Budgeting Spreadsheet
When Gregg first left for Afghanistan, he created a household bank account for me. With this account, I buy all of the groceries, gasoline, birthday presents, shoes, clothes — whatever we need within the household, I pay for with this account. It is a set amount – a percentage of Gregg’s paycheck – and as he has gotten promotions and raises, so has this account.
One of the first things I did was create a budget. I created a Microsoft Excel Worksheet and listed anything on which I would likely spend money: food, sundries, dining out, gasoline, etc. Once I did that, I figured what I might spend in a month’s time and set a budget. Once I had the monthly budget, I multiplied each number by 12 and came up with the annual budget. So, I created a worksheet within this spreadsheet that had the annual budget numbers. I work with an annual number, because, for instance, my birthday gift budget is $50 per month. However, there are months that I don’t spend $50, and there are months that I do spend $150 — but what I want to look at is the annual expenditures and budgets.
Within that same workbook/spreadsheet, I created another worksheet for each month of the year. I listed the budget items across the top (groceries, gasoline, sundries, etc.) in each column, and had the rows free for the name of the store and the amount spent on each budget item. If I bought $26 worth of groceries and $2 worth of dish detergent at the same store, then the total $28 bill would be broken down between groceries and sundries. The final column was a total for that specific bill.
On the bottom of this monthly worksheet, I listed the monthly budgets for each item and what my totals were. I did this for a quick glance to know where I sat with each item, and also so that I could then take those totals and put them in the annual budgeting worksheet.
The annual budgeting worksheet is really where the information is useful. It gives me year-to-date expenditures and tells me how much is left in my budget. I have formulas inserted so that whenever I input a number at the top of the monthly worksheet (ABC Groceries for $52.00 grocery expense) all of the other worksheets update automatically. I don’t have to do any more work than that single receipt entry.
I keep every single receipt – even if I’ve just bought a pack of gum. I have a nail spindle where I stick the receipts, and every couple of days, I go through them and enter my spending into this worksheet. It has become a valuable tool in managing my household.
It is so exciting to be in a new year, with a fresh budget, blank spreadsheets, and no over-limit red numbers in my Excel spreadsheet file!
Hallee
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Hallee,
Would you be willing to share your spreadsheet? It sounds like it is the format I’m looking for to use this year. I’d be willing to pay you for the work you put into creating it. Thanks, Lisa
I sent you the file. Let me know if you have any questions or problems!
.
I love this spreadsheet. Would you mind sharing it with me? In 2012, I am going to track every penny. Thank you in advance.
I sent it this morning, Mary.
I too am DESPERATE for a good excel budget sheet. I have one but it isn’t anything to sneeze at, mostly just how much $ i get per pay and what bills need to come out of it…….nothing in detail. Would you mind sharing your spreadsheet???? Pretty please?? :o)
Krista
I sent you the file. Let me know if you have any questions or problems!
Hallee,
Thank you for sharing about your budget worksheet. It looks very helpful – I just wish I knew how to create one for myself! Can you elaborate on how you put the spreadsheet together (formats & formulas and all that)? I can see the visible parts from your pictures, but the background data is the tricky stuff for making it all work well. Thanks again.
Karen
I’m not certain of your skill level in Excel. Would it be just as easy for you if I were to send you the file so that you can see what I’ve done? I’m happy to do so, or to try to write out a tutorial, but I’d likely confuse us all trying to explain it.
I’d love to see your actual spreadsheet! That would be very helpful. Thanks so much!
Karen
You have mail, Karen! Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks SOOO much!
Can I please get the file; we are on a New Year, change our finances for the better path.
Melanie – I emailed you the file!
Hallee, can I get a copy too please :)
Jacque
I sent it, Jacque!
What an excellent spreadsheet. Would you mind sharing?
You should have mail, Terri!
Thanks for sharing this. I have been wanting to set something like this up and now you have given me a good idea on how to do it!
Would you mind sharing with us also?
I emailed it to you, Tom.
Your file looks amazing! I’m chuckling because I had read this post in Reader and clicked over to read the comments to see if anyone else asked for the file :o). Glad to see I’m not the only one! Would you kindly share with me as well?!
Thanks SO much!
You should have mail, Destiny!
I would love to have the spreadsheet too. Can tou send it?
You should have mail, Cherie!
May I have a copy too? This looks great!
You should have mail, Jamie!
Oh my, your spreadsheet looks awesome! I keep one in Excel, but it’s nothing like yours :) Would you mind if I used it too (along with everyone else – ha)?
I don’t mind at all. You should have mail, Kristi!
I would love a copy of your spreadsheet. It looks like just what my husband and I need and is user friendly.
Lisa:
Just in case I never sent it to you, I sent it this morning. So sorry to delay in getting it to you.
Hallee
This is exactly what I’ve been attempting to create on Excel but haven’t been too successful so far. I would love to have a copy emailed to me if and when you get a chance! Thank you for your wonderful blog. I have been enjoying exploring it…
Hi Amy:
Just in case I never sent it to you, I sent it this morning. So sorry to delay in getting it to you.
Hallee
OMG!!! Is your spreadsheet file posted here on your blog for grabs? This would be lovely for our home…. wonderful topic!
Just in case I never sent it to you, I sent it this morning. So sorry to delay in getting it to you.
Hallee
Would you be willing to share your spreadsheet? It sounds like it is the format I’m looking for. I’d be willing to pay you for the work you put into creating it.
Thank you in advance.
-MJ
Yes – I need to see how to recover it. It was on my computer that crashed. I’ll send it to you as soon as I recover it or recreate it.
Hallee
Hi Marsha:
I sent you a copy this morning! SO sorry about the delay.
Hallee
Would you please send me your spreadsheet? It would be a big help to me if I could have this as a start.
Thanks for your article….very helpful.
Yes – I need to see how to recover it. It was on my computer that crashed. I’ll send it to you as soon as I recover it or recreate it.
Hallee,
I’m sorry about your computer crashing. Would there be another subscriber who has a copy and would be willing to send it to me (and you)? It is just what I need and I’m not Excel savvy enough to create my own, unfortunately. I’ve been using an Excel template, but it doesn’t allow for me to enter line items from daily expenses like yours does.
I hope your computer files are completely recoverable.
Thanks,
Sarah
Hallee,
I’m sorry about your computer crashing. Would there be another subscriber who has a copy and would be willing to send it to me (and you)? It is just what I need and I’m not Excel savvy enough to create my own, unfortunately. I’ve been using an Excel template, but it doesn’t allow for me to enter line items from daily expenses like yours does.
I hope your computer files are completely recoverable.
Thanks,
Sarah
I have one! I’m emailing it now. SO SO SO sorry for the delay.
Hallee
Do you mind sending it to me? Sounds like a good project to try for 2012 :)
Hi Stacy:
I sent it to you. Let me know if you have any questions!
Hallee
I would love a copy of the spread sheet as starting on the 15th of this month I am now in charge of the bills etc…My husband admitted it wasn’t working for him…if there is money in the count it got spent…not on bills.. So, i need to dig us out of this little mess and get some money back into savings..This should help as I need to be able to see the long term and the short term..
Thank you very much for offering this for others use..
blessings to you and your family.
alizabeth
Hi Alizabeth:
I sent it to you, with a prayer that it is a useful tool to help you with this stressful job.
Hallee
I’d love a copy of your budgeting spreadsheet. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jeri:
I sent it to you. Let me know if you have any questions!
Hallee
I would love a copy of your spreadsheet. Thanks so much.
I would love a copy too. :)
Blessings!
Tammy
I’d love a copy of your spreadsheet too!
Going to settlement on our first home purchase on Friday! I would love a copy of your spreadsheet if possible? I’m going to have to keep a tight watch over our finances now that we are going from renting to a mortgage. Thanks!
Hi Hallee,
I would love a copy of your spreadsheet… It seems like the perfect setup for my needs…have been through so many and I don’t like any of them!
Best,
Meg
Would you please send me your budget spreadsheet? Thanks so much for making this available.