This Free Budget Calculator Spreadsheet Teaches You How to Budget and Get Out of Debt
By Christi Posner
As both a Credit Counsellor and a personal budgeter, hear me when I say that this free budget calculator spreadsheet will teach you not only how to budget, but also how to get out of debt. If you’re ready to take control of your money, live within your means, build savings and become debt-free, buckle your seatbelt because here we go!
This is the same personal budget I use when working with my clients and in my personal life. Let’s first talk about how to use it, and then some of the ways it will help you build a budget that works.
Create a Personal Budget That Works For You
To build a personal budget just like the pros, start by entering in your income. Next, begin typing in your monthly expenses. Remember that this is a first draft, and the idea is just to get it completed.
If you’re not sure how much to put in for a certain category such as groceries or entertainment, make an educated guess to start. Then, once the budget is completed, consider tracking your expenses going forward, or looking back on your debit and credit transactions to find an average and correct your number.
Unique Features of this Excel Budget Template Not Offered Anywhere Else
As you enter in your expenses, you will notice that the excel spreadsheet becomes interactive. Missed inputting a bill? It’ll catch that. Not sure what kind of expenses a category should include? It’ll explain.
Here are some of the features that this excel spreadsheet offers to help you build a realistic household budget:
- Gives you tips on where to cut back to save big money
- If you make “common budgeting mistakes” like not planning for irregular expenses such as Christmas, it will offer tips and solutions to fix them
- It compares your figures to what other people spend so you know if you’re spending more or less than the average family of your size
On top of that, it’s easy to use, does all of the math for you, and keeps a running tally to see if you are living within your means, or way beyond them.
Related: Check out the Global News review of our Excel Budget Calculator Spreadsheet along with other financial planning tools
A Savings Calculator Is the Secret Weapon Against Debt
A savings calculator is built right into the overall budget so that it’s easy to see how much money you need to set aside for annual, emergency and unexpected expenses. Expenses that you don’t expect, or which don’t occur on a monthly basis, can cause you to reach for a credit card. Then it can feel like your budget is off track as you try to get out of debt.
Using the budget calculator spreadsheet will help you identify the different types of expenses that you need to plan for, and how much to save for each. It will also help you learn how to trim your spending so that you have the money to set aside in savings for short term goals and long term plans.
How This Free Budget Calculator Spreadsheet Can Change Your Life and Teach You How to Budget
This free budget calculator spreadsheet changes lives every day by teaching people how to budget, save, and become debt-free once and for all. The goal is to get your expenses (including debt repayment and savings) to be less than, or equal to your income that you bring in every month. If you fill out your budget spreadsheet and your expenses outweigh your income, then you’re only going to go further into debt. Play around with your numbers and see what it will take to live within your means and change the rest of your life!
If You Can't Get the Budget Calculator to Balance, Contact a Non-Profit Credit Counselling Organization
The budget calculator is doing the simple adding and subtracting of your income and expenses, but sometimes you need the help of a non-profit credit counselling organization to get it to balance. By making a free appointment with a Credit Counsellor, you can have a professional look over your budget with you and help you learn how to make it a realistic, livable plan.
Here’s a list of non-profit Credit Counsellors who would be happy to help you take this free budget calculator spreadsheet off of your computer screen, and put into action!
Additional budgeting resources:
Webinars and Workshops on Various Money Management Topics
Online Budgeting Video Course – How to Build a Budget That Works on Any Income
Personal Budgeting Workbook and Expense Tracker – 7 Steps to a Budget That Works
Creating a Spending Plan – More Budgeting Resources & Information