Budget Planner Printable

What’s on this budget planner

This planner organizes your money into income, fixed expenses, variable expenses, savings, and balance. Fill it in at the start of each month. Track as you go. This is an organizational tool to help you see where your money goes — it is not financial advice.

How to use this planner — 3 real scenarios

Scenario 1: Young professional creating a first budget

You list rent, car insurance, student loan, then estimate groceries, dining, misc. You see the gap between income and expenses. You allocate savings, fun money, and adjust as you learn. The planner gives you a picture you didn’t have before.

Scenario 2: Family tracking two incomes

You and your partner combine incomes, list fixed expenses, allocate variable spending. You review together once a month. The planner keeps you aligned on where money goes instead of wondering where it went.

Scenario 3: Freelancer with irregular income

You use a 3-month average or lowest recent month. You budget fixed first, then variable. Extra income goes to savings or debt. The planner helps you plan for lean months.

Example fill-out

Income: $4,500. Fixed: $1,880. Variable: $870. Savings: $500. Balance: $1,250 — reallocate or adjust.

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

1. Forgetting irregular expenses. Divide annual costs by 12. Add a monthly line.
2. Using gross instead of take-home pay. Budget with what lands in your account.
3. Being too optimistic about variable spending. Start realistic, adjust down over time.
4. Skipping the balance check. Every dollar assigned. If negative, cut somewhere.
5. Planning once and never revisiting. Review after 2-3 months. Track actual vs. planned.

Customization tips

Add subcategories under variable expenses. Zero-based approach: income minus allocations = $0. Pay yourself first: savings before variable spending. Review cadence: same day each month.