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2019 was the first year that I made a budget binder and it helped our family so much!! We were extremely bad at keeping track of our spending before I made the binder. I had searched templates for budget binders and they all just seemed so complicated. So I did my own, my budget binder is probably the simplest you could get! You may want more out of your binder and that’s fine and totally doable! But for an easy and simple binder, here’s how I made and use mine!
Step 1
Find a binder, it doesn’t have to be big, it doesn’t even have to be a binder, you can use a notebook or a few pieces of paper and keep them posted to where you can see them.
Step 2
Make your calendars, you can find free blank monthly calendars online or just make your own. I had a couple of blank templates that I had printed out last year so I used those to trace and make my monthly calendars.
Step 3
Fill out your calendars with the months and dates. Then mark your pay dates. Now, you want to go through and mark all of your bills.
Step 4
I always place a blank sheet of paper behind every month. This is to keep track of bills and when they are paid. I also use this sheet to keep a running log of spending.
So on this blank sheet I want you to write across the top the dates that you get paid during the month and the usual amount that you get paid. — For example if you get paid twice a month you’ll have 1/15/20 and 1/31/20 and lets say each check is $1,000. Now your going to write down which bills need to be paid with each check. So lets have mortgage/rent due on the 1st and power/electric due on the 18th…for an example. Your mortgage/rent will need to be paid with your 31st income check of the previous month. Your power/electric will be need to be paid with your 15th income check. It’s easy to see how much you need to save out of a check for your next set of bills as well!
Step 5
Write down the total amount you have after bills have been paid. From here you’re going to subtract every time you make a purchase!
So there you have it, an easy budget binder idea, you can add more to it if needed. I find it really easy to add an unexpected bill in, if it were to come up. Every pay day I pull my binder out and take a few minutes to pay bills, it’s been a tremendous help with keeping on top of things!
Look out for my next post on what to do if you’re behind on bills and how to reorganize paying your bills!
Don’t forget, find the time to enjoy a HOT cup of coffee!
We love coffee in our house. It is what my husband and I do every morning enjoy a cup together and well chaos is right up my alley. I will be following along!
Thank you so much!! Chaos consumes most of my day!
oh and i made a budget binder like yours years ago using what I had on hand and I am really using it this year. I have a master copy of both mine and hubby’s bills we don’t keep a joint account or always have the same financial views.
For some reason I like pen and paper the best. I have tried apps and keeping everything on my phone calendar but it just doesn’t seem to work as well!