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Budget templateGlobalDesign: Spreadsheet

Monthly Budget Template

Planned and actual side by side, grouped expenses, and what's left over, all worked out for you.

Monthly Budget

November 2026

IncomePlannedActualDifference
Take-home pay$4,800$4,800$0
Side income$400$520$120
Other income$0$60$60
Total income$5,200$5,380$180
ExpensesPlannedActualDifference
Housing
Rent or mortgage$1,650$1,650$0
Utilities$180$204-$24
Internet and phone$120$120$0
Housing total$1,950$1,974-$24
Transport
Car payment$340$340$0
Gas and transit$160$142$18
Car insurance$110$110$0
Transport total$610$592$18
Food
Groceries$520$548-$28
Dining out$180$236-$56
Food total$700$784-$84
Health and personal
Health insurance and care$210$185$25
Personal care and clothing$120$95$25
Health and personal total$330$280$50
Fun and subscriptions
Streaming and apps$45$45$0
Hobbies and outings$120$160-$40
Fun and subscriptions total$165$205-$40
Savings and debt
Emergency fund$300$300$0
Retirement (IRA)$250$250$0
Credit card payoff$200$200$0
Savings and debt total$750$750$0
Total expenses$4,505$4,585-$80
Left over$795planned $695
Savings rate13.9%savings and debt payoff
US LetterSample person, made up
Download the Excel file (8 KB)

Opens in Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers. Free, no sign-up.

  • Planned vs actual, with the difference
  • Totals and savings rate are formulas
  • Opens in Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers
  • Free, no sign-up
About this budget template

When to use the Monthly budget design

Planned and actual side by side, grouped expenses, and what's left over, all worked out for you.

A budget only helps if you compare the plan with what really happened. This spreadsheet puts both next to each other for every line: what you expected to earn and spend, what you actually did, and the difference. Expenses are grouped the way most households think about them, each group has its own total, and the summary shows what is left at the end of the month and what share of your income went to savings and paying down debt.

What's on it

  • Income: pay, side income and other
  • Housing, transport and food
  • Health and personal
  • Fun and subscriptions
  • Savings and debt
  • Planned, actual and difference for every line
  • Left over and savings rate

Best for

Households planning a monthly budget

Also good for

Couples sharing expenses in Google Sheets

And for

Anyone who wants to see where their money goes

3 steps

How to use this template

From the template to a finished PDF in a few minutes.

  1. STEP 01

    Open the spreadsheet

    Download the Excel file and open it in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers.

    Excel or Google Sheets
  2. STEP 02

    Plan, then track

    Type your plan in Planned at the start of the month, then fill in Actual as bills and paychecks arrive.

    Planned, then actual
  3. STEP 03

    Review the month

    Check Left over and the Difference column, and adjust next month's plan.

    Check what's left over
Tips

Tips for the Monthly budget budget

Small changes that make this design work harder for you.

  • Budget your take-home pay, not your salary before tax.

  • Pay yourself first: put savings in the plan as a line, not as whatever is left.

  • Look at the biggest Difference each month; one or two lines usually explain most of the gap.

  • Save a copy of the file each month (Nov 2026, Dec 2026) to see trends over the year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about the Monthly budget budget template.

How do I make a monthly budget?
List your income, list your expenses by group, plan an amount for each, then track what you really spend. This template does the adding up and shows what's left.
What is a good savings rate?
It depends on your income and goals. Many people aim for 10 to 20 percent of take-home pay, but any regular amount is a start.
Can I add more expense lines?
Yes. Insert a row inside a group; the group total includes it as long as it is between the group's first and last rows.
Download Excel