My 2012 Financial Workbook {Plus Free Download}
posted by Andrea | 01/16/2012
Last year, I shared the handy Excel workbook I’ve been using to track my finances ever since I was in college. Obviously, I’ve updated it over the years… but the basic concept is the same, and it works wonderfully for me. Based on all the emails I get, I assume it also works wonderfully for many of you!
Now before you get too excited, let me just reiterate that this workbook is NOT a budget — it does not tell you how much you can and can not spend. Instead, it’s a tool to help you track your finances and monitor how much you actually DO spend.
I know many of you are trying to create a budget to help you and your family save more and spend less, but in my opinion, it’s impossible to set up a realistic budget unless you first figure out exactly where your money is going and how much you are currently spending, saving, etc.
So if you’ve never actually taken the time to track your finances for an entire year, this workbook should be extremely helpful for you as the first step to then creating a realistic budget.
I’m not going to go into a ton of detail about the spreadsheet itself, because you can read about all the different categories and features here… but instead, I’ll give you a quick overview.
Basically, the workbook has 7 worksheets or categories {see image below}
Each worksheet provides a place to track monthly and weekly income, bills, expenses, debt reduction, giving, and investments.
You can see the summary of everything {including your overall surplus or shortage} on the last worksheet.
So the idea is that if you faithfully record ALL your income and ALL your expenses, you should be able to quickly and easily see how much you are spending on a monthly basis AND for each category {like gas, groceries, clothing, utility bills, etc.}
After you’ve tracked your finances for several months or an entire year, THEN it’s time to sit down and figure out where you might be able to cut back a little {or a lot} and create your budget based on those numbers. Creating a budget based on real-life numbers will be so much easier than just pulling numbers out of thin air; and you will be much more likely to stick to your budget — which is the whole point!
If you’ve never taken the time to track your saving or spending before, this could be an eye-opening exercise for you {numbers don’t lie!}… but I guarantee it will be worth it in the end!
Download your FREE 2012 Financial Workbook here!!
- Here is a link to the “regular” Excel File
- Here is a link to the “97-2003″ Excel File {if you are using an older version of Excel}
- Here is a link to an “Open Document Spreadsheet” — in case the others don’t work
- Here is a link to it in Google Docs. {some of the formatting is different here}
NOTE: The files will automatically download to your computer by clicking the link above. You will need Microsoft Excel on your computer to be able to use this worksheet — and you should save it in a convenient place {like your desktop} so you can easily update it on a daily/weekly basis.
I created this workbook so that you will be able to edit everything — because that only makes sense to me! However, even though I’m giving you full access to use and edit this workbook, I hope you don’t abuse that by trying to pass it off as your own 
If you are trying to save more and spend less this year, download my FREE 2012 Financial Workbookand get started today!
Filed under: Budgeting • Frugal Living • Living Simply
Deni
16/01/2012Thanks Andrea! This is exactly what I needed to see today. I have downloaded the workbook and will start today. Thanks for the encouragement to watch my spending and save!
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vicki
16/01/2012Thanks! I can’t wait to look at it and start my own budget. I have been winging it for years and this is my year to succeed!!!
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Katie
16/01/2012We are starting our second year using your workbook and everytime I open it to organize our spending I say a little thank you to you:)
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Megan
16/01/2012Any tips for how to download the file on a mac? I’m sure I’m doing something wrong, but not sure what!
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Andrea Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
I’m not very familiar with Macs but I know they often don’t have Excel {they have “Numbers” instead} so that might be why you can’t download it.
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Jeannie Spiro
16/01/2012Thanks for sharing this it makes it so easy!
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Melinda T
17/01/2012Thank you so much! I just downloaded and can’t wait to read it and get started!
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Brea
17/01/2012Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m in college, and really don’t make or spend a whole lot.. but I’m excited to start this now, before I’m a real adult with real adult bills!:)
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Andrea Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Your welcome Brea — and way to go starting when you in college!! You’ll be glad you did — and when you look back in a few years, you’ll probably be shocked at how little you were able to live on in college
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Cathy
20/01/2012Thank you! Looks good and easier to use than some systems we’ve tried.
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stacy
20/01/2012Thank you for sharing. This is very generous of you
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Danielle
20/01/2012I really like this and thank you so very much for creating and sharing it. I can’t wait to begin today.
Thank you!!!
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Joan
20/01/2012I have been keeping a budget for 3 years now, but it had become so complicated that I dreaded doing it. I love your workbook! It is a much similar solution.
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Casey
20/01/2012Thank you so much! My new years resolution is to live simply and be organized…this will help SO much.
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Janely
20/01/2012Thanks Andrea for sharing your financial workbook with us! I have just began keeping track of my family’s monthly expenses on excel. I’m somewhat clueless in using Excel, so it’s really nice that your workbook does all the calculating for me.
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Karen White
20/01/2012I am not about to download
Any thoughts? Anyone else having this problem?
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Lorelei
21/01/2012Oh wow! Wish I had this years ago. So easy to use and gives me a CLEAR picture of my situation. Thank you, thank you for sharing this.
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Elaine
21/01/2012I just downloaded this and really excited to start BUT I don’t see where you fill in your expenses.
the categories aren’t showing up. Any help?
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April
22/01/2012Thank you for this!!! I found you via Money Saving Mom.
I just posted a few days ago how we figure out a budget for our family. You can check it out here if you would like:
http://www.momentswithapril.com/how-to-make-a-household-budget/
Thanks again!
Blessings,
April
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