Making the PDF…
About the budget planner
A budget on paper is simple and it works: you write what you plan to spend, then what you really spent, and you see the difference at once. This planner makes that sheet for you, with your own categories.
Each page has the month at the top, an Income table, an Expenses table with Planned, Actual and Difference columns and a Total row, two boxes for Left over (income minus expenses) and Savings goal, and a Notes box. The amounts stay empty for you to fill in by hand — or type a planned amount after a category and it is printed for you.
Print one month, 3 months, 6 months or the whole year. You can also add an Expense log page for each month, to write down every purchase with the date.
Features
- Your own categories — type your income and expense lines; write "Rent: 1200" and the amount is printed in the Planned column
- Planned, Actual and Difference columns with a Total row, plus Left over and Savings goal boxes
- One month or the whole year — print 1, 3, 6 or 12 pages, from any First month and Year
- Expense log — an extra page for each month to write down every purchase, if you want it
- 4 styles and 14 colour themes — Classic, Minimal, Soft or Notebook, and a Black and white (saves ink) option
- Live PDF preview — the pages update as you type; then Download PDF or Print, on A4 or US Letter
- Saved in your browser — your lists and settings come back next time, and nothing is uploaded
How to use it
- Type a Title — or keep "Monthly Budget"
- Write your Income — one per line (add an amount if you know it), up to 6 lines
- Write your Expense categories — one per line, e.g. Rent: 1200, up to 26 lines
- Choose the Pages, the First month and the Year
- Pick the Colours, the Heading style and the Paper
- Tick Add a notes box and Add an expense log page for each month if you want them
- Press Download PDF or Print
When you open the page, you get a one-page sheet for the current month with 3 income lines (Salary, Side income, Other) and 13 expense categories, from Rent or mortgage to Other.
How many pages do you get?
| Pages | Without expense log | With expense log |
|---|---|---|
| One month | 1 | 2 |
| 3 months | 3 | 6 |
| 6 months | 6 | 12 |
| The whole year (12 pages) | 12 | 24 |
Example: one month, filled in
Say your income is 3,200 a month and you planned five categories. At the end of the month you write what you really spent. Here the Difference is planned − actual: a minus number means you spent more than planned.
| Category | Planned | Actual | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent or mortgage | 1,200 | 1,200 | 0 |
| Groceries | 450 | 512 | −62 |
| Transport | 150 | 128 | +22 |
| Phone and internet | 80 | 80 | 0 |
| Eating out | 120 | 165 | −45 |
| Total | 2,000 | 2,085 | −85 |
Left over: 3,200 − 2,000 = 1,200 planned, but 3,200 − 2,085 = 1,115 in real life. Next month you can plan more for groceries, or less for eating out.
Typing planned amounts
Put the amount at the end of the line, after a colon, an equals sign, a | or a space. It is printed in the Planned column:
- Rent: 1200
- Groceries = 450
- Transport | 150
- Phone and internet 80
Leave the amount out, and the column stays empty to fill in by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print a budget for the whole year?
Yes. Choose The whole year (12 pages) in Pages. You get one page per month, starting from the First month you pick — it does not have to be January.
What is the expense log for?
It is a lined page with Date, What, Category and Amount columns. Write each purchase there during the month, then add them up per category at the end and copy the totals into the Actual column.
How many categories can I have?
Up to 26 expense categories and 6 income lines. With many lines, the rows get a little lower so everything fits on one page.
Which currency does it use?
None. You write the numbers, so any currency works.
How much should I spend in each category?
That depends on your life and income — this sheet does not tell you. If you want a starting point, the 50/30/20 Budget Calculator splits your income into needs, wants and savings. This page is a planning tool, not financial advice.
Is it free?
Yes. The PDF is made in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded.
Good to know
- Works on phones, tablets and computers
- Your lists and settings are saved only in this browser
- Nothing you type is sent anywhere
- The Black and white (saves ink) colour option is good for printing many months
Related tools
- 50/30/20 Budget Calculator — how to split your income
- Savings Goal Calculator — how much to save each month for a goal
- Emergency Fund Calculator — how big your safety cushion should be
- Trip Expense Splitter — share costs fairly in a group
- Printable Habit Tracker — track a daily habit, like no spending
