General Instructions--Read 'em All! Last revision: Apr.

12, 2013

First and foremost, please use this spreadsheet at your own risk!!! It has been reviewed
numerous times, but no guarantee is made. I hate disclaimers as much as the next person,
but I'd hate it more to see someone encounter penalty fees (or worse) because they blindly
trusted a spreadsheet! At a minimum, perform a "spot check" of the math and ask yourself
"does this all make sense?" If it looks too good to be true, it probably is! This spreadsheet
will not magically induce a raise in your pay, nor will it take money away. So if something
seems off in either direction, there is likely an error somewhere. When all else fails, resort to
doing it by hand!

VERY IMPORTANT: Before altering anything in this spreadsheet, click on FILE (in the
spreadsheet, not your browser), click MAKE A COPY, and name the new spreadsheet
something like "April 2013 Monthly Budget." Do this for every new month! DON'T use a
previous month's spreadsheet as a starting template for a new month--since it'll be a new
month, there will likely be significant differences from the previous one which will create
spreadsheet errors. Always start fresh from the template. This will also allow you to start
with the most accurate spreadsheet since I will update the template if/when any errors are
found. You'll notice that you can't modify anything in this spreadsheet until you save a copy
anyway.

This spreadsheet was created for folks who've gone through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace
University and have an understanding of the principals taught there. This spreadsheet is nearly
identical to the monthly cash flow plan and the allocated spending plan worksheets that are found in
the FPU workbook. The only difference is that the spreadsheet will do all of the math for you! It
shouldn't be too difficult to understand if you haven't taken FPU as there are no proprietary or out of
the ordinary methods of financial management presented.

Feel free to modify any of the expense item titles to suit your personal budget. For instance, maybe
rename "Net Income 1" to your personal name, like this: "NAME Pay" (just put your name instead of
the word NAME). If you don't have a mortgage, change "First Mortgage" to "Rent" or whatever it
needs to be. Every category also has a (Blank) line item for you to add any additional items that you
may need to.

It is not recommended to insert your own lines (as in, add extra lines) to the spreadsheet as it will
likely throw off some formulas and disrupt the space-time continuum. Please be aware of what
you're doing if you must alter the spreadsheet! It already comes with a warning of "please check the
math," but if you go altering it, you get an additional warning of "not responsible for any deportation
from the country you may encounter as a result of improper personal finance management!!!"

If you're ever confused about how to use this sheet, you've messed something up and broken the
sheet (that wouldn't ever happen, now would it?!), or you'd like to change or add something to this
sheet, please feel free to contact me using the contact form and I'd be glad to help.

Click here to go to the contact form

Monthly Cash Flow Plan Instructions

Enter the Month and Year in the top left blue cell (where it says "Month, Year").

Start at the top and work your way down the spreadsheet, filling in all known and anticipated
incomes and expenses for the month.

Enter budgeted amounts in blue cells.

Enter actual spent amounts in purple cells. Do this as the month goes by to track your budget.

For the first run through, you'll only be entering values in the blue cells. The purple cells are for later
when you've actually spent the money and you want to track and compare it to the budgeted amount
(this is good for historical purposes too so you can see how much you spend on each category
every month).

Percentages shown in the notes are Dave's recommended amounts and are based on net income.

Use (Blank) cells for custom expenses within a category. Also feel free to change an item's name to
suit your specific needs.

Use the "Note" column for a reminder note about an expense, if needed. Sometimes it's helpful to
write when an expense/bill is due.

When you finish entering all planned incomes and expenses, check out the "summary" at the bottom
of the sheet. If you're negative, you've budgeted too much money for the month and need to reduce
spending in one or more items equal to the amount that you're negative. If you're greater than $0,
you haven't told all of your money where to go! In other words, you have a surplus. Do not leave a
month with a surplus. You don't have to spend it, but it does need to be told where to go. For
example, pay it to your lowest debt (if any), stick it in the emergency fund, save some of it and
spend some of it (responsibly!). When the difference equals $0, you're done with this part! If you're
trying to keep a buffer in your checking account (which Dave recommends), you still need to account
for that buffer as an expense in order to make your zero-based budget work. For example, use one
of the (Blank) items under an appropriate category (like "Personal") and call it "Checking account
buffer." Enter the amount of buffer that you're trying to keep as a budgeted item.

Allocated Spending Plan Instructions

While this sheet may look a bit complicated, it's really nothing more than an automated version of
the worksheet in the FPU workbook. There are numerous automations setup to tailor the sheet to
your specific needs and the specific month that you're working on. Just follow the directions and
don't skip a step. You'll see the sheet take shape as you work through the first few steps. From
there, it should look much more comfortable and easy to use.

No other cells need to be altered (with the

Enter data in blue cells. exception of item titles--if you desire to change
them--and item notes).

First, enter the month and year in the blue cell at the top-left of the sheet.
Next, enter the first day of your fiscal month. This is not necessarily the first day of the month. It
should be the first day that a pay period will start in that month, which is the day immediately
following last month's last pay period. For example: if you're paid weekly on Thursdays, you'd enter
the first Thursday in the month that you're planning (which for April 2013 would be "April 4, 2013"). If
you're paid on the first of the month, the date entered would be "April 1, 2013." Be sure to enter the
full date including the year.

After entering your start date, you may notice some cells automatically change. The sheet now
wants to know how often you're paid in order to set up your pay periods. Click the little down arrow
in the blue cell and select your pay frequncy. You can choose from: weekly, bi-weekly, 1st of the
month, last of the month, 1st and 15th of the month, 15th and last of the month, and custom. If
you've entered your start date correctly, the sheet should automatically set itself up based on what
you tell it here. If you're paid once per month, the sheet will stay blacked-out like it is by default and
provide you with only one pay period (since you won't be paid again until next month, at which point
you'll be on a new month's plan). If you're paid weekly, bi-weekly, or any other style, the sheet will
use the starting date you specified and set up the pay periods for you. Again, you'll see some
changes happen automatically to the spreadsheet.

Note, if you have irregular pay periods (as in, you don't see your period in the drop-down list) or
you'd rather just enter your own pay periods, simply select "Custom" from the drop-down list and
enter the dates for yourself. You'll see the cells that would normally automatically show the dates
display a "--" and turn blue. This is where you'll enter your date ranges. As you enter date ranges,
the corresponding pay period will reveal itself for you to enter the numbers. Double-check your pay
periods to ensure no days of the fiscal month are missed if you use this method.

Finally, enter your starting pay in the first pay period and work down and to the left in the sheet until
you reach the end of the final pay period. Enter your expenses in the appropriate pay period in the
blue cells. The last period should have a $0 balance. Just like in the monthly cash flow plan, do not
leave a surplus on the table. Tell it where to go and end the month on $0. If you happen to over-
allocate and cause the running total to go negative, the sheet should let you know and you'll be able
to correct the issue as-needed.

Use the note column next to expense items to fill in reminders of when you expect those items to
pay or the cash become needed. For example, if the electric bill pays on the 23rd and you want to
get a hair cut on the 15th, record that in the notes column next to those items. If your allocated
spending plan is like everyone else's, it's bound to fill up with all sorts of expenses and you may
likely have to run through the process several times to make it work (for example, bumping that hair
cut out to a later date). Little reminders go a long way during that back-and-forth process of planning
it out and making it work!
 Monthly Cash Flow Plan

Month, Year

Net Income Note

Net Income 1: $0.00
Net Income 2: $0.00
Net Income 3: $0.00
Net Income 4: $0.00
Total Monthly Net Income: $0.00

Charity
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Tithes $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Charity & Offerings $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Charity: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 10-15%

Savings
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Emergency Fund: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Retirement: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
College: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Savings: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 10-15%

Housing
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
First Mortgage: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Second Mortgage: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Real Estate Taxes: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 ...if not already included in your mortgage payment.
Repairs & Maintenance: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
HOA Dues: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 ...if not already included in your mortgage payment.
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Housing: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 25-35%

Utilities
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Electricity: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Gas: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Water: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Trash: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Phone/Mobile: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Internet: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Cable: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Utilities: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 5-10%

Food
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Groceries: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Dining Out/Restaurants: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Food: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 5-15%
Monthly Cash Flow Plan

Month, Year

Clothing
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Adults: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Kids: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Cleaning/Laundry: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Clothing: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 2-7%

Transportation
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Gas: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Maintenance & Repairs: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Taxes & Fees: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Car Replacement: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Transportation: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 10-15%

Medical
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Medications: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Doctor's Bills: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Dentist: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Eye Doctor: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Vitamins: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Medical: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 5-10%

Insurance
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Life Insurance: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Above any amount deducted from paycheck.
Health Insurance: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Above any amount deducted from paycheck.
Homeowner's/Renter's: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 If not included in mortgage payment.
Auto Insurance: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Disability Insurance: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Above any amount deducted from paycheck.
Identity Theft: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Long-Term Care: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Insurance: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 10-25%

Personal
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Child Care: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Babysitter: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Toiletries: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Cosmetics/Hair Care: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Education/Tuition: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Books/Supplies: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Child Support: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Monthly Cash Flow Plan

Month, Year

Alimony: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

Subscriptions: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Organization Dues: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Gifts (incl. Christmas): $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Furniture: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Pocket Money (Hers): $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Pocket Money (His): $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Baby Supplies: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Pet Supplies: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Music/Technology: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Miscellaneous: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Personal: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 5-10%

Recreation
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Entertainment: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Vacation: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Recreation: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 5-10%

Debts
Spent Budgeted Difference Note
Car Payment 1: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Car Payment 2: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Credit Card 1: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Credit Card 2: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Credit Card 3: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Credit Card 4: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Credit Card 5: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Student Loan 1: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Student Loan 2: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Student Loan 3: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Student Loan 4: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
(Blank) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total Debts: $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 5-10%...goal is to get to ZERO percent!

Summary

Total Income: $0.00

Total Expenses: $0.00
Difference*: $0.00 Goal is to be a "zero-based" budget!
 Monthly Cash Flow Plan

Month, Year

*Tip: If you have a positive "difference" leftover (meaning you didn't spend all of
your income), consider adding that amount to a savings category as a buffer or
paying it to your lowest debt balance to help knock it out! Don't just leave the
money unaccounted for--tell it where to go!
 Allocated Spending Plan
Enter the first day of The first day that you will be paid on in the current
1/10/20
this fiscal month: month to start this plan.
January, 2020
If "Custom" is selected, you must manually enter the
Select your pay
Bi-Weekly pay period dates in the columns below. Simply leave
period: the "--" if that period is not to be used.
Enter any quick notes that may be helpful
for a particular expense in this "note"
Period 1 Period 2 THIS PERIOD IS NOT USED THIS PERIOD IS NOT USED THIS PERIOD IS NOT USED
column. For example, put the due date for
specific bills or the date that you plan to Pay Period Dates: 1/10/2020 to 1/23/2020 1/24/2020 to 2/6/2020 -- to -- -- to -- -- to --
spend a particular item. Pay Period Income: $1,566.00 $2,100.00
Plus Carryover Balance: 0 [1] $1,256.00
Budgeted Remaining Budgeted Remaining . . . . . . . . .

Note Charity . . . . . . . . .
Tithes: . . . . . . . . .
Charity & Offerings: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Savings . . . . . . . . .
Emergency Fund: . . . . . . . . .
Retirement: . . . . . . . . .
College: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Housing . . . . . . . . .
First Mortgage: $160.00 $1,406.00 . . . . . . . . .
Second Mortgage: . . . . . . . . .
Real Estate Taxes: . . . . . . . . .
Repairs & Maintenance: . . . . . . . . .
HOA Dues: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Utilities . . . . . . . . .
Electricity: . . . . . . . . .
Gas: . . . . . . . . .
Water: . . . . . . . . .
Trash: . . . . . . . . .
Phone/Mobile: $279.00 $3,077.00 . . . . . . . . .
Internet: . . . . . . . . .
Cable: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Food . . . . . . . . .
Groceries: $150.00 $1,256.00 $150.00 $2,927.00 . . . . . . . . .
Dining Out/Restaurants: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Clothing . . . . . . . . .
Adults: . . . . . . . . .
Kids: . . . . . . . . .
Cleaning/Laundry: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Transportation . . . . . . . . .
Gas: . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance & Repairs: . . . . . . . . .
Taxes & Fees: . . . . . . . . .
Car Replacement: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Medical . . . . . . . . .
Medications: . . . . . . . . .
Doctor's Bills: . . . . . . . . .
Dentist: . . . . . . . . .
Eye Doctor: . . . . . . . . .
Vitamins: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Insurance . . . . . . . . .
Life Insurance: . . . . . . . . .
Health Insurance: . . . . . . . . .
Homeowner's/Renter's: . . . . . . . . .
Auto Insurance: . . . . . . . . .
Disability Insurance: . . . . . . . . .
Identity Theft: . . . . . . . . .
Long-Term Care: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Personal . . . . . . . . .
Child Care: . . . . . . . . .
Babysitter: . . . . . . . . .
Toiletries: . . . . . . . . .
Cosmetics/Hair Care: . . . . . . . . .
Education/Tuition: . . . . . . . . .
Books/Supplies: . . . . . . . . .
Child Support: . . . . . . . . .
Alimony: . . . . . . . . .
Subscriptions: . . . . . . . . .
Organization Dues: . . . . . . . . .
Gifts (incl. Christmas): . . . . . . . . .
Furniture: . . . . . . . . .
Pocket Money (Hers): . . . . . . . . .
Pocket Money (His): . . . . . . . . .
Baby Supplies: . . . . . . . . .
Pet Supplies: . . . . . . . . .
Music/Technology: . . . . . . . . .
Miscellaneous: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Recreation . . . . . . . . .
Entertainment: . . . . . . . . .
Vacation: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .

Note Debts . . . . . . . . .
Car Payment 1: . . . . . . . . .
Car Payment 2: . . . . . . . . .
Credit Card 1: . . . . . . . . .
Credit Card 2: . . . . . . . . .
Credit Card 3: . . . . . . . . .
Credit Card 4: . . . . . . . . .
Credit Card 5: . . . . . . . . .
Student Loan 1: . . . . . . . . .
Student Loan 2: . . . . . . . . .
Student Loan 3: . . . . . . . . .
Student Loan 4: . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
 Allocated Spending Plan
Enter the first day of The first day that you will be paid on in the current
1/10/20
this fiscal month: month to start this plan.
January, 2020
If "Custom" is selected, you must manually enter the
Select your pay
Bi-Weekly pay period dates in the columns below. Simply leave
period: the "--" if that period is not to be used.
Enter any quick notes that may be helpful
for a particular expense in this "note"
Period 1 Period 2 THIS PERIOD IS NOT USED THIS PERIOD IS NOT USED THIS PERIOD IS NOT USED
column. For example, put the due date for
specific bills or the date that you plan to Pay Period Dates: 1/10/2020 to 1/23/2020 1/24/2020 to 2/6/2020 -- to -- -- to -- -- to --
spend a particular item. Pay Period Income: $1,566.00 $2,100.00
Plus Carryover Balance: 0 [1] $1,256.00
Budgeted Remaining Budgeted Remaining . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
(Blank) . . . . . . . . .
Carryover Balance: $1,256.00 Ending Balance: $2,927.00

NOTE: A period balance greater than $0 is OK if

there is another period following it this month. If
there is a balance for the last period, you should
account for that money somewhere in your budget
(i.e. extra debt payment, emergency fund, general
savings, responsibly spend it on something you've
been saving for, etc.).
[1] If there is a carryover from last month, then you didn't tell all your money where to go! Always start with
$0.