Make sense of your monthly budget
A useful budget separates what you planned from what actually happened.
Choose a period and currency
Start with one month. Use one currency per file so that every amount in your totals is comparable.
Enter your plan
List expected income and main expenses. Keep categories simple and easy to understand.
Record transactions
Enter the date, category, type and amount for each transaction. Check missing fields before reading the totals.
Compare with context
Review differences between plan and actual figures. An annual expense may explain an unusual month. The workbook is a tracking tool, not financial advice.
Example: understand a difference without counting it twice
Take a fictional workbook recorded entirely in euros. The groceries line has a monthly plan of €300. Recorded transactions total €325: actual spending is €25 above the plan.
- Planned
- The €300 is a reference for the period. It is not a bank transaction and is not added to the actual spending total.
- Actual
- The €325 comes from transactions you have entered. Correct the original entry when needed instead of creating a duplicate.
- Interpretation
- Check dates and categories first. A misclassified or duplicated entry can explain a difference.
This example illustrates record keeping, not a recommended grocery budget. Check a few entries against your receipts and use the same reporting period throughout.
Before you start
- Every transaction appears only once.
- Dates, categories and amounts are filled in.
- The workbook uses a single currency.
- Plans and actual transactions remain separate.