Things You'll Need:
- Computer (with internet)
- Budget or spreadsheet software
- pen
- paper
- printer
- income and expense data
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Step 1
First you can download free budget templates online or create your own budget worksheets using a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel.
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Step 2
Next make a group of headings across the top of your free budget worksheets to represent your budget goal, actual, and difference.
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Step 3
You will need a goal column to estimate income and spending and a budget column to track true numbers for free comparison to get a difference on your worksheets.
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Step 4
Now you will want to categorize your income and expense items on your free budget worksheets.
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Step 5
Start by listing all forms of budget income as the top category of your worksheets and then follow that with free savings available to get that out of the way first.
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Step 6
Next list all your expenses in budget categories like home or business, automotive, personal, entertainment, and emergency maintenance or supplies on your free worksheets.
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Step 7
You should start by listing fixed expenses you must pay first and then other expenses by priority under each budget category on your free worksheets.
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Step 8
Now estimate your income and expense totals for each of the items in your categories and total at the bottom of your free budget worksheets.
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Step 9
Then list your actual dollar amounts for each budget item and subtract each across from your goals to get a difference. This will help you to see where you are so you can make adjustments on your free worksheets.
