Monthly budget worksheet?

Question

Who of you uses a budget worksheet or spreadsheet to manage to monthly expenses? Does it really work to have one? If yes, which one do you use? Weekly or monthly? Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes, I do. I have set up a monthly budget and record my expenses. I then check my budgeted v/s actual expenses from time to time... mostly on saturdays or sundays. It definitely helps and works. I use this free online tool http://www.expenseregister.com . Excel might do the trick too, but to really get excel to work you have to be able to write those formulas and macros, so it is not for me.

Answer 2

I have an Excel sheet that I made myself - I'd be completely lost without it. I've tried using Pear Budget, which doesn't work for my particular needs, but I think it's an awesome worksheet. It's free, easy, and runs inside of Excel so there's nothing to install. I've tried to set my boyfriend up with it... but he hates paperwork so he refuses to sit down and use it (even though it would only be 15 minutes a week).

Answer 3

I have an account ledger book in which I write down everything I spend. Each page has a different payee and every time I make a payment, I mark it down. That way, I can look at a glance and see exactly what I have spent each month, and then plan on what I want to spend the future months. It really gave me a reality check to see precisely where my money was going, and it made me feel good each time I got something paid off.

Good luck and I hope things go well for you!

Answer 4

I use a monthly plan. Most of the bills (water, electric, cable, mortgage, phone, cell phone, etc.) have a monthly cycle.

Answer 5

I do! I would go broke if I didn't. I made one of my own, very simple using Excel. If you'd like I can send you the template and you can modify it to your needs.

P.S. I'm an accountant (makes sense right?)