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Monthly Budget Template (Fillable PDF)
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About this book
A budget only works if you can set it up in a few minutes and see the whole month at a glance. This monthly budget template keeps things simple.
Start with a quick-start page, then record your monthly income. Next, list your fixed and variable expenses on a separate page, set your savings and debt goals, and read the monthly summary box to see how the month adds up. A daily spending tracker lets you log purchases as they happen, so you can check them against your plan.
A filled-in example shows income, savings and debt goals and the final summary completed with sample numbers. You can reuse the pages every month, adjusting the amounts as your income and priorities change.
Look inside
Quick-Start Instructions
- Step 1: Write your total monthly income at the top
- Step 2: List your fixed expenses (rent, insurance, subscriptions)
- Step 3: Estimate variable expenses (groceries, gas, dining)
- Step 4: Subtract total expenses from income
- Step 5: Assign remaining dollars to savings goals or debt payoff
- Step 6: Track actual spending throughout the month and adjust
Monthly Income Summary
- Primary salary/wages (after tax)
- Secondary income / partner income
- Side hustle / freelance
- Investment income / dividends
- Government benefits / child support
- Other income
- Total Monthly Income
Fixed & Variable Expenses
Fixed Expenses
- Rent / Mortgage
- Car payment
- Insurance (auto)
- Insurance (health)
- Insurance (life/renters)
- Phone bill
- Internet
- Streaming subscriptions
- Loan payments
- Childcare / tuition
- Other fixed:
- Other fixed:
- Subtotal Fixed
Variable Expenses
- Groceries
- Dining out / takeout
- Gas / transportation
- Clothing
- Personal care / grooming
- Entertainment
- Household supplies
- Gifts
- Pet expenses
- Medical / pharmacy
- Other variable:
- Other variable:
- Subtotal Variable
Savings & Debt Goals
- Emergency fund
- Vacation fund
- House down payment
- Debt payoff (name: )
- Retirement (extra)
- Other:
- Total Savings/Debt
Monthly Summary Box
- Total Income
- − Total Fixed Expenses
- − Total Variable Expenses
- − Total Savings/Debt Payments
- = Remaining Balance
Spending Tracker (Daily Log)
- 1
- 2 -...
- 31
- Monthly Total
Filled-In Example
Month: March 2026
Income
- Primary salary (after tax) — $3,800
- Side hustle / freelance — $450
- Total Monthly Income — $4,250
Fixed Expenses
- Rent — $1,200 — $1,200 — $0
- Car payment — $280 — $280 — $0
- Auto insurance — $95 — $95 — $0
- Phone — $55 — $55 — $0
- Internet — $60 — $60 — $0
- Streaming — $35 — $35 — $0
- Subtotal Fixed — $1,725 — $1,725 — $0
Variable Expenses
- Groceries — $400 — $427 — −$27
- Dining out — $150 — $183 — −$33
- Gas — $120 — $108 — +$12
- Entertainment — $80 — $65 — +$15
- Subtotal Variable — $750 — $783 — −$33
Savings & Debt
- Emergency fund — $300
- Vacation fund — $100
- Student loan extra — $200
- Total — $600
Summary
- Total Income — $4,250
- − Fixed — $1,725
- − Variable — $783
- − Savings/Debt — $600
- Remaining — $1,142
Quotes to share
A budget only works if you can set it up in a few minutes and see the whole month at a glance.
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