1. Make your own copy
Get the free sheet, then choose Copy to Google Sheets and confirm Make a copy in Google, or Download .xlsx to save a separate workbook. No email is required on this website. Replace the sample transaction inputs in your copy, keeping formula cells intact.
2. Set up your month in Plan
Enter the first day of the month in Plan!E2. Keep or rename the suggested items, then enter Planned amounts under Income, Expenses, Savings, Debt Repayment and Investment.
Leave Actual, Diff. and total cells unchanged. They update from your Books entries.
3. Record transactions in Books
Use Transaction Entries to enter Date, Item, Type and Amount. Enter positive amounts; Notes are optional.
Choose Income, Expense, Savings, Debt Payment or Investment. The Item must match its Plan item and transaction Type exactly. Only entries within your selected month count.
For example, a Food expense of 50 increases Food Actual by 50 and reduces monthly cash flow by 50. Correct mistakes in the original row instead of recording the transaction twice.
4. Review Dashboard
Choose your currency and review the five category totals and cash flow chart. Dashboard follows the month selected in Plan.
Cash flow is income minus expenses, savings, debt payments and investments. This simple version does not track account, asset, fund or debt balances.
5. Start another month
Make another copy of the file, select the new month and clear the previous transaction inputs in that copy. Keep calculated Actual, Diff., total and Dashboard cells intact.