money actually goes” as one of his proficiency goals for independent living and self sufficency. Your tutorial and accompanying video are the best of the dozens that I’ve looked at. He is working on this today. Thank you for providing him with a tool that can help him to succeed. We appreciate your work, thorough explanations, and attention to detail. Thank you!

I would love to hear an update sometime. That’s great

Hi Michael – thank you for this really generous resource. I have a question that I haven’t seen asked elsewhere in the comments. How do you account for irregular expenses that occur maybe a few times a year, or once a year but they require forethought. One example of this would be my real estate and school taxes; another would be the budgeting I set aside for auto maintenance. Particularly for the latter, I may not spend this every month, but I need to set aside money every month. A third example would be the cost of a vacation, amortized across the year. Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated — either how you think about these sorts of line items in general, and/or how you incorporate them into your monthly sheets, if you do. Thank you again.

Thanks for the comment. I have a separate article/video that explains what I do. I hope it helps and let me know if you come up with something different that works for you! https://michaelsaves.com/save-money/google-sheets-budget-irregular-expenses/

This is honestly the best budget spreadsheet I’ve ever come across! Thank you so much for sharing it 🙂

Hi! I’ve started using the monthly budgeting templates and am loving it. I’m wondering if there’s a way to add a document for annual spending too. Let me know! And thank you!

Great! If you’re talking about budgeting for irregular expenses (like annual), I have an article here: https://michaelsaves.com/save-money/google-sheets-budget-irregular-expenses/ . But if you’re talking about tracking changes from month to month over the course of a year, I use Mint and Personal Capital for that. However, I’ve also just started using the Google Sheets Annual Budget Tracker and plan a video on it soon. You can find that from the Google Sheets template gallery. Good luck!

Hi! I love this template, but I was wondering if the two sheets could be combined onto one sheet as a master. Then I could just save additional sheets by months. I have tried numerous add ons, but to no avail. Thanks fofr any help.

I’ve not been able to do this, unfortunately!

Gill K. from Google Docs Editors Community figured it out! I merged the Monthly Budget sheet and sent a link. Here is the working version. I wanted to use a Master sheet that had the 2 pages combine into one, duplicate it and name it by month so I can have a tab of every month. It made it much more efficient for me.

Here is the link to the thread…. https://support.google.com/docs/thread/105473200?hl=en#

Here is the link to my tailored version of the budget sheet… https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BghXxA88otThpIi44tlP_GxmP9fQ7ggAknK2hN8VH0U/edit?usp=sharing

I hope this helps.

If I figure it out, I will let you know. So far it has been trial & error. Lol.

Hi I cant seem to find a link to the template, is this ur own custom template and have you shared it? or can it be found in my own google sheets account?

This article shows how I customize the standard template. In the video you can see exactly where to find it in the first step.

When I get my salary paid into my account on the last day of the month, I usually transfer X amount directly into a savings account so it feels like I never had that money so I don’t miss it. Where do I put this on the sheet? It’s not an expense and not an income.

Thanks for your help S

I usually put this on the expense side as a Transfer to Savings category or Savings Goals category.

I was all excited to put together my first Budget spreadsheet, and followed along easily until I got to “Data Validation.” It won’t recognize any of the numbers or colons you told me to input. I even changed E4 to E5 per your example. Now I’m all frustrated and feeling defeated and going back to my legal pad and red and black pens. Is there an updated – 2021 – thingie I’m missing? I really want this to work!

My instructions should work. Did you follow along with the video as well? I would redo it from the start and pay close attention to that area.

Everything went well until I tried to transfer budget catagories to the transaction sheet. I carefully followed the 5 points instructions, but nothing posted to the transaction sheet. I used your suggested cell range and criteria summary fields. Need your help

I would start over and repeat the steps in the video/article. These are the exact steps I follow every month. I use the Google Sheets app on my phone to add transactions and don’t have to log in every time.

Also, I’m having to sign in to google sheets each time I use it. Is there a way to avoid that? John English

Michael, I’m excited and ready to go. I have saved both a “Sample Budget – copy every Month” and saved a “Budget for December 2021.” You said, “any changes, make to the sample budget before you make a copy.” These, I assume, are catagoy changes, etc. Am I right in saying, expenditures only go in the “Budget for December” spreadsheet and not in the “Sample budget.” Then as each month changes, just change the “Budget for December” to “Budget for January” etc. What is the main purpose for the Sample copy? Thanks, John English

Yes, category changes to the sample budget! Numbers you change on the individual monthly budgets. The purpose of the sample copy is so that you don’t have to repeat all of the reformatting every month.

Michael, Do the spreadsheets automatically save? I see no “save” in the “file” catagory. If so, I assume there is no need to “save a copy” since that will make repetitive copies. John English

I want to make the two pages into a single one. How to make it happen? I mean the formula!

Sorry I don’t know how

Thanks for the tutorial. I have used google sheets budget successfully for a couple of years, but I retired and need a whole new outlook. On the newly created month copied from the sample, the transactions do not appear on the Summary? How can I fix this? Thanks.

Thanks for your help. When I make a copy of the sample and entered values in the transactions they do not appear in the summary? How can I make them transfer to the summary page and actually deduct the amounts? Thanks again. I really love this budget and it has worked for me before.

If the transactions are not reflected on the summary, there is something wrong with your sample budget. I would start over. These steps work — you just have to follow them very carefully to avoid breaking any formulas. If you start over and continue to have trouble, send a screenshot to [email protected] and I’ll take a look.

Can you explain what the “starting balance” box does and how it affects the summary page?

Also, thanks so much for these spreadsheets! I’ve tried Mint, YNAB, and other budgeting systems in the past with not much success. I decided to give it another go and started creating my own spreadsheet but soon got overwhelmed. I stumbled upon your templates in just the nick of time! I like that the hard work is done for me but it’s still flexible enough to cater to my needs (for example, I like to budget based off the previous month’s income so I put in December’s paychecks for January’s income).

Hi! So starting balance I don’t really use. But you could use it if you wanted to have a savings account balance maybe? Or a leftover amount from the month before?

Very Good Idea i am trying this in my Life

I was wondering if there is a way to add a rollover column? I’m using the budget template from Google Sheets just as you showed in your video and have it set up and filled in. Example…if I’m budgeting $100 monthly towards Christmas, I’d like to see that I have a total of $200 in the Christmas ‘planned’ in February because January’s $100 wasn’t spent. I have several categories that build (clothing fund, vacations, etc.) I want the following months to show the addition of the previous months’ leftover money. Is this something I can do or do I need to just add it in manually to the ‘planned’?

Also, is there a way to have the tabs at the bottom with each month vs. saving a completely new page? Not sure how that would work when it’s connected to the transactions tab.

Thanks so much for your video. It has been very helpful in learning how to use google budget and setting mine up!

I’m not sure how to do these more advanced things. I do know that You Need a Budget (paid service) does this and you may want to look at Mint. I use the Google Sheets annual budget for things like this — and to track month-to-month.

I currently keep up with my budget biweekly ( due to my pay) can this template be update to reflect that instead of monthly

I’m sure you could customize it — just do a March Paycheck 1 and March Paycheck 2 budget.

Thanks for the tutorial. Its been helpful

Hello! What do you mean by starting balance? Is that your current balance on your card and other banks?

I don’t use the starting balance field myself. But I think you could use it for the balance of your savings + checking accounts if you wanted to.

Thanks for the video! How do I change it from dollars to euros?

I have a short video that shows you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKX7WaMos9M&t

Man, thank you for making this guide! It was super easy to follow and very practical. I will do my best to do what you do as well. Thank you!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

How to Use Google Sheets for Your Budget: A Step-by-Step Guide

Keeping track of your finances can be a daunting task, but with Google Sheets, it’s a breeze. Google Sheets is a free, web-based spreadsheet program that allows you to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online. With its easy-to-use interface and powerful features, it’s the perfect tool for managing your budget. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to set up a budget spreadsheet, input your income and expenses, and analyze your financial data to make informed decisions about your money.

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Use Google Sheets for Your Budget

Before we dive into the steps, let’s talk about what we’re aiming to achieve. We’re going to set up a simple budget spreadsheet that will help you track your income and expenses. This will give you a clear picture of your financial situation and help you make better decisions about your money.

Step 1: Create a New Spreadsheet

Open Google Sheets and create a new spreadsheet.

Creating a new spreadsheet is as easy as clicking on the “+” button on the Google Sheets homepage. You’ll be taken to a blank spreadsheet where you can start inputting your data.

Step 2: Set Up Your Categories

Create categories for your income and expenses.

Organizing your budget starts with setting up categories for your income and expenses. You can use broad categories like “Housing,” “Food,” and “Transportation,” or get more specific with categories like “Rent,” “Groceries,” and “Gas.”

Step 3: Input Your Income

Input your monthly income in the appropriate category.

Next, you’ll input your monthly income. Make sure to include all sources of income, such as your salary, bonuses, and any side gigs you might have.

Step 4: Input Your Expenses

Input your monthly expenses in the appropriate category.

Now, you’ll input your monthly expenses. Be thorough and include everything from your rent or mortgage to your Netflix subscription.

Step 5: Analyze Your Data

Use Google Sheets’ built-in formulas and charts to analyze your financial data.

Once you’ve input all your data, you can use Google Sheets’ built-in formulas and charts to analyze your financial situation. This will help you identify areas where you can cut back and save money.

After completing these steps, you’ll have a fully functional budget spreadsheet that you can update and analyze each month. You’ll be able to see exactly where your money is going and make informed decisions about your finances.

Tips: How to Use Google Sheets for Your Budget

  • Use the “SUM” function to quickly calculate totals for your income and expenses.
  • Take advantage of Google Sheets’ “Conditional Formatting” feature to highlight areas of concern, like overspending in a particular category.
  • Set up “Data Validation” to ensure that you only input numbers where appropriate, reducing the chance of errors.
  • Use the “Comments” feature to add notes or reminders about specific transactions.
  • Share your budget spreadsheet with a trusted friend or family member for accountability and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if i have irregular income or expenses.

You can use the “AVERAGE” function to estimate your monthly income or expenses based on past data.

Can I access my budget spreadsheet on my phone?

Yes, you can access Google Sheets on your phone by downloading the Google Sheets app.

How do I share my budget spreadsheet with someone else?

Click on the “Share” button in the top right corner and enter the email address of the person you want to share it with.

Is my financial data safe in Google Sheets?

Google takes security very seriously, but it’s always a good idea to use a strong, unique password for your Google account.

Can I import data from my bank into Google Sheets?

Some banks allow you to export your transaction data in a format that can be imported into Google Sheets.

  • Create a new spreadsheet.
  • Set up your categories.
  • Input your income.
  • Input your expenses.
  • Analyze your data.

Managing your finances doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With Google Sheets, you can easily create a budget spreadsheet that will help you track your income and expenses, analyze your financial data, and make informed decisions about your money. Whether you’re looking to save for a big purchase, pay off debt, or just get a better handle on your spending, Google Sheets is the perfect tool for the job. So why not give it a try? You might be surprised at how much you can save when you know exactly where your money is going.

Matthew Burleigh Solve Your Tech

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

Share this:

Join our free newsletter.

Featured guides and deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Related posts:

  • How to Download a Google Sheet as an Excel File
  • How to Wrap Text in Google Sheets
  • How to Make a Header Row in Google Sheets
  • How to Make a Spreadsheet That Keeps Track of Your Monthly Expenses
  • How to Create a New Google Sheets Spreadsheet in Google Drive
  • How to Calculate How Much You Can Borrow with Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Add a Title in Google Sheets
  • How to Turn Off Google Sheets Autocomplete
  • How to Use Google Sheets: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
  • How to Make All Columns the Same Width in Excel 2013
  • How to Get Microsoft Excel to Easily Calculate Profits & Losses
  • How to Alphabetize on Google Sheets
  • How to Make Blank Spreadsheets in Google Sheets: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Save as a CSV from Google Sheets
  • How to Insert a Graph in Google Docs
  • How to Search in Google Spreadsheet Files (An Easy 3 Step Guide)
  • How to Remove Google Sheets Notes
  • How to Freeze Columns in Google Sheets
  • How to Make a Balance Sheet in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • How to Do a Hanging Indent on Google Docs

11 Budget Templates for Google Sheets

Crystal Crowder

If keeping track of your budget seems overwhelming, try budget templates for Google Sheets. Access and update your budget from anywhere and pick a template that’s perfect for your needs. Whether it’s saving for a vacation, managing your main finances, or even planning a major event, Google Sheets budget templates are the best way to track all of it.

Tip : learn how to convert currencies in Google Sheets .

1. Simple Budget Template by Keepify

2. college student budget by smartsheet, 3. family budget planner by vertex42, 4. personal monthly budget by vertex42, 5. credit card tracker by johnnyafrica.com, 6. wedding budget by bridal musings, 7. haverland budget by the penny hoarder, 8. google budget sheet by regpaq, 9. home renovation budget by smartsheet, 10. budget spreadsheet, 11. budget tracking tool by the measure of a plan, frequently asked questions.

If you want a general yet highly effective budgeting template for Google Sheets, it’s hard to beat Keepify’s Simple Budget Template . It’s available in both monthly and annual varieties to let you manage finances month by month and see a yearly overview.

There are multiple tabs, including samples in action, a transaction log, and of course, the template itself. The first tab is just instructions and a gentle push to use Keepify expense management tools.

Simple Budget template showing last month's expenses.

What’s nice is that the template is surprisingly easy to customize. Break your budget down into categories and see how your expenses have changed from one month to the next using both totals and percentages. There’s even a section dedicated to savings to let you divide income into both “needs” and “wants.”

If you want to keep things simple, you can also use a mobile app to help with budgeting. For example, Google Pay lets you track your spending , and Ivy Wallet ( see our review ) lets you quickly organize your spending.

As a college student, you have to deal with a variety of expenses and income sources, such as grants, loans, and part-time jobs, so you need a special budget template. Smartsheet’s College Student Budget has everything you need.

One of the best budgeting templates for Google Sheets, College Student Budget.

Expenses and income are broken down by semester, type of income, and type of expense. Income and expenses have their own detailed sections that let you pick the categories relevant to you. Track every source of income you have along with every single expense, including things like school supplies, car maintenance, streaming services, and nights out.

Another great feature is the expense estimator in the second tab. Use this to plan out your budget. You can also add notes, such as whether the expense needs to be added to your list or someone else is covering it, like a parent.

Tracking expenses with college expense estimator in College Student Budget template.

Planning an entire family’s budget often requires more categories and a more complex template than an individual’s budget. However, the Family Budget Planner from Vertex42 is ideal for anyone, especially as your life changes from living as a student to living on your own to getting married or having kids. There are even categories for those going through divorce.

Tracking expenses and income in Family Budget Planner template.

What makes this one of the best budget templates for Google Sheets is it has categories for income, tips, interest, savings breakdown, common expenses, like groceries and dining out, child-related expenses, health, transportation, entertainment, pets, and even running your own business.

Obviously, you can change and customize anything on the template to best meet your needs. The two charts at the top give you a quick overview of your income and savings. There’s even a Help tab to guide you on how to best use the template.

Love the family budget template but want one made more for individuals? Try Vertex42’s Personal Monthly Budget template instead. Almost anything you could think of tracking is on this template. It’s well laid out and does something you don’t often see.

Personal Monthly Budget, one of the best budget templates for Google Sheets, showing detailed income and expense tracking.

There’s a column for what you expect to spend and a column for what you actually spend to help you see whether you’re staying within your desired budget in different categories. This is also ideal for helping you see areas where you may need to budget more or cut back.

Everything from general expenses and healthcare to savings and entertainment is included here. You can even track student loan payments, alimony, retirement, and estimated taxes. There’s also a yearly version of this template for yearly tracking.

Do you have a wallet full of credit cards and can’t keep track of limits, fees, payment dates, and rewards? Then you need the Credit Card Tracker template from JohnnyAfrica.com . This one isn’t for tracking your spending – it’s for tracking your rewards and credit limits.

Credit Card Tracking by JohnnyAfrica showing card details.

Easily track points, travel miles, fees, interest rates, credit score, and even bonuses, fees, and rewards related to your checking and savings accounts. It’s a uniquely-styled budget template for Google Sheets that lets you see which cards are helping you and which might be hurting your credit and budget, such as those with high-interest rates and fees.

It’s one of the best budget templates for Google Sheets to use alongside another budget template. If you have multiple credit cards, are part of multiple rewards programs, and/or need to track bank account terms and fees, this template is a must-have.

Planning a wedding isn’t easy, but Bridal Musings’ Wedding Budget template does help simplify the budget-planning part. The great part is that it may also help you figure out what to plan for. For instance, you may have thought about the venue and DJ, but what about budgeting for wedding party gifts?

While it looks rather simple, the comprehensive list includes jewelry, venue planning, music, flowers, fashion, photography, catering, vendors, and much more.

Tracking wedding planning expenses with Wedding Budget template.

You can set estimated costs and the actual costs, list every supplier name and contact details, and even list when you placed a deposit and when the final payment is due. Since the template comes from a wedding blog, there are also links to suggested resources in different categories to help with your planning.

Even if you’re not planning a wedding, this template can easily be modified to plan most any major event, such as a birthday party, retirement party, or holiday party. If you need help with the actual planning, consider A Practical Wedding’s Complete Wedding Workbook . It’s not for budgeting but does cover all of the other details.

How often do you think about saving for the future? Do you need to cut back on your expenses? The Haverland Budget template is what one family used to save $6,000 in a year and cut back on unnecessary expenses.

It’s not the prettiest spreadsheet but breaks your budget down into three main categories: long-term, short-term, and For Us (aka personal spending). The long-term category focuses on investments, insurance, mortgage, and retirement. These are all things you’ll need to set aside monthly.

Haverland budget templates for Google Sheets with monthly finance categories.

Short-term covers your standard monthly expenses, such as groceries, dining out, pets, vehicles (gas/maintenance), phone, and Internet. Of course, the For Us category is more for extras and splurges – for wants rather than needs.

Haverland template showing financial summary.

There is a main Budget tab to use as a planner and quick overview. Then, each month has its own tab where you enter every single expense by date and category. For tracking every detail of your budget by month and year, this is a surprisingly powerful spreadsheet.

Regpaq’s Google Budget Sheet is one of the best-looking budget templates for Google Sheets. It is based on the book I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. I’d highly recommend reading the full post below the download link for instructions on how to best use this template. While the template is incredibly useful, there is a slight learning curve to get the most out of it.

Google Budget Sheet showing income breakdowns.

There are four tabs:

  • Config : for setup and planning
  • Dashboard : an overview of spending
  • Expenses : individual expenses
  • Balance Sheet : to reconcile expenses with the budget

Don’t worry, there are detailed instructions for each tab. What’s nice is that everything is organized in colorful blocks with bold headers. It looks more like a premium template than a free one and is extremely easy to customize with any category. You can also list all assets and accounts to better track investments, bank accounts, credit cards, and more.

The Home Renovation Budget by Smartsheet is perfect for tracking any major project. While designed with home projects in mind, you could easily track car repairs, craft projects, woodworking projects, and much more. It’s a fairly simple template but gets the job done.

Home Renovation Budget template being used to plan a small home renovation.

Start with your budget, which includes any cash funds and loans, then itemize everything you need to spend or have spent to automatically calculate how much of your budget is remaining.

This is perfect if you’re getting quotes on services and supplies and want to ensure everything comes up within your budget or to see where you may need to cut back. You could even use this to itemize projects to invoice.

Tip : save money with these online shopping extensions .

Budget Spreadsheet was created by a Reddit user who wanted a better way to manage expenses. Over just four years, the user Celesmeh went from barely scraping by to saving $10,000.

Best Budget Templates For Google Sheets Reddit

The colorful Google Sheets budget template breaks finances down by month, but includes a unique daily and weekly spending limit to keep you on track. Income and credit card spending are both included. Naturally, there are also categories for expenses with a list to break down individual items.

Change it as much as you need to better fit your spending and savings goals.

Budget Tracking Tool is one of the most comprehensive budget templates for Google Sheets. It may be a little overwhelming for those looking for a simple template, but it’s a powerful budget tracker once you learn how to use it. Luckily, detailed instructions are included.

Best Budget Templates For Google Sheets Money Planner

Individual tabs let you lay out your categories, income, expenses, and overall budget targets. Here’s where it gets complex: as you fill out those tabs, the Dashboard tab updates to give you an overview of your financial situation.

There is even a tab to compare your budget from previous years to see how well you’re doing. Another tab lets you quickly see if you’ve stuck to your budget targets and where you may be going over.

Tip: Make budgeting a habit and put it on your calendar. These Google Sheets calendar templates can help you stick to the plan.

Can I customize Google Sheets templates as much as I want?

Yes. These are just templates to help guide you. Change cell colors , categories, or even the entire layout. Build on them to make them more complex or simplify them. However, the one thing you can’t do is sell the templates. As long as it still looks close to the original, you’re not allowed to sell it. In fact, many of the templates specifically say “for personal use only.”

How can I learn how to use Google Sheets budget templates?

While some of the budget templates for Google Sheets are straightforward, others are more complex. Some of these have tutorial videos or a Help tab in the template. Use these resources to get started, or play around with the template for a few months to see how it works. If something goes wrong, just delete the template and download a new version.

Will budget templates help me stay on budget?

Budget templates can help, but only if you’re willing to stick to the budget. The templates help you better track and understand your income and expenses. Having everything laid out can help you see where you might be falling short or where you could save a little extra .

However, this also means entering all your information regularly and checking the results. It also means changing your habits based on those results. If you’re willing to make changes, these templates will help you stick to your budget.

Image credit: Unsplash

Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox

Crystal Crowder

Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.

Ai Generated Content On Iphone Cover Image

How-To Geek

How to make and share a household budget in google sheets.

Keep track of bills with others in your home.

Quick Links

Use a google sheets budget template, use a third-party budget template, create a budget from scratch, share the budget.

If you want to create a budget and share it with your housemates, Google Sheets is a great option. Use a template or make a budget from scratch and then share it so you can all work on it together.

Google Sheets makes it easy to set up a monthly or yearly budget with its templates. On the main page, select the Template Gallery at the top.

Google Sheets Template Gallery

You'll see both the Monthly Budget and Annual Budget options in the Personal section. Pick one and it'll open right up for you to get started.

Google Sheets budget templates

Monthly Budget Template

The Monthly Budget template has sheet tabs for entering transactions as they take place and then seeing a summary of those transactions.

Google Sheets Monthly Budget summary

As you enter your income and expenses, you can select a category from the drop-down list. This helps the summary sheet give you an overview of where your money comes from and goes.

Google Sheets Monthly Budget transactions

You can also take advantage of the Planned and Actual features of the template to see how well you estimate your monthly budget.

Google Sheets Monthly Budget income and expense summary

Annual Budget Template

Similar to the above template is an Annual Budget Template for viewing your income and expenses throughout the year. You have separate sheet tabs for income and expenses along with a summary tab to see the whole year.

Google Sheets Annual Budget expenses

Simply enter the amounts in the categories provided for money coming in and going out. Rather than a detailed monthly view by entering transactions as they happen, you enter the amounts for the month.

Google Sheets Annual Budget income

You'll then see an overview as the year moves on with this template.

Google Sheets Annual Budget summary

If you're looking for a different type of budget template, a third-party option might be the way to go. Vertex42 offers free Google Sheets templates for family, personal, project, and weekly budgets. Let's check one out.

Related: How to Create Expense and Income Spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel

This Family Budget Planner template is a good option for seeing everyone's income and expenses at a glance.

Vertex42 Family Budget Planner

The Income section has spots for wages, interest, dividends, and gifts to cover wherever the money comes from.

Vertex42 Family Budget Planner income

You can then use the To Savings section for money you want to put away for emergencies, retirement, or investments.

Continue to the expenses sections which are divided by type. So you have Home Expenses, Children, Daily Living, Transportation, Health, and more.

Vertex42 Family Budget Planner savings and expenses

To see how the money is flowing, you have a nice summary section at the top with totals, net, and balances for spending and savings.

Vertex42 Family Budget Planner summary

Check out the Help tab for tips on getting started with this helpful Family Budget Planner template.

If after viewing the Google Sheets and third-party templates, you don't see one that quite fits your needs, you can create one from scratch. Google Sheets offers helpful functions for adding income and expenses as well as subtracting amounts for money left over.

Related: 9 Basic Google Sheets Functions You Should Know

Although there are various ways to set up your budget sheet, depending on the type of items you want to track, you can create a simple income and expense budget sheet for your household or family. Select a Blank sheet and then give it a name.

Name a Google Sheet

For a monthly budget, enter the months in a row at the top of the sheet. You can then use a section for income with the income types listed in the first column and a section for expenses with those types in the first column.

Income, expenses, and months in a sheet

At the bottom of each section, you can add totals . Select the cell where you want the total expenses, click the Functions button in the toolbar, and choose "Sum."

Sum in the Functions drop-down menu

Select the range of cells for the total and press Enter or Return. You can use the fill handle to drag the formula to the remaining cells on the right. Then, do the same for the expense section.

SUM function for the income total

If you like, you can subtract the expense total from the income total at the very bottom of the sheet. Select the cell where you want this difference and enter the subtraction formula . In our case this is:

Subtraction formula for left over money

You can then see how much money is left at the end of each month.

If you want more detail for your income and expenses, you can add totals for each row too. For example, you can see the total salary amount as it grows throughout the year. Or, you can add sections for savings and investments or various sections for different types of expenses.

Income totals for a row

Since you're creating this budget from scratch, you can make it as high-level or detailed as you want. The basic functions in Google Sheets can help you with the calculations you need.

No matter which option you choose to create your budget in Google Sheets, sharing is simple. You can provide those you share with access to make edits which is handy for them to add their own amounts. Alternatively, you can simply grant them access to see the budget if you prefer.

Related: How to Share Documents on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Select the Share button on the top right of the workbook and enter the email addresses or contact names. To the right, use the drop-down to grant permissions to the sheet for each person.

Share permissions in Google Sheets

Optionally add a message, hit "Send," and those you're sharing with will receive an email with a direct link to the sheet.

Sharing option with message

Keeping track of your budget is important to good money management. And with Google Sheets, you can create a budget in just minutes.

For more ways to use Google Sheets, look at how to make your own calendar too!

google worksheet budget

Educator and Google Developer Expert. Let me help you with Google Sheets and Apps Script.

10 Tips To Build A Google Sheets Budget Template

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that I use a Google Sheets budget template to track my finances, both incomings and outgoing, at home and for my business.

The dashboards available through online banking sites are pretty rudimentary. They don’t give much insight into what’s happening with my finances, particularly over longer time frames.

I like using Google Sheets, as opposed to another third party service like Mint, because it’s fully customizable. It’s easy to use and I can share any spending or budget templates easily with my wife.

Google Sheets budget template with Tiller

I’m not a financial expert, so I won’t be dispensing any financial advice here. I won’t opine on what you should or shouldn’t show in your spending and budget templates in this post, nor will I talk about what your financial goals should be or how to get there.

What I will do in this post however, is show you some useful tips in Google Sheets that you can use for building your own budget templates. Techniques to make them more insightful and more helpful for reaching your goals.

Here’s a summary of what we’ll cover for building a Google Sheets budget template:

  • Before you build, consider your why
  • Invest time little and often
  • Get basic formulas dialed
  • Leverage power of more advanced formulas
  • Don’t reinvent the wheel! Google has specific financial formulas
  • Use comments to record specific details
  • Import your financial data into Google Sheets with Tiller
  • Set budgets and highlight spend over the budgeted amount
  • Build drop-down menus to show different categories in your reports

10 tips to build a Google Sheets budget template

Here are 10 tips for creating a Google Sheets budget template:

1. Before you build, consider your why

Before diving into the thick of it, and getting lost in your transactions, fancy formulas or complex charts, it’s worth spending some time thinking about why you’re doing this.

Putting aside spreadsheets, and tracking, and expenses for a moment, ask yourself what it is you’re trying to do (for example, maybe you want to pay off a student loan as quickly as possible, or reduce your credit card spending each month because it’s too high! ?).

What problem are you trying to solve?

Then, set a goal!

Work out what would help you achieve that goal (for example being able to see how much, and where you spend your money each month). Then build yourself a Google Sheet template that will do that for you (for example a Sheet showing your credit card transactions broken down into different categories).

Don’t try to create one giant spreadsheet to track everything (at least not initially). You’ll be better served by creating a single, focused Google Sheet that solves one problem for you.

Here are some ideas: credit card spending/budget templates, student loan tracker, mortgage payment tracker, stock portfolio tracker, household budget templates, childcare costs,….etc.

2. Invest time, little and often

Ok, so building a template is going to take some time up front. Anything from an hour for a basic template, up to perhaps a day or two to build something complex.

However, once you have your template, it’ll then only take a few minutes each day to keep on top of things. And that’s the beauty of this whole process.

Quickly update your transactions, tweak your categories, modify a chart and, most importantly of all, understand and glean insights about your finances.

The upfront effort pays dividends down the line when you have a clear conscience knowing what you’re spending and how you compare to your budget.

3. Get basic formulas dialed

It goes without saying that you’ll use the SUM formula in your budget templates, and I won’t insult your intelligence by covering that.

You’ll probably also find yourself using AVERAGE , MIN and MAX , which are again, easy to understand.

Another one you’ll probably want to use in your Google Sheets budget template, and one that often trips people up, is the Percentage change formula , so let’s run through a quick example of that. The formula is:

Take your new value (e.g. this month) and minus your original value (e.g. last month). Take this answer (the difference between New and Original) and divide it by the original amount (e.g. last month).

There are other, super-useful, and relatively basic formulas you may not have used before: SUMIF and SUMIFS (and corresponding AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS , same principle).

The SUMIF function allows you to sum your data, but only when a specific criterion is met. For example, maybe you want to sum everything in category X, or month Y, or on credit card Z. SUMIF (or SUMIFS) is the formula you’ll want to use.

It takes the form:

So a real example would look like this, where we test column A for “Coffee/Bites” and only add values from B to the total for rows that match :

SUMIF formula for budget templates

The SUMIFS function is slightly different, because you specify the sum range (i.e. the range of values you want to sum) first, and then all your different conditions.

4. Leverage power of more advanced formulas in your Google Sheets budget template

There are a few other key formulas that are worth investing time in. You’ll be able to manipulate your data more easily with a mastery of these formulas and display it in new ways for a more sophisticated understanding of your finances.

I’d recommend learning the following formulas:

The VLOOKUP function is arguably the most famous advanced formula in the spreadsheet world. Give it a search term and it will search for this term in a separate table and return specific data if it finds the search term. It’s really useful for building dynamic tables and charts ( see section 9 below ).

The VLOOKUP can also be wrapped in an IFERROR function to handle any errors (if the search term is not found, you can set a custom message to display e.g. “No data found for this month”):

The FILTER function allows you to show a subset of data that passes some criteria. For example, you might want to filter so you only see transactions over $250, when you want to easily check all your big transactions. Or maybe filter on all transactions from a certain vendor, to see how much you’ve spent with them.

It’s relatively simple to implement:

In practice, if we had our data in the range A1:D100, with values in column D, and we wanted to see only transactions over $250, our formula would be:

If you thought the filter function was useful, wait until you learn how to wield the QUERY function . It’s arguably the most powerful function in Google Sheets. Period.

It can aggregate your data, summarize your data, filter your data, sort your data, you name it and it can probably do it. However it’s not an easy formula to learn:

This example takes data in columns A and B and groups on the month in column A (so all Jan payments get added together, all Feb payments get added together etc.). It only includes payments greater than 0. It sorts the months in order and relabels the columns of the new Query table as ‘Month’ and ‘Payments’.

As you can see, it’s a very powerful function.

5. Don’t reinvent the wheel! Google has specific financial formulas

Google Sheets has over 40 built-in financial formulas, for solving very specific needs, everything from depreciation to treasury yields.

So check out the full list here , before doing legwork you don’t need to do.

Let’s take a quick look at one of the more general formulas, FV, which calculates the future value based on constant-amount periodic payments and a constant interest rate.

The general formula is:

I recently used this formula to calculate the future value of a lump sum, invested at a 5% return for 30 years. The idea was to show how the amount I’d spent over my budget could have been invested instead, and show what it might have been worth in 30 years time. The lost opportunity cost.

So it’s 5% interest, divided by 12 to get a monthly rate. Next the number of monthly periods, 360. The payment amount is 0, since I don’t want to include any payments. The present value is the spend this month, less my target budget (i.e. the amount over budget). The last argument, [end_or_beginning] , is optional and relates to whether the payments are made at the beginning or end of the month, so not relevant in this case.

Read more about the FV function in the docs here .

6. Use comments to record specific details

Often I find myself wanting to add a note to a transaction, because something about it is different than normal and I know I’ll forget why if I don’t write it down. However, I don’t really want to have to add extra rows or columns, or rebuild my budget templates just to fit more text cells in.

So I add comments to record specific details about a transaction.

You can add comments to cells in spreadsheets by right clicking and selecting “Insert comment”:

Example comment for budget templates

Best of all, you can tag others in a comment to notify them, by typing “@” + their email address. For example you might tag an unusual looking transaction for your accountant to review.

If you have a lot of context to record, or find yourself wanting to add notes every month, then a dedicated notes column is the way to go. But for occasional notes, comments are the way to go. They’re low profile and won’t affect any calculations.

7. Import your financial data into Google Sheets with Tiller

You’d imagine that building all these templates in Google Sheets would require us to download our data from the financial vendors, as a CSV file we could import into Google Sheets.

I use an amazing tool called Tiller to bring all my financial data into my Google Sheets, so I can analyze it and build templates exactly as I want.

It’s my secret weapon for building financial templates.

Tiller Google Sheets

You can use Tiller to bring bank account data, credit card data, or other financial data into your Google Sheets. It’s super easy to setup and works flawlessly for me.

The data is updated every morning when you’ll also receive an email summary update:

Tiller daily email

It costs $79/year, which is tremendous value since you’re getting a fully customizable, automated personal finance tool.

8. Set budgets and highlight spend over the budgeted amount

The following chart shows any spend over $2,000 in a month with a red color, to differentiate it and bring it to the attention of the viewer. It’s a classic technique in data visualization, using a pre-attentive attribute to convey information more effectively.

Budget template overspend chart

It’s easy to do in Google Sheets. You can use simple formulas to separate amounts above the threshold and then turn your regular column chart into a stacked column chart.

The table is simply two columns. The first shows the value or the threshold, whichever is smaller. The second shows a 0, unless the value is over the threshold, in which case it displays the difference.

Budget template overspend data table

Assuming my threshold value of $2,000 is in cell E3, and my column of spend values is column C, the formulas are:

9. Build drop-down menus to show different categories in your Google Sheets budget template

It’s really easy to add category menus in Google Sheets, using Data Validation to build dropdown lists . Then you can change what data is showing in your reports.

These are the steps to create a dynamic chart in your reports:

  • Categorize transactions into meaningful groups (like Groceries, Utilities, Car payments, Mortgage, Discretionary, Restaurants etc.)
  • Create a unique list of the category names
  • Choose the cell where you want to add the menu, right click and choose Data Validation...
  • Choose “List from range” as the criteria
  • Select the unique list of categories
  • Use a lookup formula (VLOOKUP) with this data validation cell as the search term
  • Use the dynamic data table for your chart
  • Voila! Your chart will be dynamic too

I’ve written extensively about dynamic charts in this post , so I won’t repeat it here.

10. Use words!

Perhaps the most influential dashboard article I’ve ever read is this one from Google Analytics advocate Avinash Kaushik. The takeaway is to include more context and more text in our dashboards, so they reach their potential as decision-making tools, rather than pure “data pukes”.

I always keep this in mind when I’m producing dashboard reports.

For example, in the credit card template I’ve shown you, I start with a list of bullet points, which gives me a really good overview of the month:

Credit Card budget template text formulas

Rather than forcing me to interpret numbers and guess what’s happening, I simply read. The words provide all the context so I know exactly what’s happening this month versus last and where I am spend-wise.

These formulas are not conceptually difficult, but they can be long and verbose when you have several options in an IF statement with a mix of text and formulas.

The way you create these formulas is to wrap your calculation formulas with the the TEXT formula, which formats your numbers correctly. Then you combine these with any static text using the ampersand, &.

For example, here’s one of these formulas:

where E6 is the amount I’ve paid towards my credit card, and C26 is how much I’ve spent this month.

Read more about how to combine text and numbers .

As always, let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments!

Note 1: I’m not a financial expert and this post does not provide financial advice. It simply shows some techniques for working with and presenting data in Google Sheets.

Note 2: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I’ll get a small commission if you click the link and subsequently signup to use that vendor’s service. I only do this for tools I use myself and wholeheartedly recommend.

15 thoughts on “10 Tips To Build A Google Sheets Budget Template”

This is a great article. Do you mind if we share it in our blog? Also, can you give me your expert opinion on our template? Here it is: http://www.codedesign.org/free-ecommerce-template-for-google-datastudio/ . Thanks in advance.

Hey Bruno, sorry, must have missed this comment originally. Sure, feel free to share this article. Your template looks sweet, great work!

You are a life saver! Do you have any financial spreadsheets for real estate investments? Cash flow statements?

Unfortunately not! You might find some good examples in the Excel world though, that you could easily transfer across to Google Sheets.

  • Pingback: 2017 in review and a look forward to 2018 - Ben Collins
  • Pingback: Essential Reading: 10 Tips for Creating Budget Templates in Google Sheets
  • Pingback: 3 Google Sheets Tricks From Ben Collins for Financial Insights

Is there any way you could share a copy of your template? Not all the Tiller and such but more the orginization?

  • Pingback: How we manage our family finances with Google Sheets

This is my personal finance manager GSheet.

http://www.andrewroberts.net/rose-money-manager/

Will certainly be taking a look at Tiller.

These are great tips, but I think you could’ve explained them a little better. Building templates isn’t that difficult, but there’s some important stuff that everyone should know about it, and all of it is not mentioned here.

Thanks for this. I’m starting to build a sheet out for me and my girlfriend. I’d like to turn it into an app eventually.

Hello, I am barely starting doing budgeting, and I have little income and little expenses. So I think I wouldn’t need to pay something like Tiller for my simple student life… But I would have loved to have an insight into the spreadsheet, so as to build one myself… However, if I understand well from other comments above, the only way to get the spreadsheet that you are referring to in this article is by signing up to Tiller.

Hi! Do you offer this template for use? I really like it and have been looking for something similar, since most of my sending is on my credit cards.

Hi Ben. Do you have a premade budget sheet we could use? One that has some of the functionality you have shown here?

Maybe one we could start using right away?

Great tips regardless! Thank You.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Spreadsheet Class

Learn to automate and grow your business with spreadsheets

  • Error Troubleshooting
  • Free PDF Cheat Sheet
  • Ultimate Cheat Sheet spreadsheet
  • Microsoft Excel Templates
  • Google Sheets Templates
  • Full dashboards course
  • Basic dashboard tutorial
  • Hire an expert
  • All Excel Lessons
  • Excel Templates
  • Excel Formulas
  • Excel Formatting
  • Excel Error Troubleshooting

9 FREE Budget and Expense Tracker Templates for Google Sheets

A resource providing several spreadsheet templates/trackers for both expenses and budgeting in Google Sheets

On this page you will find a variety of budget and expense tracker templates for Google Sheets. Each of the templates here functions differently so that you will be able to find exactly what you need to track your expenses and your budget. Whether you want to track on a monthly basis, or a yearly basis, you'll find the template that suits your needs.

At the bottom of this page you will find expense tracker templates that allow you to break down your expenses by category. These trackers have additional charts that help you visualize your totals for each month, and overall.

By choosing from the templates that are explained below, you will be able to choose from the following options:

  • 1 Month vs. 1 Year
  • Expenses vs. Expenses + Budgeting
  • Budget per month vs. Budget per expense (For budgeting types)
  • Single sheet vs. One tab for each month (For 1-Year templates)
  • *New: You can now choose a version that allows category selection

Every template/tracker comes with a graph that will visually display your expenses! You'll be able to see totals for each different expense type, for each different month, and you'll also be able to see your total overall.

Here is a full list of the budget and expense templates.

Scroll down further to see image examples, and detailed instructions on how to use each template. Each section contains a link to get a copy of the template.

  • 1-Month Expense Tracker (Track 1 month of expenses on a single sheet)
  • 1-Month Expense AND Budget Tracker (Monthly budget) (Track 1 month expenses + budget on a single sheet, where you can set an overall monthly budget)
  • 1-Month Expense AND Budget Tracker (Budget for each expense) (Track 1 month expenses + budget on a single sheet, where you can set abudget for each expense)
  • 1-Year Expense Tracker (Track 1 year of expenses, where each month has its own tab)
  • 1-Year Expense AND Budget Tracker (Monthly budget) (Track 1 year of expenses + budget on a single sheet, where you can set a budget for each month)
  • 1-Year Expense AND Budget Tracker (Budget for each expense) (Track 1 year of expenses + budget on a single sheet, where you can set a budget for each expense)
  • 1-Year Expense Tracker (1 tab per month) (Track 1 year of expenses, where each month has its own tab)
  • Single sheet (1 Month) Expense Tracker with Category Selection (Track 1 month of expenses on a single sheets, where you can set a category for each expense, and view how much you spent in each category)
  • 1-Year Expense Tracker with Category Selection (1 tab per month) (Track 1 month of expenses where each month has its own tab, where you can set a category for each expense and view how much you spent in each category)

See further below for images and a description of each expense / budget tracker template. But first let's go over how to make your own copy, and how to use the templates in general. Each different template has its own set of simple instructions that is shown on this page near the links and images for each different template.

Table of Contents

How to make a copy of the templates

The links to these templates should allow you to click a button that will automatically make your own copy for you, especially if you are using a desktop/laptop computer. You must be logged into Google for this to work.

The normal way of making a copy of a Google spreadsheet, is by clicking "File" on the top toolbar, and then clicking "Make a copy".

The sheets are "View Only", and you MUST MAKE YOUR OWN COPY to use them, so DO NOT request edit access.

How to use the budget / expense templates

Below in each section are instructions for each individual template, but here are general instructions that are relevant to all of the templates:

The only cells that should be edited are the light blue cells, and the cells below the frozen rows where you can enter your expenses, the dollar amounts, and the budget.

Cells that should not be edited will display a warning if you try to edit them.

  • Enter your monthly income
  • Enter your expense types/titles
  • Enter how much you spent on each expense
  • Enter your budget (when relevant)

Automatic color coding

The spreadsheet templates for expense tracking have some automatic color coding features that are good to note.

  • When your expenses exceed your budget, you will see cells turn orange .
  • When your total monthly budget exceeds your monthly income, you will see cells turn red
  • When your total expenses exceed your income, you will see cells turn red

1-Month / Single Sheet Expense and Budget Templates

First I will show you the templates that allow you to track expenses and your budget for a single month, or simply to track your expenses / budget on a single sheet.

Each of these single month / single sheet templates has one tab where you can track your expenses, set your budget, and view a bar chart all in the same place (See further below for an additional "Category Selection" version).

1-Month Expense Tracker

Get the template

This first expense tracker is the most simple of all of them! It allows you to track your expenses for a single month.

Instructions:

  • Enter your monthly income in cell B1
  • Enter your expense types in column A, starting at row 5 (Cells A5, A6, A7, etc.)
  • Enter the dollar amounts that you paid for each expense in column B

Click here to get your Google Sheets cheat sheet

Or click here to take the dashboards course

An example of the 1 month template for tracking expenses in Google Sheets- A simple sheet

1-Month Expense AND Budget Tracker (Monthly budget)

This template will allow you to track you expenses, as well as your budget. In this version the budget is set for the entire month.

  • Enter your monthly budget in cell B2
  • Enter your expense types in column A, starting at row 7 (Cells A7, A8, A9, etc.)

Example of the template that allows tracking of expenses for one month in Google Sheets, which contains the ability to set a monthly budget

1-Month Expense AND Budget Tracker (Budget for each expense)

This template will allow you to track both expenses and your budget as well. However in this version, you can budget for each expense.

  • Enter your budget for each expense in column B
  • Enter the dollar amounts that you paid for each expense in column C

Example of the template for tracking expenses for one month in Google Sheets, containing the ability to budget for each expense | Content and templates created by SpreadsheetClass.com

1-Year Expense and Budget Templates

Below are the 1-Year versions of the expense and budget tracker templates, which allow you to track expenses / budget in for each month of the year. Some versions allow you to track the entire year on a single sheet, where others allow you to track the expenses / budget for each month in an individual tab. (See further below for an additional "Category Selection" version)

In the image below, you will see a preview of the main tab where you'll actually be able to track your expenses, but note that the "Single Sheet" 1-year templates also have an extra tab that contains the two charts shown below.

In the "Single Sheet" 1-year budget and expense templates, from the second tab you will be able to select a month of the year to display your individual expenses for that month on a bar chart, and you will also be able to view your total monthly expenses for the entire year on a line chart.

The versions that have one tab for each month are a little different, and are described in their own sections.

Example of graphs found in the yearly trackers:

These templates / this content was originally created and written by SpreadsheetClass.com

The monthly totals line chart that is on the "Graph" tab of the 1-year single sheet expense trackers

The charts that are show above which come with each of the 1-year templates… will help you see what types of things you spend more money on than others, and will also help you to see which months you spend the most/least in.

1-Year Expense Tracker

This template is the most simple out of the 1-year trackers! It will allow you to track your expenses for up to 12 months, on a single sheet.

  • Enter your monthly income in cell A2
  • Enter your expense types in column A, starting at row 9 (Cells A9, A10, A11, etc.)
  • Enter the dollar amounts that you paid for each expense, in each month, starting at column B (January)

An example of the 1-year, simple single sheet template for tracking expenses in Google Sheets

1-Year Expense AND Budget Tracker (Monthly budget)

In this template, you can track your expenses and your budget for up to one year on a single sheet, but this version will allow you to set a total monthly budget, for each month.

  • Enter your budget for each month in row 3, starting at column B (January)
  • Enter your expense types in column A, starting at row 12 (Cells A12, A13, A14, etc.) Row 11 is already for "Savings"

An example showing the 1-year, single sheet template for tracking expenses in Google spreadsheets, which allows you to set a monthly budget

1-Year Expense AND Budget Tracker (Budget for each expense)

This template will allow you to track your expenses and budget for 1 year… and with this version you can budget for each expense.

  • Enter your expense types in column A, starting at row 10 (Cells A10, A11, A12, etc.) Row 9 is already set for "Savings"
  • Enter your budget for each expense in column B, starting at row 9
  • Enter the dollar amounts that you paid for each expense, in each month, starting at column C (January)

Example of the 1-year, single sheet template for tracking expenses in Google Sheets, which allows you to budget for each individual expense

1-Year Expense Tracker (1 tab per month)

In this version, you can track your expenses for 1 year, where each month is tracked on an individual tab. (See further below for "Category Selection" version)

Each monthly tab has its own column chart that shows you the amount of each different expense type, and the main tab has a line chart showing your monthly totals. Or if you want, you can also use the same "Graph" tab that the other yearly trackers have.

On the main tab of the tracker ("Dashboard"), simply enter your expense types once, and they will appear on each individual monthly tab. You can also enter your monthly income for each month, on the main tab.

On the "Dashboard" tab, only edit light blue cells.

  • Enter your monthly income for each month, in column D of the "Dashboard" tab, starting on row 4 (January)
  • Enter your expense types in column A of the "Dashboard" tab, starting at row 4 (Cells A4, A5, A6, etc.)
  • Enter the dollar amounts that you paid for each expense, in each month, on each individual monthly tab, in column B, starting on row 5

Example of "Dashboard" tab:

An example showing the main page of the full version, 1-year Google Sheets budget and expense tracker template, which has one tab for each month of the year

Example of "January" tab:

An example that shows one of the individual monthly tracking tabs (January), on the full 1-year expense tracker

Category Selection Expense Trackers

Below are two new versions of the expense tracker templates, which allow you to select a category for each expense. There is a single sheet version, as well as a 1-year version with 1 tab for each month. In these templates, in addition to seeing totals / charts for each expense, you can also view totals / charts for each category.

There are also charts that show total expenses vs. money remaining. In the 1-year version, the "Dashboard" tab shows the overall totals, and the trend for the entire year.

Note that the tab in the single sheet version of the template is almost identical to the monthly tabs in the 1-year version. So the four images below apply to both versions of the category selection template.

Here is an example of what the tabs for tracking expenses / categories look like:

An example of the expense tracker with categories- Individual tracking tab with totals per expense and per category

Like in the other templates, there are column charts that display totals for each expense:

An example of the column chart that shows totals per expense, in the individual month tracking tab of the Expense tracker with categories

But in these versions there are also column charts that show totals for each category:

An example of the column chart that shows totals for each category, in the single month (individual) tracking tab of the Expense tracker with categories

You will also find a scorecard chart showing the total amount spent, as well as a stacked column chart that shows total money spent in red, vs. money remaining in green:

An example of the expense tracker with categories per expense- Individual tracking tab with charts showing total spent vs. money left after expenses

Note that cell B3 (Money after expenses) will turn red if the money spent exceeds the set monthly pay.

Single sheet (1-Month) Expense Tracker with Category Selection

In this version of the template, you can track your expenses, and categories for each expense, on a single sheet.

  • Enter your monthly income in cell A3
  • Enter your expense names in column A, starting at row 5 (Cells A5, A6, A7, etc.)
  • Type a list of categories in column E, starting at row 5 (This will populate the drop-down menus in column B)
  • Click the drop-down menus in column B to select the category for each expense
  • Enter the dollar amounts that you paid for each expense, in column C, starting at row 5

1-Year Expense Tracker with Category Selection (1 tab per month)

This is my favorite expense tracking template! In this version you can track your monthly expenses and categories for each expense, on individual tabs (1 per month), and view the totals / trends for the entire year on the "Dashboard" tab.

In addition to containing the monthly tabs described / shown above, the template also contains the features described below, on the "Dashboard" tab.

  • On the "Dashboard" tab, starting at cell A19, type a list of the categories that you want to use (These categories will populate the drop-down menus in column B of the individual monthly tabs)
  • Enter your monthly income in cell A3, in each of the monthly tabs (January, February, etc.)
  • Enter your expense names in column A, starting at row 5 (Do this in each of the monthly tabs)
  • Click the drop-down menus in column B to select the category for each expense (Repeat for each of the monthly tabs)
  • Enter the dollar amounts that you paid for each expense, in column C, starting at row 5 (Repeat this for each of the monthly tabs)
  • Click on the "Dashboard" tab to view overall totals and trends for the year

Here is an an example of what the "Dashboard" tab looks like in the 1-year category selection expense template:

You can see that a scorecard chart displays the total for the entire year, the totals for each month as well as the entire year are listed on the left, and a line chart displays the trend of expenses for each month of the year. Below this you will see more totals / charts for "Categories".

An example of the 1-Year (Monthly) Expense tracker with ability to track categories for each expense- Monthly totals on "dashboard" tab

On the "Dashboard" tab of the 1-year version, you will also be able to view total for each category, for the entire year, displayed in the cells on the left side of the sheet, as well as in a column chart on the right.

An example of the 1-Year (Monthly) Expense tracker with categories- Chart displaying totals per category with totals shown in cells off to the left

I hope that you enjoy these expense / budgeting templates!

Related Posts:

  • Sales template (+expenses) for Google Sheets
  • 24 of the Best Free Google Sheets Templates
  • Free Microsoft Excel Templates
  • Google Sheets Templates for Teachers
  • Daily, Weekly, & Monthly Schedule templates for…
  • Attendance tracker templates for Microsoft Excel

Welcome to Spreadsheet Class!

' src=

My name is Corey, I have been building spreadsheets for companies for over 7 years, I was a data specialist at an online school for 5 years, and I created this website to help people learn how to use spreadsheets.

Example image of Google Sheets cheat sheet for sidebar

Related posts

Free Monthly Budget Templates for Google Sheets

By Andy Marker | March 10, 2022

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn

Link copied

We’ve compiled a collection of the most helpful monthly budget templates for Google Sheets, the ideal file format for small businesses.

Included on this page, you’ll find a monthly income and expense report template , a simple monthly budget template , a detailed business budget template , and a personal monthly budget template , as well as tips for what to include in a monthly budget template .

Simple Budget Template

Simple Budget Template

Download Simple Budget Template Google Sheets | Smartsheet

This template provides a quick overview of income and expenses. Simply enter numeric data, and the template will provide you with a graphical representation that you can use for reports or presentations. Use this template when you need a simple money management tool for your business or household. 

Check out our comprehensive roundup of small business budget templates for all of your company’s financial needs.

Personal Monthly Budget Template

Google Spreadsheet Personal Monthly Budget Template

Download Personal Monthly Budget Template Google Sheets   | Smartsheet

When you have clarity about your personal finances, your saving and purchasing decisions are much easier. This monthly budget template includes categories for income, savings, and specific home and transportation expenses to give you a clear picture of your financial health. Enter your projected and actual figures, and the template will automatically calculate the difference so you can budget successfully.

You can find more budget templates for Google Docs and Google Sheets to help you with any financial planning needs.

Weekly Budget Template

Weekly Budget Template

Download Weekly Budget Template — Google Sheets 

Use this weekly budget template to gain a more detailed look at your business expenses and income. This template provides space to enter all types of expenditures and earnings on a weekly basis, and it automatically calculates monthly totals. The weekly breakdown is especially valuable in identifying smaller-scale trends that inform your company’s larger financial landscape. 

Visit our collection of free Google Docs budget templates for any business or personal need.

Monthly Income and Expense Template

Monthly Income and Expense Template

Download Monthly Income and Expense Template Google Sheets | Smartsheet

This expense tracking template captures all of your small business income and expenditures in one easy-to-use form. Input data into the pre-built income and expense categories, both of which are customizable to fit your needs. The template provides a separate tab for each month for more detailed accounting, and it automatically calculates running and year-to-date totals so you can easily view them at a glance.

For more budget templates, check out free top budget templates for Microsoft Excel .

Household Budget Template

Google Spreadsheet Household Budget Template

Download Household Budget Template Google Sheets | Smartsheet

budget template is ideal for planning and executing your family’s financial plan, and allows you to track expenditures and savings in a wide variety of categories. Use this template to help plan for college, save for a family vacation, or just gain a complete view of your household’s financial health. 

Browse many more free Google Sheets budget templates to find one that precisely fits your needs.

Business Budget Template

Google Spreadsheet Business Budget Template

Download Business Budget Template Google Sheets | Smartsheet

Track expenses and create clear financial forecasts with this business budget template. Customize income and expense categories to fit your business needs, keep tabs on your budget with monthly and yearly totals, and compare your forecasted budgeted numbers with actual receipts in this easy-to-use template.

View our collection of monthly budget templates for more helpful budget documents.

What Is a Google Sheets Monthly Budget Template?

A Google Sheets monthly budget template is a tool to forecast and track expenses, income, and liabilities for a business, organization, or household. A template provides a clear view of your financial standing and helps track your expenditures in detail.

Having an organized and complete picture of your budgeting needs is important for any business to succeed. Using a template allows you to track your financial standing in many common categories, and most templates can be customized to meet your specific needs.

Monthly budget templates typically include the following:

  • Expenses: Enter costs of all types and customize categories as needed.
  • Income: Track income of any type, including sales, dividends, reimbursements, or interest.
  • Operating Expenses: Track specific costs related to the operation of your business.
  • Payroll: View payroll costs, including salaries and benefits.
  • Weekly, Monthly, or Yearly Tracking: View income and expenses by week, month, or year.

Streamline Monthly Budgeting with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet

Discover a better way to connect your people, processes, and tools with one simple, easy-to-use platform that empowers your team to get more done, faster.

With Smartsheet, you can align your team on strategic initiatives, improve collaboration efforts, and automate repetitive processes, giving you the ability to make better business decisions and boost effectiveness as you scale. 

When you wear a lot of hats, you need a tool that empowers you to get more done in less time. Smartsheet helps you achieve that. Try free for 30 days, today .

Connect your people, processes, and tools with one simple, easy-to-use platform.

sheets icon

Cloud Storage

gmail icon

Custom Business Email

Meet icon

Video and voice conferencing

calendar icon

Shared Calendars

docs icon

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

slides icon

Presentation Builder

forms icon

Survey builder

google workspace

Google Workspace

An integrated suit of secure, cloud-native collaboration and productivity apps powered by Google AI.

Make data-driven decisions, in Google Sheets

Create and collaborate on online spreadsheets in real-time and from any device.

  • For my personal use
  • For work or my business

icon for add comment button

T h e s e   n u m b e r s   l o o k   v e r y   s t r o n g !

comment box buttons

Collaborate on data, from anywhere

Establish a ground truth for data in your online spreadsheet, with easy sharing and real-time editing. Use comments and assign action items to keep analysis flowing.

Sheets Supercharge Teamwork

Get to insights faster with built-in intelligence

Assistive features like Smart Fill and formula suggestions help you analyze faster with fewer errors. And get insights quickly by asking questions about your data in simple language.

Sheets write faster

Seamlessly connect to other Google apps

Sheets is thoughtfully connected to other Google apps you love, saving you time. Easily analyze Google Forms data in Sheets, or embed Sheets charts in Google Slides and Docs. You can also reply to comments directly from Gmail and easily present your spreadsheets to Google Meet.

Sheets Seamlessly connects

Extend collaboration and intelligence to Excel files

Easily edit Microsoft Excel spreadsheets online without converting them, and layer on Sheets’ enhanced collaborative and assistive features like comments, action items, and Smart Fill.

Sheets collaboration

Build custom solutions

Speed up workflows by building business apps and automations. Use AppSheet to build custom applications on top of Sheets, without writing code. Or add custom functions, menu items, and macros with Apps Script.

Always work with fresh data

Always work with fresh data

With Sheets, everyone’s always working on the latest version of a spreadsheet. And with edits automatically saved in version history, it’s easy to undo changes or even see edit history of an individual spreadsheet cell.

Seamlessly connect to critical data

Seamlessly connect to critical data

Pull in and analyze data from the other tools you use, like customer data from Salesforce. Enterprise customers can also use Connected Sheets to analyze billions of rows of BigQuery data in Sheets – without writing any code.

Security, compliance, and privacy

badge ISO IEC

Secure by default

We use industry-leading security measures to keep your data safe, including advanced malware protections. Sheets is also cloud-native, eliminating the need for local files and minimizing risk to your devices.

Encryption in transit and at rest

All files uploaded to Google Drive or created in Sheets are encrypted in transit and at rest.

Compliance to support regulatory requirements

Our products, including Sheets, regularly undergo independent verification of their security, privacy, and compliance controls .

Private by design

Sheets adheres to the same robust privacy commitments and data protections as the rest of Google Cloud’s enterprise services .

privacy icon

You control your data.

We never use your sheets content for ad purposes., we never sell your personal information to third parties., find the plan that’s right for you, google sheets is a part of google workspace.

Every plan includes

keep icon

Collaborate from anywhere, on any device

Access, create, and edit your spreadsheets wherever you are — from any mobile device, tablet, or computer — even when offline.

Google Play store

Get a head start with templates

Choose from a variety of dashboards, project trackers, and other professionally-designed templates to kick things off quickly..

Sheets Template Invoice

Visit the Sheets Template Gallery for more.

Ready to get started?

See why Tiller is "the most flexible, powerful Mint alternative" →

Budgeting With Google Sheets: 18 Simple, Effective Tips

  • Tagged Budgeting
  • By Brynne Conroy
  • On December 6, 2019

BudgetWithGoogleSheets

Many of us sat through countless high school classes on how to use Excel.

Those classes served us well. We can effectively budget, analyze data for work and create beautiful charts with just a few clicks of a button.

But since we’ve come of age, there’s a new player in the market: Google Sheets—the platform Tiller uses to help you build a budget, track spending, and understand your money.

  • Budgeting With Google Sheets

In this age of chatbots and AI, it may seem old-fashioned or unsophisticated to budget in a spreadsheet. However, the biggest companies in the world run on spreadsheets. And in a national survey , Tiller found 96% of people who track their finances are satisfied with using a spreadsheet compared with an app.

Likewise, 92% are more aware of their spending habits when they use a spreadsheet compared to an app or service.

In the spreadsheet arena, Google Sheets is rapidly catching up with Excel for personal use.

A recent survey by Tiller Money found that when it comes to using a spreadsheet for personal finance, Google Sheets is as popular as Excel for people aged 18-24.

Google Sheets vs

 Budgeting with Google Sheets offers many of the same workflows and benefits as budgeting with Excel.

However, Google Sheets has some not-so-obvious tricks and features that you’ll want to know.

Here are 18 simple tips on more effective budgeting with Google Sheets .

1. Use a Google Sheet Template

2. send an email for joint budgeting, 3.  add emotions to your money, 4. protect data in specific cells, 5. use keyboard shortcuts, 6. use a heat map to see your biggest spending areas, 7. use sql to find big debits, 8. import data from other sheets, 9. predict future income or spending with the growth function, 10.  look at your version history to see past edits, 11. translate a language, 12. add different currencies, 13. filter your expenses by category, 14. use the trim function to get rid of weird white space, 15. use the proper function to fix capitalization, 16. see how much money you spent at a specific store, 17. pull stock prices using google finance, 18. download for use offline, bonus: get tiller money.

sheets+1

Google Sheets has tons of budgeting templates you can use. This one took me about two seconds to pull up. On top of built-in categories and formulas to track expenses and income, it comes with pre-formulated charts and graphs to help you visualize your personal finances with minimum Sheets skills required.

(Click to see a list of premium Tiller-powered Google Sheets templates .)

Let’s say you’re working together with your partner on your finances. You’re tracking expenses and transactions, when all of a sudden you come across a $300 Amazon charge in the “Entertainment” category. You can easily comment, using the @ symbol before an email address, to send an email with your inquiry directly to your partner in real time.

This is how you find out your family now owns an Xbox, and opens up a big conversation about the need to communicate before spending large sums of money.

That’s not experience talking or anything…

(Read “ How to Send an Automatic Email Reminder from a Google Spreadsheet “)

Sheets+3

Maybe you’re not thrilled about that Xbox purchase. You can express your displeasure in Google Sheets by using the =char() function.

First, go to Graphemica . Then, search for the fun (or angry) character you’d like to include in Sheets. Once you find it, look for the number portion of the HTML Decimal Entity. Then, simply put this number in between the parentheses in your formula.

For example, the function to insert the angry face is =char(128554).

The function to insert the house icon is =char(127960).

And so on. You can use these characters to express joy when you stay within your budget for a specific category, or disappointment when you go over. The more happy faces you have, the better.

Sheets+4

Maybe your partner thinks it’s funny to change that angry icon into a video game controller icon. But you don’t.

You can lock the data in a cell or a range of cells by highlighting it, and then right-clicking. Scroll down until you get to the “Protect range…” option. Click on it, and you’ll then be able to restrict who can edit the data in that specific cell.

We’re all familiar with “Ctrl+C” and “Ctrl+V” for copy and paste. But there are a ton of other keyboard shortcuts you can use, and Google Sheets is happy to teach you them all.

To learn how to fill ranges, insert specific functions, move between sheets and more, simply click on “Help” in the toolbar, and then click on “Keyboard shortcuts.”

Visual learner? A heat map may just be your best friend. It allows you to see the top areas your money is going and then decide if those areas the most important to you in terms of personal values. If they’re not, you know you need to adjust your spending next month.

To do this, highlight your numbers and right click. Choose “Conditional formatting”, and then use the menu that pops up on the right-hand side of your screen to apply the heat map.

In this example, the largest spending area is housing. Following that top category are insurance, transport, groceries and setting some aside for savings.

(Read “ How to Track Daily Average Spending Trends in Google Sheets “)

SQL is essentially like writing code. We’re going to make it easy for you, though, so you can use it to identify large or small charges. This can help you identify fraud, stare your biggest spending sprees straight in the face or rethink how quickly your Starbucks habit adds up.

The first thing you’re going to want to do is highlight all of your data. From there, right click and select, “Named ranges…”

In the first box, name the data. We named this dataset “March18Expenses”. You’re going to use this name to write a query.

The next thing we did was hop over to box F1, which is where we wanted to arrange our data a little differently. In that box, we wrote the following function:

=QUERY(March18Expenses, “SELECT A, D WHERE D > 100”,1)

This query pulls the data from columns A and D, but only when D is greater than $100. If you wanted to do small purchases, you could do the same thing except you’d type something along these lines:

=QUERY(March18Expenses, “SELECT A, D WHERE D < 10”,1)

Let’s say you have multiple files going. One is for your expenses for the entire year, and one is for your expenses, income, and investments for March of 2018. You can import your March expense data from the original file.

To do this, you are going to fill in the blanks of this code in the new file, in A1 of the “Expense” tab:

=IMPORTRANGE(“URL”,”TAB NAME!FIRST CELL IN RANGE:LAST CELL IN RANGE”)

First, grab the sharing link for your original file. You’re going to insert that where it says “URL”. In the end, our function ended up looking like this:

=IMPORTRANGE(“https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MlNGnXAVmG95adWugFPgWSnzBQhHUz4TT7mA-YTSEHI/edit?usp=sharing”,”March 2018!A1:D19″)

The cool thing about this feature is that if I edit any information in the “Expenses” file, it will automatically update in the “March” file. That means you only have to update your numbers once rather than going through the tedium of updating them in each and every file where you have inserted the data set.

Google sheets has a growth function which allows you to predict future expenses based on past spending patterns. This could also work with income—whether you receive a steady paycheck or are a freelancer.

You’ll need at least three data points for this to work effectively. For this chart, we used spending by category from March through May to predict spending across categories for the months of June through August. To do that, we used this function:

=GROWTH(FIRST CELL IN RANGE:LAST CELL IN RANGE)

In the image above, you can see that for Utilities, we used the specific function:

=GROWTH(G10:I10)

Pretty cool, right?

It’s important to factor in variables when you do this, though. While the grocery predictions may be relatively accurate, your utilities are likely to go up over the summer if you live somewhere hot and have AC. Be sure to be smart about your predictions, and don’t rely entirely on this function.

If you’re unhappy with the way your partner has edited your sheet, or you just get frustrated and give up on a new equation, you can easily look at past versions of your sheet—and restore it! Just go to “File” and then select “Version history”. The final step is to click “See version history”.

Sheets+11

You took a trip abroad, and when your checking account statement came in, there were all kinds of crazy characters you didn’t know how to read. You don’t know what the charge is for—even after importing your statement via Tiller.

This is where the GOOGLELTRANSLATE function comes in. The code is going to look like this:

=GOOGLETRANSLATE(“text you want to translate”, “two letter code for source language”, “two letter code for target language”)

In our example, you know you headed to Japan at the end of April, so you’re confident the source language is Japanese. Your function looks like this:

=GOOGLETRANSLATE(“ペンギンのいる”, “JA”, “EN”)

Google tells you the text means, “It is the penguin”.

Yeah, it’s not a perfect system, but it’s enough of a hint to let you know this charge is from the Penguin Bar in Tokyo .

If you for some reason need to note the transaction in its native denomination, you can format cells to a certain currency by clicking on:

Format→Number→More Formats→More currencies…

To filter your expenses by category, highlight your category column. Then, hit the filter button. From there, click the icon with three lines in A1. Deselect all the categories you do not want included. For this example, we filtered out all expenses except Dining Out. Click “OK” and only your Dining Out expenses will show up!

Sheets+14

Let’s say that when you imported your transaction data from your bank, the formatting got all funky. There are a couple functions you can use to change this. The first one is trim. This function is best to use if there’s too many spaces before or between words. Here is the function you should use:

=TRIM(CELL NUMBER HERE)

If capitalization got screwy when you imported, you can fix it by using the proper function:

=PROPER(CELL NUMBER HERE)

Want to see how much money you spent at a specific store this month? Then you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the SUMIF function. First, you want to type the name of the store in a cell—you will find this in G1 in our example.

Then, you’ll want to identify the range of the column you want to search for store names. In our case, that’s A2:A20.

Finally, identify the range of the debits you want to search for spending. Above, that’s going to be D2:D20.

You’ll plug all of that into a function that looks like this:

=SUMIF(A2:A20, G1, D2:D20)

Then you’ll get your answer. You spent $125.25 at Cogos this month—gas isn’t cheap!

If you’re trying to track your investments, one way to do that is through the Google Finance function. All you have to do to get live pricing is use the following function:

=GOOGLEFINANCE(“YOUR INVESTMENT’S TICKER”)

For example, above you can see the formula for Tesla as:

=GOOGLEFINANCE(“TSLA”)

Want to edit your sheet while you’re on the plane, but don’t necessarily want to pay for in-air WiFi? You can easily download your work for later use offline. The above image shows the path you’ll use to get an Excel document.

You can use any of these tips within Tiller’s system or without. But if you’re feeling more overwhelmed than excited after reading this article, using a service like Tiller is a great way to get your budgeting done beautifully—without needing a cheat sheet for the functions and keyboard shortcuts.

Brynne Conroy

Brynne Conroy

Motivation for women in business & on the homefront. Smart money management for success & true wealth. Author of The Feminist Financial Handbook.

There's More

google worksheet budget

Ultimate Guide to the Finest Free Monthly Budget Templates for 2024

google worksheet budget

Our 7 Favorite, Free Excel Budget Templates for 2024

google worksheet budget

How To Prepare Your Tiller Spreadsheet Budget for a New Year

Budgeting for Joy

Why a Successful Budget Prioritizes Your Happiness

google worksheet budget

“This is Exactly How I Budget With Tiller”

Google-Sheets-Budget-Template

How to Make a Budget in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel

5 Best Budgets

The Top 5 Recommended Budgeting Methods

tiller monthly budget excel

How to Use the Tiller Monthly Budget

50-30-20-budget-Google-Sheets

Create a 50/30/20 Budget Calculator in Your Tiller Foundation Template

google worksheet budget

How to Use the 50/30/20 Budget Rule, Plus Free Templates

money saving tips

50 Evergreen Money Saving Tips from the Tiller Community

google worksheet budget

Tiller Video Tour 7: Track Your Spending and Make a Monthly Budget

Start your free trial.

Keep a clear, confident view of all your money in one place, with flexible templates, powerful privacy, and top-rated support

Install Add-on

Home » Google Sheets » 50 Free☝️ Google Sheets Budget Templates for 2023

Daniel Smith

  • Updated: September 6, 2023

50 Free☝️ Google Sheets Budget Templates for 2023

Are you tired of feeling like you’re always one step behind when it comes to your finances? Do you constantly question where your hard-earned money goes each month? You’re not alone! 

Trying to manage a budget can be overwhelming and frustrating, especially when you’re juggling bills, savings, and everyday expenses. But what if there was a foolproof way to take control of your finances in 2023? We’ve got just the thing: Google Sheets Budget Templates. 

These easy-to-use templates are designed to make budgeting a breeze, giving you everything you need to track your spending, save more effectively, and ultimately gain financial freedom.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the best Google Sheets Budget Templates for 2023, so you can manage your money like a pro. So whether you’re looking to create a monthly budget, track your expenses, or save for a big purchase, we’ve got you covered.

1. Personal Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Smartsheet

No matter where you are in life, a personal budget is essential for anyone who wants to start managing their money like a pro. This Personal Budget Template is best suited for: 

  • Recent college graduates who are just starting their careers and need to get a handle on their finances
  • Young professionals who want to make smart financial decisions and build a solid financial foundation
  • Anyone who wants to save for a specific goal, like a down payment on a house, a dream vacation, or a new car
  • Couples who want to combine their finances and create a joint budget

It’s super easy to use and covers all the important categories like income, expenses, savings, and even entertainment. Plus, it helps you see the differences between your projected and actual spending to make better decisions and track your personal expenses. 

Browse Google Sheets Personal Budget Templates

2. 50/30/20 Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Clearly

If you’ve never heard of the 50/30/20 budget, don’t worry! You’re not alone. This simple yet effective way of managing your money is a great approach for those who are just starting out or those who have struggled with budgeting in the past. Here’s how it works: 

  • 50% of your income goes towards necessities (“needs”) like rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, etc.
  • 30% is for discretionary spending (“wants”) like eating out, shopping, and entertainment.
  • The remaining 20% is for financial goals such as savings, investments, and debt repayment.

Give it a try and see if it works for you!

Browse Google Sheets 50/30/20 Budget Templates

3. Dave Ramsey Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Sheryl Killoran

The Dave Ramsey budget template is for anyone who wants to be the boss of their money and kick debt to the curb. It’s perfect for people tired of living paycheck to paycheck and wanting to take control of their financial future. 

Dave Ramsey’s approach to budgeting is all about living within your means, avoiding debt, and building wealth over time. 

This template has several tabs, including the “Snowball” tab to check on your debt payoff progress, the “Monthly Income” tab to keep track of all your income sources, and the “Monthly Budget” tab to plan and allocate your spending.

So if you’re ready to take the first step toward financial freedom, grab this budget template and get started!

4. Zero-Based Budget Template

google worksheet budget

A zero-based budget is all about allocating every dollar you earn into a specific category, such as bills, groceries, entertainment, savings, etc. It’s like playing a game of financial Tetris. You want to fit all your income neatly into those boxes until there’s no money left unassigned. 

And this template will help you do it. It’s divided into two sections: 

  • Income, where you can list all your different sources of income, from your main salary to any side hustles you have going on.
  • Expenses, which takes care of all your spending needs, including giving, saving, retirement, mortgage, insurance payments, and more.

With the template doing all the math for you, you can easily compare your total budgeted amount to what you actually spend. No more guesswork, no more headaches. Just a clear understanding of where your money is going and how much you have left over at the end of the month.

Give it a try.

Browse Google Sheets Zero-Based Budget Templates

5. Grocery Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Reddit

Want to save money and still eat well? This Grocery Budget Template is a game-changer for anyone looking to feed their family on a budget.

With this template, you can break down your grocery spending by categories, such as produce, meat, dairy, and snacks, so you can see exactly where your money is going. You can also compare prices for the same items at two different stores to ensure you’re getting the best deals possible.

To use the template, simply fill in the grocery items, quantities, whether you purchased them or not, and the prices at each store. Then, it’ll automatically calculate your totals, including any savings you got from using coupons.

So why not try it and start saving money on your grocery bill today?

6. Single-Person Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Vertex42

Using this single-person budget template, you can compare your projected and actual expenses in various categories, such as home expenses, daily living, transportation, entertainment, health, savings, charity/gifts, subscriptions, and miscellaneous. 

So, you can identify areas where you may need to cut back or make adjustments, ensuring that you’re on track to meet your financial goals.

7. Couples Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Medium

If you and your partner want to combine your finances and get on the same page financially, the Couples Budget Template is just what you need. It helps you:

  • Keep track of shared expenses
  • Plan for date nights
  • Save for joint goals like a vacation or a down payment on a home

All you have to do is plug in your income from salaries, freelancing gigs, etc., and your fixed and flexible expenses. Then, you’ll clearly see where your money goes every month. And if you want to make any changes to the template, simply head to the “Setup” tab. Try it out!

8. Itemized Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Spreadsheet Daddy

Whether you’re trying to save money, pay off debt, or just want to be more mindful of your spending, this Itemized Budget Template is a great place to start. It’s simple, intuitive, and it can help you take control of your finances in no time.

It has categories for all of your expenses, including income, home expenses, daily living, transportation, and more. 

All you have to do is plug in your numbers, and the template will do the math for you. It even shows you the differences between your budget and actual spending, so you can adjust your spending habits as needed.

So, what are you waiting for? Give this Itemized Budget template a try and see how easy it can be to take control of your finances!

9. Paycheck Budget Template

google worksheet budget

If you get regular paychecks and want to make the most out of your money, then using a paycheck budget template could be super helpful for you. It’s especially useful if you’re living paycheck to paycheck or if you have specific financial goals that you want to save up for.

This template has been specifically designed to break down your expenses into four parts, one for each paycheck. It has columns for expenses, budgeted amounts, actual amounts, and the difference between the budget and actual amounts. 

And the best part is that you don’t need to be a math expert to use it—it’s incredibly user-friendly! You can get a full picture of your finances in no time.

10. The Financial Diet’s Budget Template

google worksheet budget

The Financial Diet’s Budget Template is perfect for anyone who wants to take control of their finances, whether you’re trying to pay off debt, save for a big purchase, or just want to live a more financially responsible life.

It’s got everything you need, from tracking your income to setting and achieving your saving goals. You can easily sort your must-pay expenses like rent, bills, and groceries while also keeping an eye on your fun spending.

With The Financial Diet’s budget template, you can finally kick financial mess to the curb and say hello to a stress-free money life. It’s easy to use and helps you stay on track with your finances, so you can save more and live your best life.

Don’t let money stress you out any longer. Get the template here:

11. Calendar Budget Template

google worksheet budget

If you’re running a business and need to keep track of your finances throughout the year, you should definitely check out the calendar budget template. It’s like a roadmap that shows you exactly where your money is going each month and helps you plan for the future.

The template breaks down all your expenses and income into different categories, like payroll, office expenses, and operating income. Plus, it’s super easy to use and track your budget as you go, so you can make adjustments along the way.

At the end of the year, the template summarizes how you did overall, including your total income, expenses, and whether you went over or under budget. It’s a great way to stay on top of your finances and ensure your business runs smoothly.

12. Annual Budget Template

google worksheet budget

While a weekly budget tracker is great for keeping tabs on day-to-day spending, an Annual Budget Template takes a broader approach to managing your money.

It’s super user-friendly and covers all the major categories like Home, Transportation, Daily Living, Entertainment, Health, and Vacation/Holiday. All you have to do is input your monthly costs, and the template does the rest! 

You’ll get a comprehensive overview of your spending patterns and see where you can make adjustments to save more money.

And the best part? You can customize the template to fit your personal style and preferences. So whether you’re a minimalist or love to add a pop of color, this template is perfect for anyone who wants to take control of their finances.

13. Simple Monthly Budget Template

google worksheet budget

We can’t stress enough how important it is to have a simple monthly budget tracker, which is why it’s at the top of our list. This tool is excellent for:

  • Budgeting newbies who want a simple way to track their spending
  • Individuals or families who want to get a better understanding of their financial situation
  • Students, young professionals, or anyone on a tight budget who wants to take control of their finances
  • Building a solid foundation for a more comprehensive financial plan

This particular simple monthly budget template is easy to use and perfect for keeping track of your finances. Each column represents a month (from January to December), and each row represents an income source and expense. All you have to do is fill in the blanks. 

Then, the template calculates your monthly income and expenses, giving you an accurate picture of your net income (the money you’re left with). 

At the end of the year, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how your cash flows through your hands each month, helping you make better decisions for the future. Get the sheet here:

Browse Google Sheets Monthly Budget Templates

14. Semi-Monthly Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Unlike the bi-weekly budget, the semi-monthly budget doesn’t fluctuate between months; rather, it’s designed to break your income and expenses into two distinct monthly periods.

This can be helpful for people with regular paychecks that come in on the 1st and 15th, as it allows you to plan your finances around these paydays.

This template is really straightforward and makes managing your cash flow easier. It has categories for all of your expenses, including income, home expenses, daily living, transportation, and more.

All you have to do is plug in your number, and the template will do all the heavy lifting to ensure you have enough money to cover your bills and other expenses throughout the month. Give it a shot!

15. Weekly Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Once you know your monthly expenses, it’s time to go deeper and monitor them more closely. This lets you:

  • Gain even more control of your spending
  • Make adjustments on a more frequent basis
  • Identify problem areas 

This weekly budget template shows you where your money comes from and goes throughout the month. Just like the monthly budget template, this one has rows for your expenses and columns for the week. 

It has pre-built categories like home, transportation, daily living, entertainment, health, and vacation/holiday expenses to help you understand your finances. It also compares your projected and actual amounts neatly, so you can see how well you’re sticking to your budget. Download the sheet below and start tracking your expenses today.

Browse Google Sheets Weekly Budget Templates

16. Bi-Weekly Budget Template

google worksheet budget

If you’re someone who gets paid every two weeks, then a bi-weekly budget is a great way to keep track of your finances. With this budget, you can easily monitor your income and expenses for each pay period, making it easier to manage your money.

Like the weekly and annual budgets, this one also takes into account all your income sources and your expenses. Try it, and you’ll see how easy and enjoyable budgeting can be!

17. Daily Budget Template

google worksheet budget

If you’re trying to get a better handle on your finances, a daily budget template might just be your new secret weapon. Unlike monthly or weekly budgets, a daily budget template lets you track your expenses and income down to the penny every single day. 

This particular template tracks your expenses in four different columns:

  • Date : When you bought the item.
  • Description : What the item is.
  • Amount : How many you bought.
  • Cost : How much it was.

The best part is that the “Total” row at the bottom of the template will automatically calculate and sum up your daily expenses for you. Start tracking your finances today with this template.

18. Business Monthly Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Unlike the first two templates, which practically anyone can use, the business monthly budget is designed exclusively for entrepreneurs. This template is all about helping you:

  • Get a comprehensive overview of your company’s yearly financial performance
  • Track income and expenses each month
  • Identity overspending or cost-cutting opportunities
  • Make informed decisions about your business finances.

It is divided into two main sections: Income and Expenses. The Income section helps you monitor your cash flow by separating your sources of revenue, such as sales, service, and specific streams to your business.

The Expenses section is also organized into various sections, including operating expenses, payroll, and office-related costs. Each category itemized the budgeted and actual amounts of specific expenses. Get the template below.

Browse Google Sheets Business Budget Templates

19. Project Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Toggl

For those of you who run multiple projects, this Project Budget Template is the ideal solution for keeping an eye on your projects’ finances. With this tracker, you can easily see the progress of each task, who’s responsible for it, and the estimated vs. actual hours and costs. 

Plus, you’ll know if you’re over or under budget at a glance. It’s like having a personal financial assistant for your project!

Browse Google Sheets Project Budget Templates

20. Wedding Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Everyone knows that wedding planning can be one of the most stressful things a couple can do, and having a way to monitor your wedding budget helps to alleviate some of that stress. These templates let you:

  • Keep track of all your expenses
  • Avoid overspending
  • Adjust your budget as needed to stay on track
  • Make important decisions about where to allocate your resources and prioritize what’s most important to you

With this template, you’ll be able to monitor all of your most important expenses, like your bridal gown, groom’s tuxedo, wedding rings, gifts for the wedding party, music, photography, and so much more. 

But this template isn’t just limited to the happy couple. It can also be used by wedding planners who are managing multiple weddings and family members/friends who are helping plan or pay for the wedding. Get started here:

Browse Google Sheets Wedding Budget Templates

21. Event Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by GooDocs

If you’re planning any type of event (conference, party, seminar, etc.), this Event Budget Template is the perfect way to keep track of everything you need. 

It has all the items you need to think about, such as site costs, decorations, publicity, refreshments, the program, and miscellaneous items. Plus, you can see your estimated and actual costs side by side, so you know exactly where your money is going. 

On top of all that, you can track things like admissions, program ads, exhibitors, and sales. This lets you easily calculate your total profit or loss and adjust your budget as needed.

Start filling in your details here:

Browse Google Sheets Event Budget Templates

22. Non-profit Budget Template

google worksheet budget

This Non-profit Budget Template is an incredibly helpful tool when it comes to managing financial resources within a non-profit organization.

It gives you a snapshot of your organization’s finances for the current fiscal year and compares it to last year. It also breaks down revenue sources, such as grants, contracts, foundations, dividends, gifts, fundraising, memberships, and others.

With this template at your disposal, you’ll be able to monitor your organization’s financial health and identify areas to make adjustments to ensure a sustainable future for your non-profit. Get the template here:

Browse Google Sheets Non-profit Budget Templates

23. Household Budget Template

google worksheet budget

While it might not seem like it, having a household budget is one of the simplest ways you can save money and start building wealth. They help you:

  • See exactly where your money is going each month
  • Plan for future expenses, such as vacations, repairs, or large purchases
  • Achieve financial goals
  • Identify areas where you can cut back

This Household Budget Template sorts out your income and expenses into two groups–the necessary stuff and the fun, discretionary stuff. It includes tons of expense categories like your mortgage, utilities, getting around, groceries, having fun, and even investments. 

So you can be sure you’re keeping track of everything you spend. Take the first step toward your financial freedom by filling it out today.

Browse Google Sheets Household Budget Templates

24. Family Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Unlike the household budget, which is built to be used by anyone, the family budget is specifically designed to meet the unique financial needs of, well, a family. It tracks things such as childcare, school fees, extracurriculars, and more.

It also helps you allocate money for higher education and family vacations. This template is divided into different categories, like obligations, children-specific expenses, and education, which helps you better understand how your money is spent for the family.

By tracking your expenses and income in different categories, you’ll get a clearer picture of your finances and can make smarter decisions with your money. Start tracking your expenses here:

25. Marketing Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Liveflow

If you’re running a business, you know how important it is to get the word out about your products or services. That’s where a marketing budget comes in! It helps you plan out how much money you’ll spend on things like advertising, social media campaigns, and events.

This budget is particularly useful for:

  • Small business owners looking to grow their customer base
  • Marketing managers at larger companies who want to allocate funds efficiently
  • Freelancers and entrepreneurs who need to stay on top of their finances

Use this marketing budget spreadsheet to stay on top of your total marketing budget, actual expenses, and remaining budget. The template also helps you calculate important metrics like Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Lifetime Value (LTV) of customers. 

It’s super user-friendly, and you don’t need to be an expert to use it. Keep an eye on your marketing performance and maximize your budget with this simple template!

Browse Google Sheets Marketing Budget Templates

26. Startup Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Kira Deutch

Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or a seasoned pro, a startup budget is essential to help you turn your business dreams into a reality. They help you plan and track the expenses for launching a new business.

This template helps you prioritize your expenses into essential, non-essential, and other categories so you can focus on what you need to get your business off the ground. 

Plus it also includes a section for monthly overhead expenses and an estimation of how many months you might be at a loss before turning a profit. This will help you create a comprehensive budget and plan ahead. 

Use this template, and you’ll have a terrific start to your business!

Browse Google Sheets Startup Budget Templates

27. Moving Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Loanry

Moving is a stressful time for pretty much everyone—and the last thing you want is to add financial worries on top of it. That’s where a moving budget comes in handy!

This particular template is a helpful tool to help you keep track of all the expenses related to your move, from packing materials to hiring movers. It covers six major categories: 

  • Professional movers
  • Self-moving expenses
  • Packing materials
  • Transportation
  • Real estate costs
  • Storage fees

With both estimated and actual cost columns, it’s super easy to track spending and adjust as needed. Don’t forget to factor in hidden costs and add in a contingency fund, just in case. Happy moving!

Browse Google Sheets Moving Budget Templates

28. Home Renovation Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Whether you’re planning a small DIY project or a major renovation, having a budget will give you peace of mind and help you achieve your dream home without sacrificing your financial stability. That’s where this Renovation Budget Template comes in handy.

It’s got all the important details you need so you don’t overspend on your home makeover. You can see how much cash you’ve got to work with, how much you’re financing, and how much you’ve got left in your allotted funds. 

Plus, you can easily track everything from new cabinets to cabinet hardware and even the cost of removing old cabinets.

The best part is that the template breaks down all the costs by date, category, memo, budget, and differences between expected and actual costs. This means you can stay on top of your spending and make adjustments if needed. Get it here:

Browse Google Sheets Renovation Budget Templates

29. Travel Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Charlie Marchant

If you’re a budget-savvy traveler or someone who just wants to keep track of your vacation spending, this template is perfect for you. It’s organized by days of the week (Monday to Sunday), so you can easily plan out your itinerary and budget for each day. 

Simply fill in the destination, costs for accommodation, transportation, food, drinks, activities, and other essentials. That way, you’ll know exactly what you should be spending on your trip. 

Just remember to set your travel budget in both your home currency and the local currency for easy conversions. Test it out with your next trip.

Browse Google Sheets Travel Budget Templates

30. Business Plan Budget Template

google worksheet budget

If you’re looking for a roadmap to help your business stay on track, increase profits, and avoid overspending, then you need to check out this budget template.

It’s super detailed, with subcategories and subtotals for each section (income and expenses). Plus, all the numbers are laid out month by month, so you can see how your business is doing financially throughout the year. 

With a well-structured budget plan, you’ll be able to make informed decisions to help your business grow and succeed in today’s competitive market.

31. Baby Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Todd Walsh

From diapers to clothing to medical bills, the costs of raising children can really add up! 

Whether you’re a first-time parent or have several children, a baby budget template is a handy tool to ensure that your family’s financial needs are met while providing the best care for your little one(s).

The budget is divided into a variety of sections, such as housing, nursery items, health and safety, diapers, feeding, growing costs, clothing, and additional items.

 It even takes into account the federal minimum wage and helps you calculate the number of hours you’d need to work each week to cover these expenses. Give it a try and see how it works for you and your growing family!

32. Department Budget Template

google worksheet budget

If you’re in charge of your department’s budget, you’re going to love this template. It’s perfect for getting a better handle on your department’s finances and making sure you’re making smart decisions.

Once you open up the template, you’ll see that it’s got everything broken down into all the nitty-gritty details of your income and expenses. This makes it super easy to get a crystal-clear picture of your department’s financial standing. 

And, if you want to know how well you’re doing, the template helps you figure out the percentages of change, so you can easily pinpoint any trouble spots that might need a little extra attention.

Give it a try and see how it helps!

33. Production Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Reese Hopper

If you’re working in the film, TV, theater, or content creation industry, you know that managing your finances is crucial. That’s where a Production Budget Template comes in handy. This tool helps you keep track of all the expenses you need for your project.

The template is divided into different sections, such as on-set vendors, post-production vendors, rentals, and miscellaneous items. This way, you can easily see where your money is going and make informed decisions about your budget.

As you fill out the template, you’ll input details like the day rates, number of people, and days worked for on-set folks such as the director and producer. This will help you get a clear picture of your expenses and plan accordingly.

If you want to keep your production on budget and avoid unexpected surprises, try this template!

34. Christmas Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Married Harried 

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, but for many people, the financial stress of gift shopping can take away from the fun. But this Christmas Budget Template is here to take the guesswork out of gift-giving and help you enjoy the season without worrying about your bank account.

This template is pretty straightforward and easy to use. It lets you jot down the names of all the people you plan on buying gifts for and how much you’re willing to spend on each person. Plus, it even has some gift ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

But that’s not all; this template also helps you keep track of all the little details like the gifts you’ve purchased, their prices, where you ordered them from, delivery dates, and if they’re wrapped and ready to go. 

So you can stay organized and ensure you have everything under control during the busy holiday season. Get this must-have template here:

Browse Google Sheets Christmas Budget Templates

35. Program Budget Template

google worksheet budget

No matter what industry or field you’re in, if you’re working on a big project with a lot of expenses, a Program Budget Template is an essential tool. It’s most beneficial for:

  • Project managers who want to stay on budget
  • Team members who need to report expenses to the project manager
  • Small business owners who want to track the financial progress of their projects
  • Non-profit organizations that need to manage their funding and expenses for different programs
  • Freelancers or contractors who want to keep track of their expenses and billing for different clients

The program budget template breaks down your project into different categories and tasks, with costs associated with each one. It’s super easy to use, and you can quickly compare your planned budget with actual expenses. 

This way, you can spot any differences and address them before they become a problem. Plus, the program budget template includes all the important details like labor, materials, and fixed costs for each task, making it easy to see where the money is going.

36. Operating Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Whether you’re a small business owner or a finance professional, this Operational Budget Template is a must-have for keeping your finances in check. It’s like having a crystal ball to see how your company performs financially and plan your next moves accordingly.

The template is divided into quarters, making tracking your financial performance throughout the year easy. You can add your budgeted amounts, track your actual expenses, and compare them to see if you’re on track or need adjustments.

And if that wasn’t impressive enough, this tool also allows you to compare this year’s data with the data from the previous year, giving you invaluable insight into your business’s trends and patterns. 

This information can be used to create smarter business strategies and make more informed financial decisions. Find it here:

37. Small Business Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Running a small business can be tough, but managing your finances doesn’t have to be. This simple Small Business Budget Template makes things a whole lot easier.

It breaks down all your expenses into neat categories like wages, purchases, and fixed costs, so you can easily see where your money is going.

The best part is it’s super easy to use! You can quickly compare your actual expenses with your budgeted amounts, so you can spot any discrepancies and adjust accordingly. And with its laid-back vibe and simple design, it’s actually fun to use! 

Use it to help your business thrive.

38. College Student Budget Template

google worksheet budget

If you are a college student who’s tired of running out of money before the semester ends, this template is perfect for you! 

It’s tailored specifically for you and shows your income sources and expenses into easy-to-understand categories like rent/housing, tuition fees, transportation, fixed meal plan, and more.

With this template, you can track everything from tuition and textbooks to groceries and nights out with friends. Put it to the test and see how this college student budget template can benefit you!

Browse Google Sheets College Budget Templates

39. Film Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Studio Binder

Lights, camera, budget! This Film Budget Template is the ultimate tool for filmmakers who want to keep track of their expenses. From pre-production to post-production, this template helps you list all the costs related to your film, including cast, crew, and equipment.

With a clear breakdown of production expenses, post-production expenses, and more, you’ll have a complete overview of your film’s budget. Ready to bring your vision to life? Get the template here:

40. Construction Budget Template

google worksheet budget

It doesn’t matter how much experience you have in the construction industry, a construction budget template is an easy-to-use tool that can help you stay organized. It’s particularly useful for: 

  • Homeowners planning to remodel or make additions to their home.
  • Contractors who need to keep track of expenses and project costs.
  • Real estate developers who need to create budgets for their projects.
  • Architects and engineers who need to estimate costs for their designs.

This easy-to-use tool encompasses every aspect of your project like excavation, plumbing, appliances, and more. You can easily see how much each task costs, the total budget, and the difference between the two.

Try it for your next construction gig, and you’ll see just how easy it is to manage your finances!

Browse Google Sheets Construction Budget Templates

41. School Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or involved in school finances, this user-friendly tool is the perfect solution for controlling your expenses. 

You’ll have a crystal-clear overview of your finances with categories covering everything from funding sources to administration costs, educational activities, and maintenance expenses. And the best part? It’s incredibly easy to use—just plug in the numbers and watch the magic happen! 

So why wait? Try the school budget template today and make informed decisions that ensure the best for your students and staff.

Browse Google Sheets School Budget Templates

42. Budget Forecast Template

google worksheet budget

Utilizing your past spending habits and current financial situation, this Budget Forecast Template helps you plan and predict your financial future. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to stay on top of their finances and make sure you’re not overspending. 

Like most of the other templates, it’s divided into two main sections: Income and Expenses.

The “Income” section includes categories like sales, interest, and royalties, so you can see all the different sources of income you might have. 

You don’t have to fill in all of them; just add the ones that apply to you. The total income will sum it all up for you, so you can see how much money you expect to bring in.

The “Expenses” section is where you can list all the different things you might be spending money on, from salaries to advertising. It’s a comprehensive list, so you’ll find everything you need. 

Just add your numbers, and you’ll see where your money’s going. And, of course, there’s a total expense at the end, so you can see how much you’re spending in total.

43. Quarterly Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Designed by Live Flow

For those of you who prefer to budget quarterly instead of monthly, this Quarterly Budget Template is just right. 

It’s organized by month and has a special row to mark each quarter. This way, you can keep a clear record of your income and expenses for each quarter and easily identify trends or areas where you can improve your finances.

Using this template will help you stay on top of your finances and make informed decisions about your spending and saving habits. So why not give it a try and let’s get your budgeting game on point!

44. Capital Budget Template

google worksheet budget

This super handy Capital Budget Template has everything you need to track your long-term investments in one place. It’s got sections for your total income and expenses, both for the current year and the previous year, with the percentage difference between them.

There are also separate categories for various income sources like salary, interest, dividends, and more. And the best part?

It has categories for all the expenses you’ll need to keep track of, including general, sales and marketing, public relations, development, and website expenses.

So, if you’re looking to make smart and strategic investments in your business or personal assets, this is the template you need.

45. HOA Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Whether you’re a board member or a homeowner, this HOA Budget Template is a total game-changer for HOA budgeting. It can help you plan your expenses, stay within your budget, and make informed decisions about allocating your resources.

The template is organized into categories like wages, admin expenses, fixed and operating costs, and reserve contributions, making tracking and managing your funds easy. 

Plus, it has spots for signatures from both the preparer and approver, keeping everyone accountable and in the loop. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a little accountability and transparency? 

With this HOA Budget Template, you’ll know exactly where your HOA fees are going and how they’re being spent.

46. Church Budget Template 

google worksheet budget

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use and practical way to manage your church’s budget, this template is the ideal choice for you. You can use the template to track things like income, expenses, and how much money you want to allocate to different programs and ministries. 

It’s really helpful because it makes budgeting easier and more organized. 

With all your information loaded into the sheet, you’ll be able to see a breakdown of your total income and expenses and a comparison of your year-to-date and projected yearly expenses against your budget.

And the template isn’t just for the finance committee or church leaders. 

It’s also a great way to communicate with the congregation about the church’s financial goals and how their contributions are being used. So everyone can be on the same page and feel like they’re a part of the church’s financial plan.

47. Aesthetic Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Who says budgeting has to be boring? This Aesthetic Monthly Budget Template lets you have fun with your finances while still staying on top of your spending and savings. 

Not only is it practical and functional, but it also looks amazing. You can also customize it to fit your own money goals and preferences by adding categories that matter most to you.

Whether you’re a student, a young professional, or a seasoned saver, this template is the perfect way to take charge of your money. Get it here:

48. Interior Design Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Are you planning to revamp your home and give it a fresh, new look? This Interior Design Budget Template is just what you need to keep track of all your shopping and expenses. 

With designated sections for every room and space, you’ll be able to jot down all the items, their manufacturers, model numbers, retailers, and more. 

This spreadsheet includes space for labor and installation costs, ensuring that you don’t miss a single detail. Say goodbye to messy notes and hello to a well-organized and stress-free home makeover!

49. Club Budget Template

google worksheet budget

The success of your club depends on many factors, but none are more important than your finances. That’s why this Club Budget Template is an essential tool for any club or organization—it’s the key to staying on track and achieving your goals!

This user-friendly template is designed to make managing your club’s financial matters a breeze. All you need to do is input your revenue and expenditure information into various categories, like dues, programs, calendars, coaches/trainers, and more.

Make sure to include quantities and costs for items like kits and equipment/field expenses to get a complete picture of your budget. Once you’ve entered all your data, you’ll be able to see your overall budget, including revenues, expenses, and the all-important net amount.

See how it works for you.

Browse Google Sheets Club Budget Templates

50. Company Budget Template

google worksheet budget

Want to get a clearer picture of your business’s financial health? This Company Budget Template is the key to unlocking your financial potential!

It’s a super practical way to track your business’s revenue, both operating and non-operating, over the course of a year. It’s customizable, so you can tailor it to fit your specific needs and goals.

With this template, you’ll be able to easily track expenses like salaries, rent, and other overhead costs, and get a clear overview of your company’s financial performance. Plus, it’s user-friendly and saves you a ton of time and hassle when it comes to tracking your finances.

 Give it a try, and watch your finances flourish.

Welcome to our Google Sheets Budget Templates FAQs, where we’ll help you get the most out of your money management journey. Dive into our handy answers and learn how to make your finances work for you, all within the magic of Google Sheets.

What is a Google Sheets budget template?

A Google Sheets budget template is a preformatted, customizable document created within Google Sheets, which is a web-based spreadsheet application. This template is designed to help users manage and track their income, expenses, and savings. By entering financial data into the appropriate fields, users can quickly organize and visualize their financial situation, making it easier to set and achieve financial goals. 

Does Google have a budget tracker?

Yes, Google offers a budget tracking solution through Google Sheets. You can use their premade budget templates or create your own custom budget tracker.

Daniel Smith

  • Credit Building
  • Budget Living
  • Borrowing 101
  • Debt Management
  • Financial Wellness
  • Everyday Tips
  • Take me to Risecredit.com

The 21 Best Free Google Sheets Budget Templates for 2023

You can use a wide array of customizable, downloadable Google Sheets budget templates available online that allow you to utilize technology to track your finances for free, while keeping your banking information private.

Whether you’re building a budget for the first time or you’re a seasoned saver, technology can make the process a lot easier. Many people like the ease of online money management tools, apps, and websites that connect directly to your bank account.

However, not everyone likes the idea of sharing their private banking information which is required to drive these applications. Another option is to use one of a wide array of customizable, downloadable Google Sheets budget templates available online. These let you utilize technology to track your finances for free while keeping your banking information private.

We’ve gathered a list of our favorite templates because RISE is all about helping you on your financial journey.  We make it simpler to borrow the money you need with clear pricing and flexible repayment options. We also provide helpful financial wellness content and free tools to build your credit . Learn more about the RISE difference .

21 of the Best Budget Templates in Google Sheets

1.  SmartSheet Budget Templates

2.  Vertex42 Personal Monthly Budget

3.  20somethingfinance.com Personal Budget Spreadsheet

4.  The Measure of a Plan Budget Tracking Tool

5.  The Penny Hoarder’s Epic Google Budget Template

6.  Monthly Budget by Google Sheets

7.  Keepify Budget Templates

8.  The Finance Twins’ Monthly Budget Template

9.  Get Rich Slowly’s Free and Simple Budget Planner

10.  Budgets Are Sexy's Best Free Budget Templates & Spreadsheets

11.  Life After College: Simple Four-Step Budget

12. Aspire Budgeting Template

13. The Frugal Fanatic’s Free Monthly Budget Template

14.  Ben Collins’ DIY Budgets

15.  Budget and Transaction Tracking Template

16.  Zero-Based Budgeting Template from SmartSheet

17.  The Frugal Gene Budget Template

18. RegPaq Google Budget Sheet (for Millenials)

19. Saved by the Cents Google Budget Template

20. The 50/30/20 Google Sheets Template by Simple Budget Planner

21. Smartsheet Bi-Weekly Budget

This spreadsheet makes it easy to track simple, everyday finances. The Google Sheet template includes both numerical and graphic elements to help you visualize your income, expenses and savings over any time period.

SmartSheet Simple Budget Worksheet in Google Sheets

How to Live Frugally: 20 Practical Tips

We cover 20 practical ideas for better money management and savvy spending, including advice on handling taxes, paying down high-interest debt and trimming your grocery bill.

Trending Articles

December 27, 2023

February 10, 2023

November 23, 2022

July 31, 2022

CTA - Budget Living

Join our mailing list to get financial insights and information delivered straight to your inbox!

By entering your email information, you agree that RISE will contact you at the email address provided in order to send you our informational emails.

Thanks for signing up!

© Elevate. All Rights Reserved.

TO REPORT A PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT WITH THIS LENDER, YOU MAY WRITE OR CALL: SERVICE SOLUTIONS ANALYST AT [email protected] , RISE, PO BOX 101808, FORT WORTH, TX 76058, OR 1-866-913-0162.

* Applications processed and approved before 6pm ET are typically funded the next business day. RISE is offered only to residents in states where permitted by law. To obtain credit, you must apply online and have a valid checking account and email address. Approval for credit and the amount for which you may be approved are subject to minimum income requirements and vary by state.

In some cases, we may not be able to verify your application information and may ask you to provide certain documents. Refer to Rates & Terms for additional details. Complete disclosures of APR, fees and payment terms are provided within your Agreement.

** Reduced rates not available to residents of Kansas or Tennessee.

Important Disclosures:

Notice to Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming Customers: Installment loans are originated by FinWise Bank, a Utah chartered bank, located in Murray, UT, Member FDIC.

Notice to Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas Customers: Installment loans are originated by Capital Community Bank, a Utah chartered bank, located in Provo, UT, Member FDIC.

Application approvals and the amount of any credit for which you may be approved are subject to minimum income requirements and vary by state.

This is an expensive form of credit. RISE is designed to help you meet your borrowing needs. Appropriate emergencies might be a car repair, medical care for you or your family, or travel expenses in connection with your job. This service is not intended to provide a solution for all credit or other financial needs. Alternative forms of credit, such as a credit card cash advance, personal loan, home equity line of credit, existing savings or borrowing from a friend or relative, may be less expensive and more suitable for your financial needs. Refinancing may be available and is not automatic. Refinancing will result in additional charges. We will never charge you any "hidden fees" that are not fully disclosed in your Agreement or the Rates & Terms. If you don’t make a payment on time we will attempt to contact you via one or more authorized methods. Because we report your payment history to one or more credit bureaus, late or non-payment of your debt may negatively impact your credit rating. If you fail to repay in accordance with your terms, we may place or sell your debt with a third-party collection agency or other company that acquires and/or collects delinquent consumer debt. Be sure you fully understand the terms and conditions of your credit before signing your agreement.

  • Credit Cards
  • All Credit Cards
  • Find the Credit Card for You
  • Best Credit Cards
  • Best Rewards Credit Cards
  • Best Travel Credit Cards
  • Best 0% APR Credit Cards
  • Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
  • Best Cash Back Credit Cards
  • Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
  • Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
  • Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
  • Find the Best Personal Loan for You
  • Best Personal Loans
  • Best Debt Consolidation Loans
  • Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
  • Best Loans with Fast Funding
  • Best Small Personal Loans
  • Best Large Personal Loans
  • Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
  • Best Student Loan Refinance
  • Best Car Loans
  • All Banking
  • Find the Savings Account for You
  • Best High Yield Savings Accounts
  • Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
  • Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
  • Best No Fee Checking Accounts
  • No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
  • Best Checking Account Bonuses
  • Best Money Market Accounts
  • Best Credit Unions
  • All Mortgages
  • Best Mortgages
  • Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
  • Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
  • Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
  • Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
  • Adjustable Rate Mortgages
  • Affording a Mortgage
  • All Insurance
  • Best Life Insurance
  • Best Life Insurance for Seniors
  • Best Homeowners Insurance
  • Best Renters Insurance
  • Best Car Insurance
  • Best Pet Insurance
  • Best Boat Insurance
  • Best Motorcycle Insurance
  • Travel Insurance
  • Event Ticket Insurance
  • Small Business
  • All Small Business
  • Best Small Business Savings Accounts
  • Best Small Business Checking Accounts
  • Best Credit Cards for Small Business
  • Best Small Business Loans
  • Best Tax Software for Small Business
  • Personal Finance
  • All Personal Finance
  • Best Budgeting Apps
  • Best Expense Tracker Apps
  • Best Money Transfer Apps
  • Best Resale Apps and Sites
  • Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
  • Best Debt Relief
  • Credit Monitoring
  • All Credit Monitoring
  • Best Credit Monitoring Services
  • Best Identity Theft Protection
  • How to Boost Your Credit Score
  • Best Credit Repair Companies
  • Filing For Free
  • Best Tax Software
  • Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
  • Tax Refunds
  • Tax Brackets
  • Taxes By State
  • Tax Payment Plans
  • Help for Low Credit Scores
  • All Help for Low Credit Scores
  • Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
  • Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
  • Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
  • Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
  • Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
  • Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
  • Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
  • Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
  • Best Hardship Loans
  • All Investing
  • Best IRA Accounts
  • Best Roth IRA Accounts
  • Best Investing Apps
  • Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
  • Best Robo-Advisors
  • Index Funds
  • Mutual Funds
  • Home & Kitchen
  • Gift Guides
  • Deals & Sales
  • Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
  • Subscribe to CNBC PRO
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Privacy Choices
  • Terms Of Service
  • CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

Choice Home Warranty

Google Sheets is the best free spreadsheet for anyone trying to budget—here's how to get started

Select reviews google sheets so you can decide if it's the right tool for budgeting your money..

thumbnail

The Mint app has shut down as of Jan. 1, 2024. For alternatives, check out CNBC Select's ranking of the best budgeting apps .

If you've never built a budget before, the thought of tracking all of your expenses and sources of income can seem like an immense task. While the act of tracking your everyday expenses might seem tedious and hard to keep up with, there are a number of apps that make it easier for people to understand where they should save or spend.

With so many different apps on the market, it can be hard to know which one is the best fit for you. Select compared over a dozen options when rating the best budgeting apps and  best expense tracker apps , and we found that the most popular ones have nearly 5 out of 5-star ratings and thousands of customer reviews.

We ranked Google Sheets as the best free spreadsheet for anyone trying to budget. Google Sheets is completely free, offers a wide variety of different templates and can be connected to third-party software to automatically import your bank transactions.

Below, we review Google Sheets to give you all the details on its features, including the tools, perks, safety, pricing, availability and ratings so you can decide if it is the right choice for managing your money.

Google Sheets review

Budgeting tools, availability and ratings, bottom line, google sheets, standout features.

Gmail account users can access a variety of free budgeting templates to help get started

Categorizes your expenses

Users manually input their expenses, but some budgeting templates offer preset categories

Links to accounts

No, but some templates offer third-party add-on software that automatically pulls financial transactions into Google Sheets

Availability

Offered on web browser and smartphone devices

Security features

Google server protection: Unless you've shared your Google Sheet with someone, nobody can access your files without your Gmail account username and password. For this, Google offers two-factor authentication and physical security keys like YubiKey

Terms apply.

  • Free to use with your Gmail account
  • Google Sheets can be accessed from anywhere via the mobile app
  • Templates help users navigate making a budget
  • Hands-on approach forces users to really think about each transaction they make
  • Third-party add-on software available on some templates to import your banking transaction data
  • Security features include Google server protection
  • Requires users to manually input transactions and other data, unless third-party add-on software is available with template
  • Offers so many different budgeting templates that it may be overwhelming to choose the best one for you

Google Sheets requires users to manually input all of their expenses and income. While this may be time-consuming and tedious, doing so can help you understand exactly how you're spending your money each month.

While Google Sheets can seem like a hassle because you have to manually enter information, users can benefit from a wide variety of free templates that can make tracking your spending habits much easier. Some templates even have preset categories.

There are numerous third-party budget templates you can find online with a quick search, but Google provides two options in its template section : an annual budget and a monthly budget. Both templates are comprehensive, allowing you to itemize all of your expenses and income flows into various preset categories and subcategories that you can change based on your needs. The annual budget template also provides a month-by-month summary of your income, expenses and net savings.

For users who want to simplify the budgeting process, some Sheets templates are connected with third-party software that allow you to import your financial transaction data.

Google Sheets is secure for tracking your finances because it works through Google server protection: Unless you've shared your Google Sheet with someone, nobody can access your files without your Gmail account username and password. If you're interested in making your Google account more secure, the company offers two-factor authentication and physical security keys like YubiKey.

Google Sheets is a completely free way to start budgeting — all you need is a Gmail account.

Google Sheets is offered on web browser and smartphone devices. The Google Sheets app is available in the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android).

Rating in App Store at time of writing: 4.8 out of 5 (over 900,000 ratings)

Rating on Google Play at time of writing: 4.0 out of 5 (over 100,000 ratings)

If you're new to budgeting and like the idea of manually entering your expenses and income into a spreadsheet, Google Sheets is the best free option out there.

Users have access to different template options, third-party add-on software for certain templates and the ease of accessing their spreadsheet both on their computer and their phone.

For those who want a budgeting app that easily syncs to their bank account and credit card and automatically categorizes their expenses, consider Mint . The budgeting app is also completely free and comes with a few more bells and whistles, including alerting you when you're over budget, if you've incurred ATM fees or have payments due.

Learn more: 5 tips on what to look for when choosing a budgeting app

Our methodology

To determine which free budgeting tools offer the best user experience,  Select  analyzed over a dozen different budgeting tools and looked at their features and user reviews.

We narrowed down our ranking by looking for at least one pick in each of the following categories: spreadsheets, desktop software and smartphone apps. We wanted variety in the ways users can build their budget, and we ranked each tool by who it is best designed for (anyone, beginners, investors or small business owners).

The five tools we selected for this ranking are all free and easy to use. For our selection, we also favored budgeting tools that have strong user reviews.

Other factors we looked at included the security features, user customization and illustrative data insight, such as graphs and reports, that are available.

Chime

  • How to check the status of your tax refund Megan DeMatteo
  • Don't have flood insurance? You could be in deep Liz Knueven
  • The Citi AAdvantage Executive card is a great way to get American Airlines lounge access Jason Stauffer

comscore

Google Sheets: The Free Budgeting Tool You Probably Haven’t Tried

  • Money & Credit
  • Banks & Banking
  • Budgeting & Saving
  • Investing & Retirement

Sometimes the right tool is all it takes to get your spending under control.

Budgeting apps like Mint , Personal Capital and YNAB (You Need a Budget) are popular, but they also ask you to provide bank login information to track your expenses.

Not everyone is comfortable with handing over that sensitive information, but there are other options.

This Free Google Sheets Template Makes It Easy to Stay on Budget! 

I’m always looking for free budgeting tools that can help me manage my money more efficiently, and I think I’ve found a great one with a template that’s included with Google Sheets.

If you’re not familiar, Google Sheets is a 100% free spreadsheet program offered by Google. It’s similar to Excel.

No matter what type of budgeting method you use, the standard template that comes with Google Sheets can be customized to work for your style — and you don’t need to be a spreadsheet pro.

I’ve provided a few screenshots below to give you some tips and tricks that I’ve picked up since I started budgeting with Google Sheets.

1. Find the Monthly Budget Template

When you open Google Sheets on your computer, you’ll see a few sample spreadsheets at the top. If you don’t see “Monthly budget,” expand the template gallery and scroll down.

You can edit the existing budget template or make a copy by clicking “File” and “Make a copy.”

2. Customize the Budget Template

The monthly budget template is pretty basic, but I still believe it’s a powerful tool. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can customize it based on your preferences.

Here are a few of the changes I made to the template for personalization:

  • Clicked the orange “Monthly Budget” and renamed it
  • Adjusted the starting balance in cell L8
  • Overhauled the expense categories to be more specific
  • Added my projected income for the month

Google Sheets monthly budget (unedited)

3. Track Your Income and Expenses 

When you scroll to the bottom of the Google Sheets monthly budget spreadsheet that’s pictured above, you’ll see a tab for a second spreadsheet called “Transactions.”

The neat thing is that as you add your income and expenses to this sheet, it will automatically update the other one.

Google Sheets Transactions: Log your income and expenses

4. Download the Google Sheets App 

I set up my Google Sheets monthly budget on a computer, but the app makes it easy to budget on the go .

After making a purchase, I open the Google Sheets app immediately and use the Transactions spreadsheet to enter the date, amount, description and category of my expense.

And whenever I get a paycheck, I go to the same spreadsheet and make a note of the income.

If you budget with cash using the envelope method for certain categories, the ability to quickly track those expenses with the Google Sheets app can save lots of time.

Have you tried Google Sheets to manage your budget? Let us know how you like it in the comments!

This article was originally written by Michael Timmermann and published on August 16, 2018.

  • Here are the best Walmart deals happening now!

9 Ways To Know if You Have Been Hacked

Genuine software, legally FREE - no cracking required!

Edit Word, Excel, and PPT effortlessly

Read, edit, and convert PDFs with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface, easy to use.

Windows • MacOS • Linux • iOS • Android

banner

  • Articles of Office solution

How to make a Budget Spreadsheet in Google Sheets

Taking the time to keep tabs on your domestic or office budget offers significant benefits, fostering mindfulness and awareness of spending habits. This proactive approach proves crucial for long-term financial tracking and effective budget management. In this guide we will walk you through the simple steps of how to make a budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets.

How to make a Budget Spreadsheet in Google Sheets

In this section, we will learn how to create a monthly budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets from scratch, starting from creating a new sheet and building a complete, effective budget spreadsheet to manage your finances. Let's begin:

Step 1: Open Google Drive and click on the "Apps" icon.

Step 2: From the applications, select "Sheets" to open the Google Sheets console.

Google drive applications

Step 3: On the Google Sheets homepage, click on "Blank Spreadsheet" to create a new spreadsheet from scratch.

Google Sheets create new spreadsheet  Step 4: With the new blank spreadsheet open, rename the

Step 4: With the new blank spreadsheet open, rename the "Untitled" sheet at the upper left corner.

Google Sheets rename spreadsheet

Step 5: Select your main categories and subcategories. For example, consider "Income" as the main category and include subcategories such as job income, freelancing, rental income, or any other sources.

Step 6: Differentiate categories by changing the font, style and colors using the toolbar.

 Google Sheets differentiate categories

Step 7: Add appropriate columns for budget, actual, and the difference between budget and actual.

Step 8: Add months above your columns. If needed, insert rows above by right-clicking on the row numbers and choosing "Insert 1 row above".

Google Sheets insert rows or columns

Step 9: Use the “Merge” option in the toolbar to merge three cells for the month, making it visually appealing.

Google Sheets merge cells

Step 11: Set cell borders using the toolbar. Click on the “Border” icon and set borders according to your preference.

Google Sheets cell borders

Step 12: Resize columns by selecting them and dragging the border. Place your cursor at the border, and when it changes, drag to adjust the column size.

Google Sheets resize columns

Step 13: Copy cells using the shortcut "CTRL + C" to copy and "CTRL + P" to paste, rather than copying each cell individually.

Google Sheets copy cells or columns

Step 14: Make any other amendments as needed before finalizing the budget spreadsheet using the toolbar.

Step 15: To share your spreadsheet, click on "Share" at the top right corner. You can then share your budget spreadsheet with others.

Google Sheets share spreadsheet

This guide should help you create a basic and effective monthly budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets. Adjust the steps based on your specific needs and preferences.

Simple formulas to make budgeting more effective

A budget sheet without any functions would be incomplete, especially when Google Sheets allows users to use functions with ease. So, let's see how to make a finance spreadsheet in Google Sheets using simple functions:

SUM Function:

Step 1: Simply click on an empty cell or insert an equal sign.

Step 2 : Type "sum", or suggestions for the sum function will appear below. Navigate to the simple sum function using the arrow keys on your keyboard, and then click on "Tab" to move forward.

Google Spreadsheet select sun function

Step 3: The sum function takes a single argument. Use your cursor to select the range of cells you want to sum, and then press “Enter” for the results.

Google Spreadsheet SUM Function

AVERAGE Function:

Step 1: Go to an empty cell and, in a similar fashion, start the AVERAGE function with an equal sign.

Google Spreadsheet select sun function

Step 2: The AVERAGE function is also a single argument function. Simply select the range of cells, and press “Enter” for the results.

Google Spreadsheet select sun function

These functions enhance the functionality of your finance spreadsheet, allowing you to easily calculate the sum or average of specific ranges.

Templates to make budgeting more visual

If you need a fully personalized budget sheet for yourself, learning how to create one is for you. However, this method may not be ideal for everyone, meaning that not everyone may have the same requirements for columns, functions, and the overall appearance. In such cases, let's take the simpler route and learn how to use free Google budget templates.

Step 1: To access Google Sheet templates, simply go to the Google Sheets homepage.

Step 2: Now, you can find a few free templates under "Start a new spreadsheet". However, to view the whole template gallery, click on the "Arrow" keys beside "Template gallery".

Google Sheets template gallery

Step 3: There are multiple budget templates available. We are selecting the "Monthly Budget" template by double-clicking on the template.

Google Sheets budget templates

Step 4: A new spreadsheet with the monthly budget template will open in a new tab. Edit, personalize, and share your budget template with others.

Google Sheets Monthly budget template

Best Free Alternative to Google sheets

Google Sheets is a widely favored choice, offering the dual advantage of being cost-effective and delivering functionality similar to Microsoft. However, the emergence of WPS Office in the office suite domain is nothing short of a phoenix rise. Beyond remarkable collaboration features, WPS Office's spreadsheet tool distinguishes itself with extraordinary compatibility across operating systems—be it Linux, Windows, or Mac. This versatility extends to accommodating various file formats, significantly simplifying users' experiences. The icing on the cake is WPS Office's extensive template range, promising not just collaboration but a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for diverse office needs.

 WPS Spreadsheet

Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

Edit PDF files with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

Boost your productivity with WPS's abundant free Word, Excel, PPT, and CV templates.

Q1. How do I create a monthly expense Spreadsheet?

To establish a monthly expense Spreadsheet, consider utilizing a template from Smartsheet, like the Monthly Expense Report Template tailored for Google Sheets. Downloadable from Smartsheet's official website, these templates offer customization options to align with specific requirements, offering a transparent assessment of financial standing across common categories. Utilizing Google Sheets's monthly budget template is beneficial for forecasting and tracking financial elements, facilitating the organization and presentation of a comprehensive budget overview, covering expenses, income, and operational costs.

Q2. How do I download a Google Spreadsheet?

To download a Google spreadsheet, follow the guide below:

Step 1: Open the desired Google spreadsheet you wish to download.

Step 2 : Go to the File option in the menu and click on “Download” from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Opt for the preferred format for downloading the spreadsheet, such as Excel (.xlsx), PDF, or CSV.

Google Spreadsheet download spreadsheet

The spreadsheet will be saved and downloaded to your computer.

Smart Budgeting With WPS Office

Mastering how to make a budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets lays a solid foundation for effective financial planning. Google Sheets offers a reliable platform with user-friendly features for crafting organized and efficient budget sheets. However, as we've explored, WPS Office presents an enticing alternative with additional perks like remarkable graphic representation and potential AI integration. For those intrigued by WPS Office's unique features, don't forget to download WPS Office and explore a new dimension in budgeting.

  • 1. How to Make a Spreadsheet on Google Sheets [Step-by-Step Guide]
  • 2. How to create a budget spreadsheet in WPS Office (for Excel and Google Sheet)
  • 3. How to Make a Killing Bar Graph in Google Sheets [2024 Updated]
  • 4. Top 10 Amazing Google Sheets Event Budget Template: Analyzing Event Finances
  • 5. Top 10 Best Free Google sheets budget template
  • 6. Google Sheets App - Help You Work with Sheets Efficiently

google worksheet budget

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.

  • Credit cards
  • View all credit cards
  • Banking guide
  • Loans guide
  • Insurance guide
  • Personal finance
  • View all personal finance
  • Small business
  • View all small business
  • View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Free Budget Planner: Tips For Getting Started

Lauren Schwahn

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

What is a budget planner?

A budget planner is a tool, such as a worksheet, that you can use to design your budget. A successful budget planner helps you decide how to best spend your money while avoiding or reducing debt. NerdWallet recommends the 50/30/20 budget , which suggests that 50% of your income goes toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and debt repayment.

google worksheet budget

Create a budget plan that works for you

Before choosing a budget planner, you want to decide on a budgeting system . As mentioned, you could get started with the 50/30/20 budget, if it resonates with you. There are also other budgeting systems that organize your spending in different ways. The zero-based budget , for example, accounts for every dollar in your budget until there are zero remaining.

Once you’ve chosen your system, you can move on to picking a budget planner to help break down your budget and put the numbers into perspective. The best budget planner is one that’s easy to use and stick with. No matter which budget planner you decide to use, take some time to tweak your approach and adjust your spending as needed until you reach your ideal budget.

And if a hands-on monthly budget planner isn’t working for you, consider one of these budget apps . Most of them sync with your financial accounts, so they can track and categorize expenses for you. Keep in mind that some budgeting apps are free, while others charge a monthly or annual fee.

If you can’t make your ideal budget a reality, or if you’re struggling to get a handle on your finances, budgeting might not be enough for you. Explore other options, such as seeking expert financial advice or resources that can help you pay bills .

Budget planner

Use the free printable budget worksheet below to see how your spending compares with the 50/30/20 budget guide.

If this budget sheet isn’t right for you, try another tool. Explore other budget spreadsheets and templates , or download a budget app. For a more simplified snapshot, try our budget calculator .

For other money matters, check out more financial calculators from NerdWallet.

google worksheet budget

On a similar note...

Capitalize

on Capitalize's website

COMMENTS

  1. PERSONAL MONTHLY BUDGET TEMPLATE

    Insert Format Data Tools Extensions Help View only Personal Monthly Budget Template The current window is too small to properly display this sheet. Consider resizing your browser window or...

  2. 15 FREE Google Sheets Budget Templates in 2024

    1. Starter Budget 2. 50/30/20 Budget 3. Google Sheets Budget Trackers 4. Budget Tracking Tool 5. Smartsheet College Student Budget 6. Wedding Budget Spreadsheet 7. Smartsheet Home Renovation Budget 8. Vertex42 Debt Reduction Calculator 9. Financial Snapshot and Budget 10. Zero-Based Budget 11. Smartsheet Bi-Weekly Budget 12. Family Budget Planner

  3. The Ultimate List Of Google Sheets Budget Templates For 2023

    The best free budgets for Google Sheets: Tiller Foundation Template for Google Sheets Ben Collins Budget for Google Sheets Monthly Budget Template for Google Sheets Monthly Budget Calendar for Google Sheets Weekly Budget Worksheet by Smartsheet 50/30/20 Instant Budget Calculator Poor Man's Budgeting Spreadsheet

  4. How to Create a Budget Spreadsheet in Google Sheets: A Step-by-Step

    A budget spreadsheet will help you organize your finances by tracking your income, expenses, and savings. It's a visual representation of your money, and by the end of these steps, you'll have a clear picture of your financial health. Step 1: Open Google Sheets and Create a New Spreadsheet

  5. The Best Google Sheets Budget Template: Full Guide

    1. Zero-Based Budgeting Template for Google Sheets 2. Simple Business Budgeting Template for Google Sheets 3. Google Spreadsheet Budget Template for Students 4. Simple Household Budgeting Template 5. Monthly Budget Template for Google Sheets 6. Weekly Budget Template for Google Sheets 7. Annual Budget Calendar Template

  6. How to Use the Google Sheets Budget Template (Free Spreadsheet!)

    If you're looking for a quick and easy budgeting tool, the Google Sheets budget template is a great option to track your daily expenses. For the past five years, I've used this free budgeting spreadsheet to keep my spending under control. Google Sheets Budget Template: Step-by-Step Guide

  7. How to Make a Budget in Google Sheets (Step by Step)

    Step 1. In cell C12, Type "INCOME I Earn" as the column header. This section will contain your income categories. Below the header, type the income categories that apply to your situation. You can see our examples in the screenshot below. Formatting: a.

  8. How to Use Google Sheets for Your Budget: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Step 1: Create a New Spreadsheet. Open Google Sheets and create a new spreadsheet. Creating a new spreadsheet is as easy as clicking on the "+" button on the Google Sheets homepage. You'll be taken to a blank spreadsheet where you can start inputting your data.

  9. 11 Budget Templates for Google Sheets

    10. Budget Spreadsheet. 11. Budget Tracking Tool by The Measure of a Plan. Frequently Asked Questions. 1. Simple Budget Template by Keepify. If you want a general yet highly effective budgeting template for Google Sheets, it's hard to beat Keepify's Simple Budget Template.

  10. How to Make and Share a Household Budget in Google Sheets

    Use a Google Sheets Budget Template Google Sheets makes it easy to set up a monthly or yearly budget with its templates. On the main page, select the Template Gallery at the top. You'll see both the Monthly Budget and Annual Budget options in the Personal section. Pick one and it'll open right up for you to get started. Monthly Budget Template

  11. Google Sheets Budget Template: 10 Tips for Building Templates

    Google Sheets Budget Template: 10 Tips for Building Templates 10 Tips To Build A Google Sheets Budget Template It probably won't surprise you to hear that I use a Google Sheets budget template to track my finances, both incomings and outgoing, at home and for my business. The dashboards available through online banking sites are pretty rudimentary.

  12. 9 FREE Budget and Expense Tracker Templates for Google Sheets

    9 FREE Budget and Expense Tracker Templates for Google Sheets On this page you will find a variety of budget and expense tracker templates for Google Sheets. Each of the templates here functions differently so that you will be able to find exactly what you need to track your expenses and your budget.

  13. Google Sheets Monthly Budget Templates

    What Is a Google Sheets Monthly Budget Template? Streamline Monthly Budgeting with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet Simple Budget Template Download Simple Budget Template Google Sheets | Smartsheet This template provides a quick overview of income and expenses.

  14. Google Sheets: Online Spreadsheet Editor

    Secure by default We use industry-leading security measures to keep your data safe, including advanced malware protections. Sheets is also cloud-native, eliminating the need for local files and...

  15. How to Make a Budget in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel

    On August 28, 2023 There are dozens of tools for making a budget, tracking bank accounts, and creating savings goals. But before you invest in complicated money management tools, it might be better to simply make a budget in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. You can create your own free budget template in less than an hour.

  16. Budgeting With Google Sheets: 18 Simple, Effective Tips

    Here are 18 simple tips on more effective budgeting with Google Sheets. Table Of Contents. Budgeting With Google Sheets. 1. Use a Google Sheet Template. 2. Send an Email for Joint Budgeting. 3. Add Emotions to Your Money.

  17. 50 Free☝️ Google Sheets Budget Templates for 2023

    Quick Jump 1. Personal Budget Template Designed by Smartsheet No matter where you are in life, a personal budget is essential for anyone who wants to start managing their money like a pro. This Personal Budget Template is best suited for: Recent college graduates who are just starting their careers and need to get a handle on their finances

  18. The 21 Best Free Google Sheets Budget Templates for 2023

    Monthly Budget by Google Sheets 7. Keepify Budget Templates 8. The Finance Twins' Monthly Budget Template 9. Get Rich Slowly's Free and Simple Budget Planner 10. Budgets Are Sexy's Best Free Budget Templates & Spreadsheets 11. Life After College: Simple Four-Step Budget 12. Aspire Budgeting Template 13.

  19. Review: Google Sheets Free Budgeting Tool

    Google Sheets is the best free spreadsheet for anyone trying to budget—here's how to get started Select reviews Google Sheets so you can decide if it's the right tool for budgeting your money ...

  20. Google Sheets: The Free Budgeting Tool You Probably Haven't Tried

    1. Find the Monthly Budget Template When you open Google Sheets on your computer, you'll see a few sample spreadsheets at the top. If you don't see "Monthly budget," expand the template gallery and scroll down. You can edit the existing budget template or make a copy by clicking "File" and "Make a copy." 2. Customize the Budget Template

  21. Free Budget Spreadsheets and Templates

    Google Sheets budget templates 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...

  22. 6 Free Budget Templates for Excel, Google Sheets & Numbers

    1. Identify Your Goals Is your primary goal to pay off debt? Then you might like a zero-based budget. Do you have a stable income and are just trying to organize your finances? You might like the 50/20/30 method. Or maybe you'd like to be able to see your entire year in one sheet. Pro Tip Looking to pay off your debt faster?

  23. How to make a Budget Spreadsheet in Google Sheets

    In this section, we will learn how to create a monthly budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets from scratch, starting from creating a new sheet and building a complete, effective budget spreadsheet to manage your finances. Let's begin: Step 1: Open Google Drive and click on the "Apps" icon.

  24. Minimalistic Treasure on Instagram: "Simple Monthly Budget planner

    0 likes, 1 comments - minimalistictreasure on February 19, 2024: "Simple Monthly Budget planner Spreadsheet for Google Sheets and Paycheck weekly Budget Spreadshee ...

  25. Free Budget Planner Worksheet

    Use the free printable budget worksheet below to see how your spending compares with the 50/30/20 budget guide. If this budget sheet isn't right for you, try another tool. Explore other...