Free Simple Budget Spreadsheet for Beginners – Excel & Google Sheets
A free, simple monthly budget to start with: income, bills and spending, planned vs. actual, and what's left. Works in Excel, Google Sheets and LibreOffice. No app, no bank syncing, no sign-up beyond Gumroad's download.
Get it on Gumroad – Free (pay what you want)
Works in Google Sheets and Excel · Instant download · Nothing shipped
What you get
Real screenshots of the actual tabs, taken from the same .xlsx file you download. All numbers are example data.
Who this is for
- You're making your first budget and want to keep it simple.
- You want something free with no sign-up and no app.
- You use Excel, Google Sheets or LibreOffice.
Who it's not for
- Not for you if you want to plan paycheck by paycheck. The Paycheck Budget does that.
- Not for you if you want bank sync.
- Not for you if you want debt payoff or savings goal tracking in the same file.
Want the full set?
Want more than the free sheet? The Complete Household Money Bundle has all 13 home money spreadsheets for $29 (about $69 if bought one by one). This free sheet isn't one of them; it stays free.
Get the bundle on Payhip – $29 See what's in the bundle
Instant download. Works in Google Sheets and Excel.
Instant digital download, sold through Gumroad. Good for: free budget, budget spreadsheet, beginner budget, google sheets, excel template.
2 separate spreadsheets (.xlsx files) in one zip: Starter Budget Sheet v2, Starter Budget Sheet. Each works in Excel and Google Sheets (import the .xlsx) and opens on a Start Here tab with a short how-to.
How it works
- Download the zip after checkout and unzip it.
- Open each .xlsx in Excel, or upload it to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets.
- Delete the example rows and type in your own numbers.
Previews and the files use example data only.
What's inside
- Budget tab: planned vs. actual for income and spending
- Summary tab: what's left plus a chart by category
- Example numbers included, easy to overwrite
Previews
Works in Google Sheets and Excel · Instant download · Nothing shipped
Try the free 50/30/20 budget calculator →
Frequently asked questions
Which apps does it open in?
Excel 2016 or newer (including Microsoft 365 and Excel for the web) and Google Sheets: upload the .xlsx to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets.
What happens after checkout?
Gumroad emails you a receipt right after checkout; click View content in it to open your download page. You download a .zip with the .xlsx file(s) and a short how-to. It's an instant digital download; nothing physical ships.
Can I edit it?
Yes. Nothing is locked: rename categories, add rows, change colors and type over the example data.
Does it connect to my bank or send reminders?
No. It's a spreadsheet, not an app: you type in your own numbers and nothing is synced or sent.
Are the numbers in the previews real?
No. Previews and the file use example data only. Delete the example rows and add your own.
Can I get a refund?
It's a digital download, so if something doesn't open or work, reply to your Gumroad receipt and I'll help fix it. Refund requests are handled under Gumroad's refund policy. If you bought it on Payhip, message the shop there.
Is this financial advice?
No. It's an organizing and planning tool with example numbers, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice.
Get it on Gumroad – Free (pay what you want)
Works in Google Sheets and Excel · Instant download · Nothing shipped
Free guides that use this sheet
- Budget Categories List for Beginners (With Examples)
- How to Stick to a Budget When You Keep Overspending
- How to Make Your First Budget (30-Minute Walkthrough)
- How to Fix a Budget That Doesn't Balance
- How to Track Spending Without an App (Weekly Method)
- How to Make a College Student Budget (With Example Numbers)
- The 50/30/20 Budget, Explained With Example Numbers
- How to Budget Your First Paycheck (First Job Guide)
Pairs well with
Paycheck Budget Planner ($7)
Plans each paycheck instead of the whole month.