Whether you’re trying to get on top of your household finances, save for something special or simply work out where your money is going each month, having a monthly budget can make all the difference. A clear budget doesn’t have to be complicated, and this free monthly budget planner has been designed to make it as easy as possible to keep track of your income, bills, savings and everyday spending.
Below, you can download my free monthly budget planner printable in either colour or a printer-friendly black and white version. I’ve been writing about budgeting and helping families make the most of their money for over 15 years, and this planner is based on the simple budgeting methods that have worked for our family. It’s completely free to download, easy to print at home and can be used month after month to help you stay organised and in control of your finances.
How to get your free monthly budget planner
Choose your preferred version below. Both planners contain exactly the same layout – one is colourful and the other is a printer-friendly black and white version if you’d rather save on ink.
<<Get the pretty version of my free monthly budget planner here>>
<<Get the grown-up version of my free monthly budget planner here>>
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this monthly budget planner really free?
Yes! You can download and print my monthly budget planner completely free of charge. There are two versions available – a colourful version and a printer-friendly black and white version – so you can choose whichever suits you best.
How do I use the monthly budget planner?
The planner is broken down into sections that should remind you where you might have missed something, but it’s well worth sitting down with your last three months’ worth of bank statements to make sure that you capture everything.
When it’s all down on paper, it’s a simple case of subtracting your outgoings from the money you have coming in to see how much you have leftover each month.
If your budget suggests you should have more money left at the end of the month than you actually do, you’ve probably missed something. It could be a forgotten subscription, regular coffees on the way to work or small purchases that don’t feel significant on their own but soon add up.
What to do once you’ve completed your monthly budget planner
No matter what the outcome of your budget planning, whether you have money left over each month or you don’t, in all cases you should be looking to see where you can shave some pounds from your outgoings by asking yourself the following questions:
- Are you on the best deals for everything?
- Do you always shop around before renewals?
- Are you paying for things you don’t use?
- Are there cheaper alternatives out there?
- Do you spend more than you need to? Have a read of this post for some ideas on how to stop spending.
If you’re in the negative that means that on paper you don’t have enough coming in and you need to do all of the steps above to make your budget as healthy as you can but also consider reaching out to the Citizens Advice or Stepchange for some help and guidance before it gets worse. They can help with free debt advice and will be able to work with you to look at your finances in detail to provide some tailored advice. You can also look to see if there are ways to supplement your income with a couple of side hustles.
If you’re lucky enough to have money left over then think about what you’re going to do with it. I’m too much of a ‘Life’s too short’ kind of person to be sensible with all of my spare money and I’m very much about intentional spending so I like to spend some of the money we save on a couple of treats here and there (some bigger than others) and some more grown-up things like investing in shares and overpaying my mortgage.
I also have a full financial planner that you can have a look at and print out if you think it will work for you – it’s basically a full year’s planner to help you manage and keep track of your finances all year round. You can find it here if you fancy a look.
Please do remember that a budget isn’t set in stone.
Life changes, prices go up and unexpected expenses happen, so don’t be afraid to revisit your budget each month and make adjustments as your circumstances change. The important thing is building a habit of checking in with your finances regularly.
Can I print this budget planner every month?
Absolutely. Once you’ve downloaded the PDF, you can print as many copies as you need and use a fresh planner at the start of every month.
What size is the monthly budget planner?
The planner is designed to print on standard A4 paper, making it easy to print at home or at work.
Can I use this budget planner digitally?
Although this planner has been designed to print at home, you can also import the PDF into note-taking apps such as Goodnotes or Notability and write on it digitally using a stylus or your finger.
Is this budget planner suitable for beginners?
Yes. Whether you’re budgeting for the first time or you’ve been managing your money for years, this planner is simple to use and has been designed to help you keep track of your income, bills, spending and savings without feeling overwhelmed.
Do you have any other free budgeting printables?
Yes! If you’ve found this monthly budget planner helpful, take a look at my other free budgeting printables, including meal planners, savings trackers and other money-saving resources to help you stay organised and make the most of your money.
More Ways to Stay Organised
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt over the years is that managing your money becomes much easier when the rest of your life feels organised too. Whether that’s meal planning, keeping a family calendar, planning ahead for birthdays or simply having a monthly budget to refer back to, small habits can make a real difference.
If you’re juggling work, family life and studying, finding enough hours in the day can be a challenge. Some people choose to use a custom research paper writing service during particularly busy periods so they can stay on top of their workload while still making time for everything else that’s important to them.
Whatever works for you, the goal is the same – reducing stress, staying organised and making life feel a little more manageable.
Creating a monthly budget is one of the best ways to take control of your finances, but it’s also worth reviewing your bank account every so often. Many banks regularly offer cash incentives to new customers who switch their current account, so it’s worth checking whether you’re still getting the best deal. Just make sure you compare the features as well as any switching bonus, so you choose an account that suits your needs in the long term.
If you’re unsure about which type of account is best for managing your finances, consider learning more on this page before deciding which option is right for you.
A few minutes spent reviewing your finances every now and then can help you save money, simplify your banking and make managing your budget that little bit easier.
I’d love you to follow me on Twitter and it would be amazing to see you over on my Facebook page and on Instagram. If you’re interested, you can find out more about me here and while I’ve got your attention, if you’re wondering why some of my posts lately are a little bit less frugal then have a read of this post. 😉 This is a collaborative post!
Do your future self a favour – Pin this free monthly budget planner for later:
