How to Make a Sinking Funds Spreadsheet (Sheets or Excel)

By Cedar & Ledger

A sinking fund is money you set aside a little at a time for an expense you know is coming: car repairs, holidays, insurance, a vacation. A spreadsheet keeps every fund in one place and tells you exactly how much to save each month, or each paycheck, to hit each goal on time.

This is general information, not financial advice.

Step 1: List your funds

Make a tab called Funds with these columns:

Not sure which funds you need? Start with our 2027 sinking funds list.

Step 2: Months left and save per month

In E2 (months left, at least 1):

=MAX(1, DATEDIF(TODAY(), C2, "M"))

In F2 (save per month):

=MAX(0, (B2-D2)/E2)

Fill both down. If you're paid every two weeks, add a column for save per paycheck: =F2*12/26.

Step 3: A progress bar

In G2:

=MIN(1, D2/B2)

Format as a percent. In Google Sheets you can show a bar instead with =SPARKLINE(D2,{"charttype","bar";"max",B2}). In Excel, select the column and use Conditional Formatting > Data Bars.

Step 4: A deposit and withdrawal log

Make a Log tab:

Add a dropdown on the Fund column with your fund names. Then replace the typed "Saved so far" in Funds with a formula:

=SUMIF(Log!B:B, A2, Log!C:C)

Now every deposit and withdrawal updates the balance and the monthly amount on its own.

Step 5: The total to move each month

Under the Funds table, add =SUM(F2:F20). That's the one transfer to schedule each month (or split per paycheck). Many people keep every fund in one high-yield savings account and let the spreadsheet track who owns what.

Example

Tips

• Start with 3–5 funds. You can add more once the habit sticks.
• Review once a month: log what you moved and what you spent.
• If the total is too high, push out a date or lower a goal instead of skipping deposits.
• A sinking fund is not an emergency fund. See sinking funds vs. an emergency fund.

Want it ready-made?

Our Sinking Funds & Savings Goals Tracker ($5) has the funds, log, per-month and per-paycheck amounts and progress bars already built. Works in Google Sheets and Excel.

Made with AI assistance and reviewed before release.

Related template: Sinking Funds & Savings Goals Tracker. Also see: Complete Household Money Bundle · Paycheck Budget Planner

See all Cedar & Ledger templates

Try the free sinking fund calculator (how much to save per paycheck) →