How to Make a Monthly Budget | Google Sheets Tutorial, by You Are Loved Templates on YouTube. 10 min 39 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 39 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Open Google Sheets and create a blank spreadsheet. Name it something like Monthly Budget and add a tab for each month, or one tab you copy each month.
In the top rows, add a section for income. List each source in one column and the amount in the next, then total them with a SUM formula.
Below income, add a bills section with columns for bill name, due date, amount and a paid checkbox. Enter your fixed monthly bills like rent, utilities and phone.
Add a savings and debt section. List each savings goal and each debt payment with its planned amount so they are budgeted, not left over.
Create an expenses section grouped by category, such as groceries, transport, eating out and fun. Give each category a planned amount.
Use a SUM formula to total planned expenses, then subtract that total from total income to see what is left over each month.
Add a column for actual spending. As the month goes on, enter real amounts next to each category so planned and actual sit side by side.
Format the money columns as currency and bold the section headers. Freeze the header row so labels stay visible as you scroll.
Copy the finished tab for the next month, or save it as a template, so you only build the layout once.
Tips and common mistakes
Base your planned amounts on real bank statements, not guesses, or the budget will not match reality.
Leave a small buffer category for unexpected costs so one surprise does not break the whole month.
Update actual spending once a week instead of saving every receipt for the end of the month.
Questions
Do I need to pay for a template?
No. You can build the whole tracker yourself in a blank Google Sheet using simple SUM formulas. A ready-made template just saves time.
Can I use this budget on my phone?
Yes. The Google Sheets app opens the same file, though typing amounts is easier on a computer. Edits sync automatically.
How do I handle irregular income?
Budget using your lowest expected monthly income, then treat anything extra as savings or debt payments.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
