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Printable monthly budget template

A one-page budget: income, bills, savings and spending categories, planned against actual. Fill it in here, then print it or save it as a PDF.

Short answer: a monthly budget template has four parts: income at the top, then fixed bills, savings, and spending categories, each with a planned and an actual column. Plan every amount at the start of the month so income minus everything planned is zero or more, then fill in actuals as you go.

How to fill in the template

  1. Income first. Take-home pay for the month, plus anything else you are sure of.
  2. Bills and savings next. These are fixed: write them in before spending.
  3. Give every remaining amount a job. Split what is left across the spending lines until income minus planned is zero or a little more.
  4. Fill in actuals weekly. Five minutes on a Sunday is enough to stay on track.
  5. Compare at month end. Where actual beat planned, raise next month's line or cut elsewhere.

Not sure what to plan? The monthly budget calculator and the 50/30/20 calculator give you starting amounts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I use a printable budget template?

Fill in your income and planned amounts at the start of the month, keep the sheet somewhere you will see it, and write in the actual amounts as you spend. At month end, compare the two columns.

Can I fill it in before printing?

Yes. Type into the fields on this page: totals update as you go. Then print it or save it as a PDF from the print dialog. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored.

What categories should a budget have?

Start with the ones where your money really goes: housing, utilities, groceries, transport, eating out, shopping, health, fun, and savings. Fewer categories are easier to keep up with than many.

Is a paper budget better than an app?

Paper is great for planning and seeing the whole month at once. An app is easier for logging each purchase as it happens. Many people plan on paper and log on their phone.

Related free tools

Monthly budget calculator

See what is left after bills and savings, and what that means per day.

50/30/20 calculator

Split pay into needs, wants and savings, and compare it with your real spending.

Sinking funds calculator

Set aside a little each month for the big costs you know are coming.

No-spend challenge tracker

Tick off no-spend days, online or on a printed sheet.