If you’re looking for a simple way to track your spending, bills, and monthly budget, this free household budget spreadsheet can help.
Below you’ll find two free budgeting spreadsheets that I created in Google Sheets to help you monitor your finances more closely. They’re designed to give you a clear picture of where your money is going each month.
I’ll be honest — the first time I filled one of these in properly it was a bit of a shock. Seeing every bill written down in one place has a way of doing that. Still, it was worth it in the end.
The two spreadsheets include:
• A simple monthly budget spreadsheet
• A 12-month annual budgeting planner
Both are completely free to download and use.
Free Monthly Budget Spreadsheet
The first download is a simple monthly budgeting spreadsheet.
Just add your income and your spending and you’ll instantly get a clear overview of how much spare money (or lack of it) you have each month.
It’s designed to be straightforward and quick to use — you don’t need any advanced spreadsheet knowledge.
Download the monthly spreadsheet here.
Annual Budget Spreadsheet
The second spreadsheet is designed for anyone who wants to plan their finances further ahead.
It allows you to create a budget for up to a full year, which is useful if you want to plan for bigger expenses such as Christmas, holidays, car insurance, or annual bills.
Most of the spreadsheet automatically fills itself in once you enter your numbers, so it only takes a few minutes to set up.
Download the annual spreadsheet here.
How to Use the Budget Spreadsheets
Fortunately, these budgeting spreadsheets don’t require you to be particularly tech-savvy to get started.
Monthly Budgeting Spreadsheet
In Google Sheets, select File in the top left corner and then Make a copy. You can then save a copy of the spreadsheet and make as many edits as you like.
You can then start adding your income and your spending.
The first column shows expected amounts, while the second column shows actual spending. This makes it easy to see where you’ve overspent during the month.
You can fill in as many or as few fields as you like.
Some bills are paid yearly rather than monthly, which can make budgeting trickier. On the left side of the sheet you’ll find a calculator that converts annual payments into a monthly amount.
Just enter the yearly total and it will show you the equivalent monthly cost.
Once your budget is complete, you’ll see a budget overview under the calculator which summarises your finances for that month.
Annual Budgeting Spreadsheet
In Google Sheets, select File in the top left corner and choose Make a copy so you can save your own editable version.
The annual budgeting sheet works in a similar way to the monthly sheet.
At the bottom of the spreadsheet you will see Monthly Budget Overview. This is the main sheet where you enter most of your information.
Everything you enter here will automatically transfer to the individual monthly sheets.
For example, if you enter your income in the Monthly Budget Overview, it will appear in every month automatically.
If your income changes during a particular month, you can edit that month individually. A warning box may appear, but you can safely dismiss it.
One thing to be aware of: if you edit a value directly in one of the monthly sheets, it will stop automatically syncing with the overview sheet. This simply allows each month to be customised if needed.
Back in the Monthly Budget Overview, the bottom left corner shows your annual summary, which totals all income and spending across the year.
Use the Spreadsheet as a Monthly Bills Tracker
One thing a lot of people use this spreadsheet for is tracking household bills.
Because it shows expected spending alongside actual spending, it works really well as a monthly bills spreadsheet. You can list things like:
• Rent or mortgage
• Council tax
• Energy bills
• Broadband
• Insurance
• Subscriptions
• Credit card payments
Once everything is listed in one place, it becomes much easier to see how much your regular bills actually cost each month.
It can also highlight bills that have quietly increased over time — something that happens more often than most people realise.
Even if you already use banking apps to track spending, having a simple household budget spreadsheet can make planning ahead much easier.
Any Suggestions?
I hope you find these budgeting spreadsheets useful.
If you spot an error or you think something could be improved, feel free to let me know in the comments and I’ll see what I can do.
FAQ
Are these budget spreadsheets really free?
Yes. Both the monthly and annual spreadsheets are completely free to download and use.
Do I need Excel to use them?
No. They are designed to work in Google Sheets, which is free to use with a Google account.
Can I edit the spreadsheet?
Yes. Once you make a copy in Google Sheets you can change anything you like, including categories and spending fields.
Is a spreadsheet better than a budgeting app?
It depends on what you prefer. Spreadsheets are simple, flexible, and free, while budgeting apps often automate tracking but may require subscriptions.