Using a personal budget template is helpful to get your budget started, though you can always personalize your budget to match your specific needs. Of course, you may decide to change the amount you budget for each item, but this will at least provide a baseline to go off of. Review your bank statements for the last three to four months to get an idea of your spending. To make accurate estimates of how much you should allocate to each expense within your personal budget, you will need a sense of how much you are currently spending in each area. Your long-term goals could take many years to accomplish, with examples of long-term goals including saving for your child’s education or your own retirement. Short-term goals should only take a year to accomplish and would include items like paying off a credit card. Determine why each goal is a priority, how you plan to achieve them, and the timeframe in which you would like to accomplish them. Take some time to make a list of your short and long-term goals. To get started, you want to consider the following steps to help you establish your personal budget: Taking control of your finances with a personal budget template will help you make headway on these goals.

Getting started with the Smartsheet APIĬreating a personal budget is not only important for your financial well-being and peace-of-mind, but also for your short and long-term goals.

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Community Explore user-generated content and stay updated on our latest product features.Help and Learning A comprehensive knowledge base, including articles, tutorials, videos, and other resources that cover a range of topics related to using Smartsheet.Content Center Articles and guides about project management, collaboration, automation, and other topics to help you make the most of the Smartsheet platform.Savings: emergency fund, RRSPs, RESPs, TFSAs, seasonal expenses (e.g. Personal: tobacco, alcohol, books, music, clothing and shoes, donations, subscriptionsĮating Out: meals, snacks, take-out, beverages (coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks)Įntertainment: recreation, sports equipment and fees, movies, concerts, hobbies, gamingĬhild: daycare, lessons and activities, allowance, school supplies and fees, babysitting, programs, tutorsĭebt Payments: credit cards, loans, leases, support payments, government debts, personal debt Health Care: medical premiums, life insurance, medication, eye care, dental, supplements, wellness costs Transportation: fuel, auto insurance, transit, parking, taxi, rentals, car sharing, tolls Living: personal care, bank fees, salon and spa services, dry cleaning, pet costs, memberships (fitness, clubs, associations) Groceries: food, baby needs, household supplies, toiletries Household: furnace, water tank, roof and gutters, decor, upgrades, storage locker, gardening, cleaning services, outdoor equipment and maintenance Utilities: phone/cell, cable/internet, gas, hydro, security Housing: mortgage, rent, strata fees, house insurance, property taxes View a sample of a completed tracker (from the previous version of our Monthly Expenses Tracker).Įxpense Categories – Know Where Your Money is Going This becomes the cash balance for the next week. If there’s a surplus, you should have money in your wallet or bank account. Total all columns and subtract actual expenses from actual income.On these pages, keep track of seasonal expenses rather than recording on your weekly pages. You also need to record weekly savings amounts on pages 14 – 15 of the Expense Tracker.You may want to track coffees, dining out, or fuel separately. You can then use the blank columns to create your own categories. List the dates down the left side and record actual money spent each day.You should also list any income you may expect to receive during each week. Record cash balances on hand or in your bank account.For example, a 7 day tracking period would be March 30th to April 5th. For each week, record dates you are tracking.The expense categories listed further below and on page 1 of the Expense Tracker will help you decide which expenses to record where.Open a copy of our Monthly Expense Tracker.

Personal budget charts