Set your category plan
Use a fictional $1,500 spending budget and $2,000 income.
The example net spending is $1,100, leaving $400 of the budget.
Try Monthly Budget.
Change a yellow input and see how the numbers respond. Switch tabs to explore the rest of the workbook.
Sample figures in USD · No account needed · Your changes stay in this preview
Sheetlark / Monthly BudgetSample data
Your plan beside your spending
Dashboard previewPlanned spending$1,500
Net spending$1,100
Budget remaining$400
Category budget vs. net spending
Housing$1000 / $1000
Groceries$200 / $120
Shopping$300 / −$20
Light: budget · dark: net spending. Negative spending reflects a refund.The sample groceries category remains within its $200 budget.
Sample workbook figures. Figures use fictional inputs.
Try one transaction
Example · sample figuresPlanned spending$1,500
Net spending$1,100
Budget remaining$400
Net spending: $1,100. Transfers do not count as spending.
| Date | Description | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/02/2026 | Paycheck | Income | $2,000 |
| 10/03/2026 | Rent | Expense | $1,000 |
| 10/04/2026 | Groceries | Expense | $120 |
| 10/05/2026 | Returned item | Refund | $20 |
| 10/06/2026 | Between accounts | Transfer | $500 |
Sample figures in USD. The example is separate from the records in your own workbook.
Your everyday transaction log
Enter dates, preset categories, transaction types and positive amounts. Refunds reduce spending; transfers are excluded.
| Date | Category | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/03/2026 | Housing | Expense | $1,000 |
| 10/04/2026 | Groceries | Expense | $120 |
| 10/05/2026 | Shopping | Refund | $20 |
Start with your own copy
Start Here- Create your copy
Use a Google account to copy the workbook into your own Drive after receiving your template.
- Try the example
Change a yellow input in Example. Practice figures stay separate from your own plan.
- Fill the yellow cells
Add your inputs, then review Dashboard. Leave formula cells intact.
No bank connection, add-on, or Apps Script authorization required. Desktop setup is recommended.
Your next step
Does Monthly Budget fit your routine?
See the included tabs, setup steps and supported capacity before choosing.
What to look for.
Manual entry with fixed category choices. Refunds reduce expenses; transfers do not count as spending. Desktop Google Sheets is the supported format.
Review actual spending
Record $1,000 rent, $120 groceries and a $20 refund.
Refunds reduce net spending; the $500 transfer does not count.
Try a larger grocery purchase
Change the grocery example to $600.
Net spending becomes $1,580, which is $80 above the example budget.