- Pre-filled budget worksheet titled "Budget" with sample income and expense categories
- Automatic totals, running balance, and surplus/deficit calculation
- Color-coded input cells so you know exactly where to type your own numbers
- Step-by-step "How to Use" guide included in a second sheet
- Works in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice Calc - no setup or sign-up
Free 70/20/10 Budget Spreadsheet Template
Needs 70%, Wants 20%, Savings/Debt 10% split on a $5,200 monthly income.
Essentials $12 Ultimate $19 Free See Comparison & Free Download
Free, Essentials, and Ultimate - what's the difference?
Essentials 70/20/10 Budget
- Everything in Free
- Dashboard with 70/20/10 split view showing living expenses, savings, and giving allocations visually
- Automatic percentage allocation that calculates dollar targets for each category from gross income
- Budget tracker with formulas covering rent, food, utilities, insurance, and other living cost items
- Income-based category targets with monthly variance summary highlighting over or under spending
Ultimate 70/20/10 Budget
- Everything in Essentials
- Dashboard with 6 KPI cards: monthly income, living expenses total, savings total, debt or giving total, overall balance, and months tracked
- Budget Tracker sheet calculating 70%, 20%, and 10% dollar targets from monthly income with actual vs target comparison per bucket
- Living Expenses sheet for all day-to-day costs - housing, food, transportation, utilities, insurance, and personal expenses - with subtotals and 70% tracking
- Savings sheet for emergency fund, retirement, investments, and short-term savings goals with progress tracking and 20% target comparison
How the 70/20/10 Budget template works
Needs 70%, Wants 20%, Savings/Debt 10% split on a $5,200 monthly income. Open the spreadsheet, enter your own numbers, and let the formulas do the math.
When this template helps
You just started tracking spending and want a clear monthly snapshot.
You want to see where your money actually goes compared to what you planned.
Your expenses changed (new job, moved, new baby) and you need to re-baseline.
You prefer a spreadsheet you control over a budgeting app.
Tips to get the most out of it
- Keep the column labels simple - the formulas work best when categories are consistent month to month.
- Review the numbers regularly - once a week is a good rhythm for most people.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to include savings as a category - treat savings like any other bill so it gets funded first.
- Using gross income instead of take-home. Budget with what actually lands in your account.
- Over-optimistic "variable" categories. Groceries and dining out almost always come in higher than memory suggests.
How to Use This 70/20/10 Budget Template
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Free, Essentials, and Ultimate?
Free is a single-sheet starter template (sample data + How to Use guide). Essentials ($12) adds a dashboard, charts, expanded categories, and pre-filled subcategories. Ultimate (when available) adds multi-entity tracking, scenario analysis, and power-user reporting across 6-7 interconnected sheets.
Should I upgrade to Essentials?
Upgrade to Essentials if you want a dashboard with charts, more categories, larger capacity, and a more polished spreadsheet for ongoing use. The Free version is a good fit for one-off planning or trying out the layout.
Is Essentials worth $12?
Essentials is a one-time $12 purchase with no subscription. It typically adds a full dashboard, 30-50% more categories or rows than the Free version, and richer formulas. Most buyers upgrade after using the Free version for a few weeks and hitting its limits.
What is included in the free version?
The free 70/20/10 Budget is a single-sheet template with sample data and a "How to Use" guide. It covers the essentials. The Essentials version ($12) adds a dashboard, larger capacity, and extended categories; Ultimate (when available) adds multi-entity tracking and ultimate-grade reporting.
Can I add or rename categories?
Yes. Insert new rows above the totals row and rename any existing category. The SUM formulas adjust to include new rows automatically.
How do I start fresh without the sample data?
Select the amount cells and clear them. Keep the category labels and formulas intact - you can overwrite category names too if you want different labels.
Is the file safe to download?
Yes. No macros, no sign-up, no tracking. The file is a plain .xlsx that opens directly in Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc.
How do I open this in Google Sheets?
Upload the .xlsx file to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets. All formulas and formatting will be preserved.
What license is this template under?
All free templates are released under CC BY 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution). You can use, modify, and share them freely - including for commercial purposes - as long as you credit FinancialAha.com. They are provided as-is and do not constitute financial advice.
Get every Ultimate template instead
All 58 Ultimate templates in one purchase for $299 - $1,102 value, you keep $803.