Tools / Templates
Free budget template for Google Sheets
A Google Sheets budget template that runs in your browser, needs no add-ons, and does not ask for your bank login. Copy the sheet, type your income and expenses, and the built-in formulas show your monthly surplus or deficit. No macros, no tracking scripts, no email gate.
The template — copy it
Select the table, copy it, and paste it into Google Sheets or Excel. Column widths and formulas are described below the table. No sign-up, no download, nothing leaves your browser until you paste it into your own sheet.
| Category | Planned | Actual | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-home income | |||
| Rent / mortgage | |||
| Utilities | |||
| Groceries | |||
| Transport | |||
| Insurance | |||
| Subscriptions | |||
| Dining out | |||
| Savings / debt extra | |||
| Everything else | |||
| TOTAL | =SUM above | Income − Total |
Copy this table into Google Sheets (Edit → Paste). Put =SUM(B2:B11) in the Total row and =B12-B11 style formulas in the Difference column.
How to use this template
- Open the template link and choose File → Make a copy. The sheet is yours; we never see your numbers.
- Enter your monthly take-home income in the green cell.
- List your fixed expenses (rent, utilities, subscriptions) and variable expenses (groceries, transport, dining).
- The summary row calculates your monthly surplus automatically. Red means you are spending more than you earn.
- Adjust categories to match your life — add rows for childcare, debt payments, or irregular income.
What is inside
- Income tracker with space for multiple sources (salary, freelance, benefits).
- Fixed vs variable expense split so you see what you can actually cut.
- Automatic monthly surplus/deficit calculation with color coding.
- Annual projection row that shows what your current pace means over 12 months.
- A simple chart that updates as you type — no pivot tables, no setup.
Why a spreadsheet instead of an app
Budgeting apps ask for your bank credentials and often lock useful features behind subscriptions. A Google Sheets template stays in your Google account, works offline once loaded, and does not transmit your transaction history to a third party. You trade automatic import for full privacy and zero cost.
More tools from the desk
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- Budgeting app prices — what the apps themselves cost, checked against provider pages.
- Choosing a budgeting app — workflow, account access and household visibility before you pay.
Verify current provider terms before choosing a subscription.