FREE Printable Expense Tracker – Monthly Budget Trackers
A free printable expense tracker will help you plan and monitor your monthly budget and savings goals. Track your monthly expenses so you know exactly how much you are spending.
Use the free printable monthly expense tracker and budget templates to help you meet your financial goals. Keeping track of your finances every month is a great way to handle your spending habits well.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for printing instructions to access the printable templates. The free printable expense tracker template is for personal use only.
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What is a Monthly Expense Tracker
A monthly expense tracker is a tool used to help people better manage their finances.
It lets the user view their spending and saving habits at a glance, allowing them to make informed decisions about how they use their money.
This tracker helps one track expenses in categories like food, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, transportation costs, and other miscellaneous items.
The most important benefit of using a monthly expense tracker is seeing where one’s money goes each month and identifying areas that need improvement.
This data collected in an organized manner allows users to set limits on specific spending categories and adjust their budget accordingly.
The ability to classify expenses by category also makes it easier for users to prepare tax returns at the end of the year because they have all the necessary information.
Monthly Expenses
If you want to get your finances in order, a great place to start is by creating a list of monthly expenses.
Doing this will give you an understanding of your overall financial picture and help you create a budget. It can also help you identify areas where you can reduce spending or save money.
Creating a list of monthly expenses is relatively simple.
If you need help determining where to begin, look at your bank account and credit card statements to see where your money is going.
Begin by listing all the regular bills that are due each month, such as rent/mortgage payments, car payments, insurance premiums, and utility bills. Then add on fixed costs such as gym memberships or streaming services.
Finally, tally up the variable expenses like groceries, dining out, and entertainment costs that change monthly.
Once these items have been listed, total them up and compare them to your income to determine if there is room for savings or investments.
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More Examples of Possible Expenses
It can be challenging to learn our financial habits. I’ve included a budget sheet for you to download that will be helpful when creating a budget.
In addition to monthly bills (i.e., utilities, car, home payments, etc.), you might add some of the following items to your expense log.
- Grocery store items
- Car repairs
- Keeping track of seasonal expenses
- Birthday and/or anniversary gifts for friends and family
- Baby needs
- Car insurance / house insurance / life insurance
- Household products
- Child support payments
- Property taxes
- Medical premiums
- Sports equipment
- Personal care
- Specific debt repayment
- Internet bill / cable
- Food / alcohol expenses
- Concerts
- Vacations
- Pets
- Movies
- Toiletries
- Hobbies
- Business expenses (track small business items separately from personal for tax purposes)
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How Does it Work
Writing things down is one of the most important things to remember when tracking personal expenses.
The best way to do this is to write down costs as they occur. Or take time at the end of the day to pencil in your actual expenses. Remember to record dates.
Knowing your spending patterns will give you a more accurate idea of your financial situation.
Managing monthly expenses can be difficult, especially when money is tight.
If you want to maintain control of your finances and make sure you have enough money for the things you need each month, having a system in place to keep track of your expenditures is essential.
There are multiple ways to monitor and manage your spending to fit your budget. Most people have different categories of items, such as rent, food, transportation, utilities, and entertainment costs.
Make sure to also add in any irregular payments like gym memberships or holiday season spending that may come up during the year too.
Once you’ve created this list, try setting some goals around how much you would like to spend on each item every month.
Using the monthly spending tracker for a few months is a good idea to help you establish a more accurate budget.
Budgeting Tips
Budgeting is an essential part of managing your finances.
It’s a way to take control of your spending and save for the future. Here are some helpful tips to ensure you’re on track with budgeting.
First, create a budget that works for you.
This can include tracking your expenses, setting financial goals, and adjusting your budget according to changes in income or expenses.
Make sure to allot a certain amount of money toward savings each month to have an emergency fund should something unexpected arise.
Second, consider ways to cut expenses and unnecessary spending habits.
Try using cash instead of credit cards when making purchases and only buy what you need rather than everything you want.
Additionally, consider shopping around for lower prices on utilities such as electricity or phone bills, as this could help reduce costs significantly over time.
After expense tracking for several months, you will have a clearer picture of your spending categories. Some opt to use a cash envelope system and allow a specific dollar amount to go into your own categories/ cash envelopes.
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How to Print the Free Expense Tracker Printable
Click the “Snag it here” button to print your free download. The expense and savings tracker will automatically download to your computer.
Print and enjoy.
Put it on a clipboard where you can easily access and fill in the date of purchase, the category of expenses, and the amount spent.
Before you know it, you will determine your ideal budget.
Conclusion
An expense tracker is an essential tool for any adult. It can be overwhelming initially, but the financial freedom gained from being more aware of expenses is worth the effort.
Expense trackers are a great starting point for establishing a budget and reducing impulse spending.
As with most things, great things come from a little hard work.
The first step of writing down your expenses is the most important step! Stick with it. You’ll have a great start to the new year.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can track your expenses free using a little notebook, expense sheets / printable expense logs, or budget apps to log all expenses.
The best free app for tracking spending (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) is Mint. This app can be connected to your various accounts for a very accurate picture of your spending and savings.
It can be overwhelming if it is your first time creating a budget. The most important part is determining your actual income and monthly expenses. At the end of the month, you should be more on top of your money with the information needed to establish an ongoing spending and savings plan.
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