Are you tired of stressing over money all the time? You’re not alone. Getting your family’s finances in order don’t have to be complicated.
If you’re ready to finally take control of your budget, download your very own blank budget worksheet printable below and let’s walk through what to include.
Table of Contents
What Should Be In Your Budget?
When your setting up a budget, there’s a few main things you need to include:
- Income
- Expenses
- Savings
- Debt payments (this could count as a expense, but it’s smart to track it seperately)
What Counts As Income?
Basically, anything that brings money into your household.
- Your paycheck
- Side hustles
- Child support or alimony
- Dividends
- Any other cash flow
If it’s coming in—it counts!
What To Include In Expenses?
There’s several different types of expenses, and knowing the difference makes budgeting way easier:
1. Fixed Expenses
These don’t change month-to-month. Like:
- Rent or mortgage
- Car payment
- Internet bill
2. Variable Expenses
These come every month, but the amounts change. Think:
- Utilities
- Insurance
- Water bill
3. Discretionary Expenses
These are what you choose to spend money on. Like:
- Eating out
- Groceries
- Gas
- Entertainment
4. Irregular Expenses
These don’t happen every month, but they’re still important! You gotta plan ahead for:
- Property taxes
- Back-to-school stuff
- Car repairs
- Holiday gifts
Don’t let these sneak up on you.
What Should You Be Saving For?
Planning ahead is how you stop emergencies from turning into disasters.
Here’s a few things to start saving for now:
- Retirement – Unless you wanna work forever, start putting a little away now.
- Short-Term Goals – Vacations, a new car, etc. Stuff you wanna do in the next 1–5 years.
- Long-Term Goals – Buying a home or saving for college. Big goals that take more time.
- Sinking Funds – For those irregular expenses we talked about earlier.
- Emergency Fund – Because life happens. A job loss, medical emergency—anything. Most people aim for 3–6 months of living expenses.
What About Debt?
Debt’s not just what you owe—it’s what you owe plus interest.
Whether you’re aggressively paying it off or just figuring it all out, it’s smart to have a seperate section in your budget just for debt payments.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE WORKSHEET
How to Use Your Blank Budget Worksheet (PDF)
Alright, let’s break it down. You’ve got your printable—now what?
Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Check Your Bank Statements
Look at the past 3–4 months of your spending. Your bank account doesn’t lie! This will show you where your money’s actually going.
Step 2: Organize Expenses
Sort each expense into the right category: fixed, variable, discretionary or irregular. This will make the rest way easier.
Step 3: Add Up Your Income
Figure out exactly how much money’s coming in each month.
Step 4: Subtract Expenses From Income
Now subtract all your expenses—fixed, variable, discretionary, and debt payments—from your total income.
Step 5: Check How Much You Can Save
Whatever money is leftover is what you can put toward savings. Got goals? Now’s the time to line them up with what you can actually save.
Step 6: Adjust Your Spending Plan
If your savings are falling short, that’s okay. Look at where you can cut back and make changes.
Don’t gotta do it all at once. Just start somewhere.
Bringin’ It All Together
You don’t need fancy apps or expensive software to budget. A pen, paper, and this printable worksheet can totally get the job done.
👉 Grab your free blank budget worksheet and take that first step!
Budgeting don’t have to be scary. It’s just a plan for how you wanna use your money.
Got a great budgeting tip that works for your family? I’d love to hear it! Drop a comment below