Most budgets show what you planned. This one also shows what really happened. Set your income and budget once, log spending as you go, list your bills, and see budget vs actual for any month and the whole year.
Curious what it looks like inside? Here's how budget vs actual works, step by step. Most owners use it alongside our true cost of owning calculator.
What the Home Budget and Bill Planner does
- Income sources paid weekly, every two weeks, twice a month, monthly or yearly, turned into a monthly amount
- 30 budget category rows, 21 filled in to start, each marked Need, Want or Savings
- 400 rows for spending, with a Check column that flags missing dates, unknown categories and amounts typed as text
- 60 bill rows with due dates, autopay and status: Paid, Due today, Due in N days, Upcoming or Overdue
- Monthly budget vs actual for any month, with Under, On or Over budget for each category
- Annual view of all 12 months, with yearly totals and averages
- Dashboard with income, spent, saved, money left, savings rate, top 5 categories and bills due in the next 14 days
- Needs, wants and savings next to the 50/30/20 rule of thumb, for reference only
What's inside
8 tabs: Start Here, Dashboard, Setup, Transactions, Bills, Monthly, Annual, Lists.
Who it's for
Households who want to see where the money really goes and never miss a bill, without paying for a budgeting app every month.
What you get
Two spreadsheet files (.xlsx): one filled with examples so you can see exactly how it works, and a blank copy ready for your household. For Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. No macros, no subscription.
The formulas are locked, so a stray keystroke can't break them. You only type in the yellow cells.
What you need to use it
- Microsoft Excel 2010 or newer, on Windows or Mac, including Microsoft 365
- Or Google Sheets in any web browser, free with a Google account
- A laptop or desktop works best for setup. Phones and tablets are fine for checking numbers and quick entries.
- No macros, add-ins or internet connection needed once it's downloaded. Apple Numbers isn't supported.
Every result is an estimate, not financial advice. Rates, prices and lender rules vary, so check big decisions with your lender or a financial professional.
Questions
How do I handle refunds?
Type them as a negative amount in the same category. They lower that category's spending.
What about bills due on the 31st?
Bills due on the 29th, 30th or 31st are due on the last day of shorter months, like February 28.
Is there a blank version?
Yes. Every download has two files: one filled with examples so you can see how everything works, and a blank copy ready for your own household. Your rates and settings come filled in as a starting point, so change them to match yours.
Can I change the formulas?
The gray formula cells are locked so they can't be erased by accident. If you really want to change one, open Review in Excel and choose Unprotect Sheet. There's no password.
Does it work in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets. The math works the same. Locks don't carry over, so just type in the yellow cells.
How do Free Lifetime Updates work?
Whenever we release a new version, you can download it free from your account, forever. We'll email you when there's something new.
