How to allocate your budget. How to save a family budget: useful recommendations

The family is a state in miniature: it has a head, an adviser, subsidized population”, income and expense items. Planning, distribution and sequestration ( familiar words?) of the family budget is an important task. How to save and save without going on a starvation ration? - Create a table of accounting for funds received by the family, and revise the structure of payments.

• Money- one of the greatest tools created by man. They can buy freedom, experience, entertainment and everything that makes life more comfortable. But they can be squandered, spent who knows where, and senselessly squandered.

Legendary American actor of the early twentieth century Will Rogers said:

"Too many people spend money on things they don't need to impress people they don't like."

Have your income been less than your expenses in the last few months? Yes? Then you are not alone, but in big company. The problem is that it's not very good company. Debts, loans, penalties and late payments are growing like a snowball ... it's time to jump out of a sinking boat!

Why you need to keep a family budget

“Money is just a tool. They will take you where you want to go, but they will not replace you as a driver,” Russian-born writer who emigrated to the States, Ayn Rand, learned firsthand the need to plan and budget her own finances.

Unconvincing? Here three good reason start planning family budget:

1. The family budget calculator will help you figure out long term goals and work in the right direction. If you drift aimlessly, throwing money at every attractive item, how can you save money and take a long-awaited vacation, buy a car or make a down payment on a mortgage?
2. Table of family budget expenses sheds light on spontaneous spending and forces to reconsider shopping habits. Do you really need 50 pairs of black shoes per high heels? Family budget planning forces you to prioritize and refocus on achieving your goals.
3. Illness, divorce or job loss can lead to a serious financial crisis. Emergencies happen at the most inopportune times. That is why everyone needs a reserve fund. The structure of the family budget necessarily includes the column " saving"- a financial cushion that will help you stay afloat for three to six months.

How to allocate the family budget

Some rules of thumb family budget planning, which we present here, can serve as a rough guide for decision-making. Everyone's situation is different and constantly changing, but the basic principles are a good starting point.

50/20/30 rule

Elizabeth and Amelia Warren, authors of the book All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan" (in translation " All Your Wealth: The Ultimate Money Plan for Life”) describe a simple but effective method budgeting.

Instead of breaking down household spending into 20 different categories, they recommend dividing the budget structure into three main components:

• 50% of income must cover basic expenses such as housing, taxes and groceries;
• 30% - optional expenses: entertainment, going to a cafe, cinema, etc.;
• 20% goes to pay off loans and debts, and is also set aside as a reserve.

80/20 rule

Variation of the previous rule. 20% of all income to the family budget should be used to pay off debts and create a financial cushion, 80% - everything else.

These rules of thumb can and should be adjusted to suit your actual situation. Just below you will find an example of a family budget in the table, which will serve as the basis for drawing up your own plan.

Rule 3 - 6 months

You must have on hand or a deposit an amount sufficient for the family to live for three to six months. In the event of dismissal, accident or illness, safety net"will keep you from making desperate decisions, give you the opportunity to look back and find ways out of the circumstances.

Planning the structure of expenses and income is not at all a difficult and tedious task, as you might think. They exist to help you get started making a plan and stick to it.

• A lined notebook and a pen are the first thing that comes to mind when we think about how to calculate the family budget.
• Download the family budget table in excel free of charge in standard Microsoft templates and adapt it to your own needs.
• Applications for smartphones are a good option to immediately enter all payments into the memory of the program, you just need to choose the utility that suits you. Drebedengi, Coinkeeper– convenient services to track and plan expenses.

We offer a step-by-step guide on how to create a monthly family budget based on an Excel spreadsheet template that you can customize in a few clicks by downloading the document below.

Step 1: set goals

Saving for the sake of saving? Don't confuse stinginess with spending planning. Set goals and learn to save on the unimportant.

• A short-term goal could be a new electronic device or paying off minor debts.
• In the medium term - buying a car, a long-awaited trip to interesting places.
• Long-term goals typically include retirement plans, mortgage payments, and helping growing children.

Be realistic in your plans, take a pen and calculate your financial possibilities. Or download an Excel spreadsheet and use it as a guide.

Step 2: Determine the income and expenses of the family budget

It's time to look at the structure of the family budget. Start by compiling a list of all sources of income: wages, alimony, pensions, part-time jobs, and other options for getting money into the family.

Expenses include everything you spend money on.

Divide spending into fixed and variable payments. Fill in the fields for variable and fixed costs in the table for maintaining a family budget, based on your own experience. detailed instructions on working with the excel file in the next chapter.

The budget allocation should take into account the size of the family, living conditions and desires of all members of the "cell of society". Short list categories are already included in the sample table. Consider the categories of expenses that will be needed to further refine the structure.

Income structure

As a rule, the income column includes:

• the salary of the head of the family (marked "husband");
• earnings of the chief adviser ("wife");
• interest on deposits;
• pension;
• social benefits;
• part-time jobs (private lessons, for example).

Cost column

Expenses are divided into fixed, that is, unchanged: fixed tax payments; home, car and health insurance; fixed amounts for internet and TV. This also includes those 10 - 20% that need to be set aside for unforeseen cases and a "rainy day".

Variable cost graph:

• products;
• medical service;
• spending on a car
• cloth;
• payment for gas, electricity, water;
• personal expenses of the spouses (recorded and planned separately);
• seasonal spending on gifts;
• contributions to school and kindergarten;
• entertainment;
• expenses for children.

Depending on your desire, you can supplement, concretize the list or reduce it by enlarging and combining expense items.

Step 3: Track your spending throughout the month

It is unlikely that it will be possible to draw up a table of the family budget this very hour, it is necessary to find out where and in what proportions the money goes. This will take one to two months. In the finished excel spreadsheet, which you can download for free, start making expenses, gradually adjusting the categories " for yourself».

Below you will find detailed explanations To this document, since this excel includes several interconnected tables at once.

• The purpose of this step is to get a clear picture of your financial position, visually see the structure of expenses and, at the next stage, adjust the budget.

Step 4: Separate Needs from Wants

When people start recording spending, they find that a lot of money " flies away» on completely unnecessary things. Impulse, unplanned expenses seriously hit the pocket if the level of income is not so high that a couple - another thousand pass unnoticed.

Refuse to buy until you are sure that the item is absolutely necessary for you. Wait a few weeks. If it turns out that you really can't live without the item you want, then it really is a necessary expense.

A little advice: put aside credit and debit cards. Use cash to learn how to save. It is psychologically easier to part with virtual amounts than to count papers.

How to plan a family budget in a table

Now you know what is really happening with your money.

Look at the categories of expenses that you want to cut and make your own plan using a free excel spreadsheet.

Many people don't like the word " budget”, because they believe that these are restrictions, deprivations and lack of entertainment. Relax, an individual spending plan will allow you to live within your means, avoid stress and sleep better, and not think about how to get out of debt.

“An annual income of £20 and an annual expenditure of £19.06 lead to happiness. An income of 20 pounds and an expense of 20.6 lead to suffering, ”the ingenious note of Charles Dickens reveals the basic law of planning.

Enter the finished family budget in the table

You set goals, defined income and expenses, decided how much you would start saving each month for emergencies Andfigured out the difference between needs and wants. Take another look at the budget sheet in the table and fill in the empty columns.

The budget is not static, fixed figures once and for all. You can always correct it if necessary. For example, you planned to spend 15 thousand monthly on groceries, but after a couple of months you noticed that you spend only 14 thousand. Make additions to the table - redirect the saved amount to the “savings” column.

How to budget with irregular income

Not everyone has a permanent job with regular payments. wages. This does not mean that you cannot create a budget; but that means you have to plan in more detail.

• One strategy is to calculate the average income over the past few years and focus on this figure.
• Second way- determine for yourself a stable salary from your own income - what you will live on, and save the surplus to the insurance account. In lean months, the account balance will decrease exactly by the missing amount. But your "salary" will remain unchanged.
• Third planning option- maintain two budget tables in parallel: for " good" And " bad» months. It is somewhat more difficult, but nothing is impossible. The danger that awaits you along the way: people spend and take loans, expecting income from best months. If the “black streak” drags on a little, the credit funnel will eat up both current and future income.

Below you will find solutions on how to distribute the family budget according to the table.

After we have decided on the main goals, let's try to allocate the family budget for a month, indicate current income and expenses in the table in order to properly manage the funds, so that we can save for the main goals without missing out on current and everyday needs.

Open the second sheet Budget"and fill in the fields of monthly income, annual income, and the program will calculate the results itself, for example:

In columns " variable costs" And " fixed costs» enter the estimated figures. Add new items where it says " other", in place of unnecessary names, enter your own:

Now go to the tab of the month from which you decided to start saving and planning family expenses. On the left you will find columns in which you need to fix the date of purchase, select a category from the drop-down list and make a note.

• Additional notes are very convenient to refresh your memory if necessary and clarify what exactly the money was spent on.

The data that is entered in the table for example, just delete and write your own:

To account for expenses and income by months, we suggest looking at the table on the third sheet in our Excel " This year“, this table is automatically populated based on your expenses and income, summarizes and gives you an idea of ​​your progress:

And on the right there will be a separate table that will automatically summarize all expenses for the year:

Nothing complicated. Even if you have never tried to master working with Excel spreadsheets, highlighting the desired cell and entering numbers is all that is required.

Poll: How old are you?

Are you a man or a woman?

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Why did you decide to record expenses and income?

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Manage money wisely * 17%, 1092 vote

I want to save money 15%, 979 votes

To control where funds go 15%, 977 votes

Due to the crisis financial situation for proper prioritization * 8%, 538 votes

Want to learn how to spend money 8%, 512 votes

I manage my budget, looking for optimization options * 6%, 385 votes

I want to buy an apartment * 5%, 311 votes

I want to become financially independent * 4%, 228 votes

Most of the above.. * 3%, 221 voice

Planning a family life with a young man * 3%, 221 voice

I want to feel confident in the future * 2%, 113 votes

I want to know how much I spend 2%, 100 votes

Hello, friends!

I am an economist by education, at the university I introduce students to the basics of economics. Including with such concepts as income and expenses of the enterprise. Complete clarity in young minds bright, but far from the real economy, comes when we analyze these terms using everyday examples. For example, on a family - this is the same enterprise, only a small one. And the family budget plays no less important role than the budget of a firm or a country.

A family budget is a plan of family income and expenses for a certain time period (month or year).

It is more important, in my opinion, to decide on the question of why it is necessary to conduct it. Let's try to highlight the most important reasons.

• Accounting for real income

Without knowing all your income and all sources of funds, it is impossible to plan expenses and set achievable goals for the future.

• Cost control

If you've ever wondered where all the money went, spending control will give you the answer. We often do not notice how small expenses on snacks eat up our budget. But they can be completely painlessly abandoned.

• Cost planning

If you take control, then next step is planning. Most of our expenses are permanent. For example, paying for gasoline or travel to public transport, utility bills, children's clubs and sections, trips to the store, etc. Knowing all the upcoming expenses in next month, it's easy to schedule something more serious.

• Accumulation

For some, this is the most pleasant bonus from maintaining a family budget. For example, in my family, the lion's share of income is spent on travel. Very expensive events, you can not do without savings. Therefore, it is very important to know how much I can put aside per month without harming the interests of the family. Read my article about ways to save money.

• Creation of an “airbag”

While for many, including me, emergency ration on a "rainy day" is an unattainable dream. But we must understand that for the family this goal is one of the most important. Agree that few people want to end up in poverty in the event of a job loss or unforeseen large expenses. In these cases, you need a "airbag".

• Peace and tranquility in the family

How often do you hear from a husband that a wife spends too much money on clothes and coffee with her girlfriends. And from the wife constant reproaches that the husband allows himself weekly trips to the bar, bowling, fishing, etc. Familiar? Keeping a family budget will allow you to sort out income and expenses, teach you how to save and always have money for what your soul asks for. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a new dress or a fancy fishing rod.

Types of family budget

At the beginning family life the question inevitably arises of who will be in charge of distributing finances, or, more simply, who will manage the family budget. And it is better not to shelve the solution of this issue, because, I will not be afraid of this word, the well-being of the family depends on it.

What are the types of family budgets?

Joint

All the money earned by a husband and wife is put in one place, for example, in an envelope or a box. Each family member has the right to take the amount he needs for urgent needs. As a rule, large purchases are discussed on family council and are done together.

It should be noted that today the management of such a budget has become more complicated due to the widespread bank cards. I felt it myself, because my family's budget is a common wallet. Therefore, now we are forced to move to a different look, which I don’t really like.

Based on the existing long-term (more than 18 years) experience in maintaining a joint budget, I will tell you about the basic principles on which it is built:

• a greater degree of responsibility of both spouses in matters of spending;
• absolute trust in each other;
• constant control of expenses so as not to end up with an empty bark ... an envelope;
• obligatory discussion of large purchases;
• an atmosphere of mutual understanding and kindness, when neither spouse allows himself to reproach the other for the amount of earnings.

If at least one of the principles is violated, then this type of financial control is not for you.

Separated

This type of budgeting, in my opinion, is most common between people who have joined in a couple already being held financially. For example, remarriage or marriage at an older age. The peculiarity of this type is that each spouse has his own wallet. Husband and wife are in complete control of their personal finances. Often spouses do not even know about the real amount of each other's income.

How, then, is the issue of payment resolved, for example, a joint trip to a restaurant or a trip on vacation, utility bills and child support? As a rule, the costs for these items are divided in half.

Principles of building a separate budget:

• spouses are only responsible for their part of the budget;
• ability to resolve possible conflicts in matters of payment of general expenses;
• greater independence than with a joint budget in matters of control and accumulation;
• more freedom of action in matters of gifts and surprises for your soulmate.

sole proprietorship

A type of budgeting in which all money is concentrated in the hands of one person. He takes full responsibility for the control of income and expenses. This practice is suitable for families in which one of the spouses often succumbs to the temptation of spontaneous purchases, does not keep track of expenses and gets into debt.

Principles of sole ownership and disposal of money:

• one of the spouses bears moral and material responsibility not only for himself, but also for all family members;
• the second principle emerges from the first, it must be as organized and financially literate as possible;
• it is important to maintain a balance in relationships so as not to constantly remind your soulmate of her position in the family.

Shared or separate, or maybe sole? Advice in resolving this issue can only do harm. Answer it in the way that is best only for you, and not for your advisers.

Stages of maintaining a family budget

In the 1st section, I answered the question of why you need to keep a family budget. And if I was able to convince you of the need to maintain it, now it's time to move on to the question of how to budget correctly.

I have identified 6 main steps:

Stage 1. Preparatory.

Before starting the planning and savings process, you should track all family income and expenses for several months. This can be done in a notebook, in an Excel spreadsheet, in special computer programs or in mobile application. We will talk about budgeting methods a little later. The main principles to be followed at this stage are:

• daily record of all receipts and expenditures;
• allocation of costs to categories and subcategories;
• calculation at the end of the month of the results for all sections in order to identify the most costly items;
• we make a table on income, do not forget about accounting for all sources of income.

How to allocate expenses and income? For example, in the table I divided my family's expenses into categories: utility bills, education, food + manufactured goods, transport, health, leisure, clothing, large purchases, and others. Within each category there are also subcategories.

Stage 2. Analysis of the collected data.

After 2 - 3 months of collecting the initial data, analyze them. Is that what you collected them for? What expenses are obligatory for your family, and which ones can you refuse forever (for example, smoking) or temporarily (for example, buying a new blouse every month)?

The more detailed you entered the expenses made in the table, the more accurate the analysis will be. This is necessary so that you reveal the hidden reserves of your family budget. Those starting points from which you will build on the next step.

Stage 3. Goal setting.

After you have analyzed and identified reserves, you need to determine what you want to achieve in the near or long term. Goals can be very different. For example:

• saving money for holidays
• buying a new refrigerator
• preparation for a comfortable retirement, etc.

Stage 4. Development of strategy and tactics.

Perhaps the most difficult and responsible stage. On it, you must develop a strategy and tactics for maintaining a family budget that will help you achieve your goals.

Here you should clearly state, in as much detail as possible, your actions. For example, there is a goal - to save money for a vacation in the amount of 70,000 rubles. He has 7 months left. So every month you have to save 10,000 rubles.

You don't have to set unattainable goals. Buy a secluded island in the ocean with an average monthly income of 50,000 rubles. - you are unlikely to be able to. But to go there on vacation is quite.

I am often asked by colleagues at work, how can I go on vacation abroad 2 times a year with the same income as them? They cannot afford this. I have already stopped explaining anything to them, they do not hear and do not want to hear. And here I will answer.

Yes I love to travel. This is the passion of my life, and I have infected my whole family with it. Therefore, we have one goal for the year - to conquer the next route. Neither I nor my husband have expensive cars, phones, fur coats and jewelry. For me, all this is an empty phrase. With every amount we earn, we save for the only thing that has value for us - bright emotions and impressions from trips, from getting to know a foreign culture, people, language. Keeping a family budget helps a lot.

If you want to increase your income, cut your expenses. In my article on savings, I go into more detail about ways to reduce costs.

Stage 5. Planning a family budget for a month.

Here again you need a table, but in a more complicated version. Income and expenses should be additionally divided into columns “Plan” and “Fact”. Remember the example of a goal - to accumulate 70,000 rubles. on vacation? We make our contributions of 10,000 rubles. and all other mandatory expenses in the "Plan" column. We put down the actual values ​​and display the deviations.

Monthly table example

The numbers in the table are conditional, for example. The result of our planning is that we saved 14,200 rubles.

Stage 6. Analysis of the results.

At the end of the month, we should sum up. Compare planned and actual amounts. On what items it was possible to save, and on what the overspending was formed.

In our conditional example, at the end of the month we saved 14,200 rubles. Further, it is logical to resolve the issue with this “extra” money. What to do with them? Each family decides this differently. Someone will spend on the purchase of the necessary (or not so) things. Someone put it on deposit. Someone walks in a restaurant. In any case, the choice is yours. No advice is relevant here.

And then you have to make new table for another month. And our stages are repeated, except for the 1st and 2nd. Stage 3 can also be excluded if the goal was set long-term and is not achieved in one month.

Ways to manage a family budget

Until now, we have talked with you about accounting for income and expenses in tabular form. Where and how to compile such tables will be discussed in this section.

Accounting on paper

Get a notebook or notebook, take a pen or pencil. It's all stationery set for budgeting. You will need a calculator at the end of the month. I started doing home bookkeeping in this way, so I’ll tell you about its pros and cons from my own experience.

1. Free. Your costs are only paper and pen.
2. Available to all family members. Children or elderly people who are not computer literate can easily cope with tables on paper. At the end of the day, each family member can enter their expenses in a notebook.
3. Use anywhere. The table can be practiced in the car, on the bus on the way to work, on the plane, on the train, on a picnic. No computer needed, no internet needed.

1. All totals will have to be calculated manually. It takes a very long time.
2. It is very easy to miscalculate. And you may not find the error. They pressed the wrong number on the calculator and that's it ...

For example, I only had enough for 1 month of such budgeting. Since we recorded all expenses in detail, by the end of the reporting period we had 7 pages of A4 format filled out.

Tables in Excel

This is the way to which sooner or later you will come anyway. A month later, I transferred all my family accounting to Excel.

1. Beautiful decoration. Can be distinguished different colors income and expenses, fill the entire table or individual cells.
2. Automatic calculation of totals. Set up all the necessary formulas so that when you enter the next amount, the totals are recalculated.
3. Graphic analytics. Excel has many options for building pie and column charts. You can visually see which expenses in your budget have the largest specific gravity and may be amended next month.
4. Internet access is not required.

1. Computer skills in general and Excel in particular are required. This may not be possible for older people or people who do not deal with computer programs and they don't want to learn.
2. The ability to maintain a budget only if you have access to a computer. If you are afraid to forget about the expenses made during the day, it is convenient to write them down in a notebook or phone. In the evening, transfer all records to a computer.

Google Sheets

Another great way to manage your budget is Google Sheets. Those who are familiar with Excel will not be difficult to deal with these tables. The feature set and interface are very similar. But there is whole line indisputable advantages:

• filling tables online, no need to save anything, everything happens automatically;
• in the event of a computer breakdown, all tables will be saved, and you can easily access them;
• All family members can take part in filling out the tables from any device and at any time convenient for them.

For now, I decided to stick with this method. It is necessary to fill your own hand and teach family members to take into account their expenses and incomes on a daily basis. In a couple of months, I will next way– special programs and mobile applications.

Special programs and applications for family accounting

While collecting material for writing this article, I was so carried away by the topic that I immediately caught fire to keep a budget in a special program on a computer and in a mobile application. And here a surprise awaited me. There were not many of them, but very many. Which one to choose? So far, this process is at my testing stage, but I have already identified some main principles:

1. It should be a program adapted for both the computer and the phone. In this case, you can do bookkeeping anywhere.
2. Synchronization between desktop and mobile versions.
3. Free or shareware. If you do not need many of the features offered by the developers, then there is no point in overpaying.
4. Clear interface.

But I will tell you about the most popular programs. In my opinion, it is important to be able to use the same program on both a smartphone and a computer (or tablet). This increases mobility - you can fill out tables, plan and view reports at home, in the car or on vacation.

Let's see what the developers offer us:

1. Alzex Finance (previously called Personal Finances).

Peculiarities:

• income and expenses are divided into categories;
• multicurrency (all world currencies) + precious metals;
• generating reports;
• the program is easy to learn for beginners;
• free and paid versions.

2. DrebeDengi.

Peculiarities:

• there is a demo version to get acquainted with the program;
• the ability to conduct offline and synchronize with applications for iPhone, Android, Windows OS;
• the possibility of maintaining a family budget by several family members;
• data export to Excel;
• formation of expenses plan/actual;
• generating reports;
• processing SMS from banks, taking photos of checks and saving them to the phone;
• free and paid versions.

3. Zen money.

Peculiarities:

• there is a demo version and a presentation to familiarize beginners;
• synchronization between a Windows computer and a mobile version (Android and iOS);
• income and expense planning;
• the possibility of maintaining a family budget by several family members;
• recognition of SMS from the bank;
• generation of reports in the form of tables and graphs;
• free and paid versions.

4.EasyFinance.

Peculiarities:

• synchronization between a Windows computer and Android and iOS phones;
• fixing income and expenses, grouping into categories and subcategories;
• creation of templates for the most frequent operations;
• overrun alarm;
• planning income and expenses using forecasts and the planning wizard;
• the possibility of maintaining a family budget by several family members;
• loading operations on bank cards;
• building charts for financial analysis;
• free and paid versions.

5. Online service Home budget.

Peculiarities:

• works both on a home computer and on a mobile;
• accounting in any currency of the world;
• breakdown of expenses by categories and subcategories;
• planning, recording and analysis of income and expenses in the form of graphs and reports;
• the presence of a scheduler with a reminder function.

1. You do not need to independently compile analytical tables, enter formulas and build graphs. The developers have already taken care of this.
2. From the variety of programs, you can choose the one that will suit you in all respects.
3. You can choose a free option.

1. In many popular programs, some of the functions are available for an additional fee.
2. Internet access may be required.
3. If your phone is lost or your computer breaks down, all data may be lost.

Conclusion

The topic covered in this article is very important and interesting. I discovered many new things for myself. I am sure that an enterprise without competent planning, organization, management and control will not be able to function effectively. At the beginning of the article, we found out that the family is a small business. Therefore, the same principles apply to it as to any other enterprise.

You don't have to be an economist or financier to learn how to keep a family budget. It's pretty an exciting activity which is also of practical use. We improve financial literacy, learn to save and save. Agree that a few minutes every day are worth putting things in order once and for all in your wallet and in your head.

I also invite you, and you will regularly receive copyrighted, useful articles in which we will discuss issues relating to each of us.

Whether you manage your company finances or your household finances, creating a budget is an important first step. A budget is essential to keep track of current spending, determine where spending can be cut, and make decisions about where to spend money.

While creating a budget can seem like a daunting process, using a budget template can help make the process a little less intimidating. How to choose a template suitable for your purposes from a huge number of existing ones? We reviewed best templates in Excel and covered them in this article so you can choose the ones that work best for you. In addition, we offer detailed description Learn how to use the Personal Monthly Budget Template in Excel and Smartsheet.

1. Go to the website and sign in to your account (or use the free 30-day trial).
2. Go to the "Home" tab, click "Create" and select the "View Templates" option.
3. Enter the word "Budget" in the "Search Templates" field and click on the magnifying glass icon.
4. A list of templates will be displayed. For our example, we will use the Monthly Family Budget Planning template. Click on the blue "Use Template" button in the top right corner.
5. Name your template, choose where to save it, and click OK.

2. Enter details for your budget

A pre-formatted template will open containing content for the sample, as well as pre-made sections, categories, and subcategories. In Smartsheet, you can easily add or remove rows based on your budget data.

Simply right-click on a row and select "Insert Above" or "Insert Below" to add a row, or "Delete" to remove a row.

1. Update the section and subsection titles in the main column to match your data.

*Note that the "Savings" section of this template is included in the "Expenses" section. You can move this section to a more suitable place for you by selecting the desired lines, right-clicking on them and choosing "Cut". Then right-click on the line where you want to paste the selected lines and click Paste.

1. Enter your income, savings, and expenses for the relevant categories of your budget in the "Monthly budget" column. Please note that the hierarchy has already been set up for you, and the formulas will automatically calculate the totals for the categories based on the data specified in the subsections.
2. On the left side of each row, you can attach files directly to budget items (ideal for attaching bank statements, tax documents, etc.).
3. Add important details in the "Comments" column, such as account details or links to specific accounts.

3. Update your actual monthly budget

1. Enter the actual amounts in rubles for each of the budget elements during the corresponding month. You can customize how you receive reminders by opening the "Alerts" tab at the bottom of the page and selecting "New Reminder". Additional information.

1. You can share your budget with interested parties. This will not only help keep others informed about the state of the budget, but will also increase accountability on your part. To share, click the Sharing tab at the bottom of the page. Add addresses Email users you want to give access to, add a message and click on the blue "Share Table" button in the lower right corner of the dialog box.

The problem of lack of money is relevant for most modern families. Many literally dream of paying off their debts and starting a new one. financial life. In a crisis, the burden of low wages, loans and debts affects almost all families without exception. That is why people strive to control their spending. The point of saving costs is not that people are greedy, but to find financial stability and look at your budget soberly and impartially.

The benefit of controlling the financial flow is obvious - it is cost reduction. The more you save, the more confidence in tomorrow. The money saved can be used to form a financial cushion that will allow you to feel comfortable for a while, for example, if you are left without a job.

The main enemy in the way of financial control is laziness. People first light up with the idea of ​​controlling the family budget, and then quickly cool down and lose interest in their finances. To avoid this effect, you need to acquire a new habit - to constantly control your expenses. The most difficult period is the first month. Then the control becomes a habit, and you continue to act automatically. In addition, you will immediately see the fruits of your “labor” - your expenses will be surprisingly reduced. You will personally see that some expenses were superfluous and you can refuse them without harm to the family.

Poll: Excel spreadsheets are enough to control the family budget?

Accounting for family expenses and income in an Excel spreadsheet

If you are new to family budgeting, then before using powerful and paid home bookkeeping tools, try keeping a family budget in a simple Excel spreadsheet. The benefits of such a solution are obvious - you do not spend money on programs, and try your hand at controlling finances. On the other hand, if you bought the program, then this will stimulate you - since you spent the money, then you need to keep records.

It is better to start compiling a family budget in a simple table in which everything is clear to you. Over time, you can complicate and supplement it.

Here we see three sections: income, expenses and report. In the "expenses" section, we have entered the above categories. Near each category is a cell containing the total expense for the month (the sum of all days on the right). In the "days of the month" area, daily expenses are entered. In fact, this is a complete monthly report on the expenses of your family budget. This table gives the following information: expenses for each day, for each week, for a month, as well as the total expenses for each category.

As for the formulas that are used in this table, they are very simple. For example, the total expense for the category "car" is calculated by the formula =SUM(F14:AJ14). That is, this is the amount for all days on line number 14. The amount of expenses per day is calculated as follows: =SUM(F14:F25)- all numbers in column F from the 14th to the 25th line are summed up.

The section "income" is arranged in a similar way. This table has categories of budget revenues and the amount that corresponds to it. In the "total" cell, the sum of all categories ( =SUM(E5:E8)) in column E from the 5th to the 8th line. The "report" section is even simpler. Here, information from cells E9 and F28 is duplicated. The balance (income minus expenses) is the difference between these cells.

Now let's complicate our expense table. Let's introduce new columns "expenditure plan" and "deviation" (download the table of expenses and incomes). This is necessary for more accurate planning of the family budget. For example, you know that the cost of a car is usually 5,000 rubles / month, and the rent is 3,000 rubles / month. If we know the costs in advance, then we can make a budget for a month or even a year.

Knowing your monthly expenses and income, you can plan large purchases. For example, family income is 70,000 rubles / month, and expenses are 50,000 rubles / month. This means that every month you can save 20,000 rubles. And in a year you will be the owner large sum- 240,000 rubles.

Thus, the columns "expenditure plan" and "variance" are needed for long-term budget planning. If the value in the "deviation" column is negative (highlighted in red), then you deviated from the plan. Deviation is calculated by the formula =F14-E14(i.e. the difference between the plan and the actual costs per category).

What if you deviate from the plan in any month? If the deviation is insignificant, then next month you should try to save on this category. For example, in our table in the category "clothing and cosmetics" there is a deviation of -3950 rubles. This means that next month it is advisable to spend 2050 rubles (6000 minus 3950) on this group of goods. Then, on average, for two months you will not have a deviation from the plan: (2050 + 9950) / 2 = 12000 / 2 = 6000.

Using our data from the expense table, we will build a cost report in the form of a chart.

Similarly, we build a report on the income of the family budget.

The benefits of these reports are clear. Firstly, we get a visual representation of the budget, and secondly, we can track the percentage share of each category. In our case, the most expensive items are “clothes and cosmetics” (19%), “food” (15%) and “credit” (15%).

The Excel program has ready-made templates, which allow you to create the necessary tables in two clicks. If you go to the "File" menu and select the "Create" item, the program will prompt you to create a finished project based on the existing templates. Our theme includes the following templates: Sample Family Budget, Family Budget (Monthly), Simple Spending Budget, Personal Budget, Half Monthly Home Budget, Monthly Student Budget, Personal Expenses Calculator .

A selection of free Excel budgeting templates

Ready-made Excel spreadsheets can be downloaded for free from these links:

The first two tables are discussed in this article. The third table is described in detail in the article about home accounting. The fourth collection is an archive containing standard templates from an Excel spreadsheet.

Try downloading and working with each table. After reviewing all the templates, you are sure to find a table that is right for your family budget.

Excel Spreadsheets vs. Home Bookkeeping: Which Should You Choose?

Each method of doing home accounting has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you have never done home accounting and have poor computer skills, then it is better to start accounting for finances using a regular notebook. Enter all expenses and incomes into it in any form, and at the end of the month you take a calculator and reduce the debit with the credit.

If the level of your knowledge allows you to use an Excel spreadsheet or a similar program, then feel free to download templates for home budget tables and start accounting electronically.

When the functionality of the tables no longer suits you, you can use specialized programs. Start with the simplest personal accounting software, and only then, when you get real experience, you can purchase a full-fledged program for a PC or smartphone. For more information about financial accounting programs, see the following articles:

The advantages of using Excel spreadsheets are obvious. This is a simple, clear and free solution. It is also possible to gain additional skills in working with a spreadsheet processor. The disadvantages include low performance, poor visibility, as well as limited functionality.

Specialized family budget management programs have only one drawback - almost all normal software is paid. Only one question is relevant here - which program is the highest quality and cheapest? The advantages of the programs are: high speed, visual presentation of data, many reports, technical support from the developer, free updates.

If you want to try your hand at family budget planning, but are not ready to pay money, then download it for free and get down to business. If you already have experience in home accounting and want to use more advanced tools, then we recommend installing a simple and inexpensive program called Housekeeper. Consider the basics of personal accounting with the help of "Housekeeper".

Household bookkeeping in the program "Economy"

A detailed description of the program can be found on this page. The functionality of the Housekeeper is simple: there are two main sections: income and expenses.

The section "Incomes" is arranged in a similar way. User accounts are configured in the "Users" section. You can add any number of accounts in different currencies. For example, one account can be in rubles, the second in dollars, the third in Euros, etc. The principle of the program is simple - when you add an expense transaction, the money is debited from the selected account, and when you add a profitable transaction, the money, on the contrary, is credited to the account.

To build a report, you need to select the type of report in the "Reports" section, specify the time interval (if necessary) and click the "Build" button.

As you can see, everything is simple! The program will independently build reports and point you to the most costly items of expenditure. Using reports and a table of expenses, you will be able to manage your family budget more efficiently.

Video on the topic of the family budget in Excel

On the Internet, there are many videos on family budgeting. The main thing is that you not only watch, read and listen, but also apply the acquired knowledge in practice. By controlling your budget, you reduce unnecessary expenses and increase savings.

Every family, and not only in our country, faces the need to maintain a family budget. This is relevant, it is important and it is necessary for the family to feel happy. Let's talk about planning...

- this is the money earned by all family members, which is important to be able to spend correctly. Many average families are faced with such a problem as a lack of money before payday. Why is this happening? Maybe it's a small salary, or maybe it's an illiterate spending of money? We will try to find answers to these questions in this article.

First of all, you need to understand that this is money earned jointly in a month and additional income (part-time job, financial assistance from relatives). To learn how to spend money correctly and not get into debt, you need to know not only important rules spending, but also the mistakes that young families most often make.

Common Mistakes in General Family Budget Planning

As a rule, the expenses of the average family include spending on clothes, food, public utilities and other needs, which fall into three categories:

• permanent (payment for gas, water, internet, and so on);
• variables (recreation, entertainment);
• mandatory (loan repayment, if any).

Some of the most common misappropriation mistakes include:

1. No spending system, that is, money is spent randomly, without systematization and reasoning. In such a family, the salary is real holiday, which ends in a few days. After receiving wages, the family immediately begins to spend all the money and a week later is left without a penny. In this situation, experts advise the first three days after pay to behave as if there is not enough money. Thus, you will be able to avoid euphoria and waste of money.
2. There is a big cult of food in the family. The family spends most of the budget on groceries and food, I mean "a lot", much more than it could be. Big spending on food can really "shock" family budget and eventually lead to debt. After payday, you immediately come to the supermarket and start buying up the most expensive food products indiscriminately. Professional accountants and economists are advised to refrain from going to the store immediately after receiving wages. Also, don't shop on an empty stomach. And best of all, such a family will help: keeping track of expenses, compiling a list of the most necessary, going to the store as rarely as possible, for example, only on weekends and shopping necessary products by the list.
3. Out of pocket spending, which include spending on cigarettes, various drinks, coffee in a cafe, and so on. If every day on the way home you treat yourself to ice cream or a delicious bun, then you can not only get better, but also be left without money until payday. By refusing such seemingly insignificant expenses, you can save at least 1000-3000 rubles a week. Try to calculate the volume of such “small” expenses even during the week, and make sure that this is actually far from a trifle.

Methods for competent family budget planning

There are many methods that can tell you, and at the same time not give up the most necessary. For this, competent optimization of spending is required. Experts advise keeping track of income and expenses. This may be a special program on the computer (we wrote about free program, which we use in our family), a special application on the phone, or you can just start a notebook of expenses and enter all the expenses for the day there every day. Within a few months and even weeks, you will have a clear idea of ​​​​where all the money is spent. Thus, you will be able to make up and reduce costs several times over. From my own experience, I can say with 100% certainty, and I have been keeping track of income and expenses for more than 2.5 years, that this works, and in a month it dramatically changes the worldview on the attitude towards money (I wrote my report in the article). Here are some of the simplest available ways family budget planning.

Method "5 envelopes"

You may have not 5, but more envelopes that need to be given the appropriate names:

• public utilities;
• Internet;
• cloth;
• travel and so on.

After receiving your salary, depending on its name, you need to invest in each envelope the amount of money that you are willing to spend on specific expenses, such as clothing. After that, within a month, take money from the envelope that was allocated specifically for the purchase of clothes. At the same time, keep receipts and make notes. With this method, you will be able to family budget planning and even save money, for example, to buy a TV.

Pareto method (80/20)

This is enough simple technique which will tell you how to make a family budget and help you save money. The main rule is to immediately set aside 20 percent of the total amount after receiving wages. This money can be put into a bank account or left on a card. The remaining 80% can be spent at your discretion, adhering to the main rules of saving:

• buy only the essentials;
• keep a book of expenses;
• sometimes deny yourself something.

Method of "three areas of application"

It is similar to the Pareto method, but 80% of the remaining money must be divided into two parts, for example, 30 and 50 percent. Thus, the spending scheme will look like this:

1. 50% of the money is spent on mandatory needs (payment for electricity, water, gas and travel).
2. 30% of the money can be spent on your favorite things and going to a restaurant.
3. 20% should be set aside.

Compiling a family budget

Competent monthly family budget planning is carried out by compiling a table of income and expenses of working family members. This table should include both official and unofficial sources of income. The table can be drawn on a piece of paper by hand or you can use an Excel document. The finished table can be downloaded from our website in the article and adapted to your own needs.

As a rule, if we plan family budget, table expenses and income consists of the following sections:

1. Income of husband, wife, other family members.
2. Expenses: fixed, variable, mandatory.
3. Spending for children, spouse, spouse.
4. Unforeseen expenses.
5. The final amount of all expenses.
6. Saving the family budget, in other words, what is left of wages.

If necessary, it is possible to add additional sections and subsections to the table, but it must take into account all the expenses and profits of the family. Ideally, the family budget table looks like this:

Income:

Expenses:

Remember! Planning and keeping records of expenses and income - it's easy!

This was not done so that you would totally save, count every penny and put your “teeth on the shelf”, but regard this work as a “watchdog” that protects you from unreasonable spending!

These are the most basic points that you should definitely know! I'm sure you want to know many more subtleties on this issue, how money should be distributed, in what proportions and sequence, etc., which is why we will meet again soon on the "I-MOM" blog.