Step 2: Tracking Your Money for a Month

Click here for the excel version.

Click here for the pdf version.

If you are uncomfortable with a download, you can copy and paste the following into excel for a reasonably close version.

Category 2/28 Balance March Comments
1 Cash on hand $ $
Checking Account $ $ 2 paychecks
Other: ___________________ $ $ Bob payed back pizza loan
2 Savings/Emergency Fund $ $ adding $50 a month
Savings/Long Term Goal $ $
Retirement (401k) $ $
Retirement (IRA) $ $
College Fund(s) $ $
Other: ___________________ $ $
3 Mortgage/Rent $ $
Auto Expense (Insurance, Maint) $ Insurance (150), new windshield wipers (22)
Auto Exp (Loan/Lease) $ $ $387 lease payment
Auto Expense (Fuel) $
Interest/bank fees $
Life Insurance $
Utilities (includes cell/house phone) $
Pest Control (pd Jun/Sep/Dec/Mar) $
Groceries $
Dining out $ Dinner with parents (60), Sunday brunch (37)
Travel $ Deposit on summer vacation hotel (189)
Medical $
Entertainment $ includes cable, netflix, spotify, concert tickets
Gifts $ Jenn’s birthday (27), Brian’s birthday (26)
Lawn care $ Grass seed (47)
House Improvements/Décor $
Donations $
Blank line to customize if needed $
Blank line to customize if needed $
Discretionary – Self $ Yoga classes (60) Dress (38) Lunch with Vi (12)
Discretionary – Significant Other $
Discretionary – Offspring $
Blank line to customize if needed $
Discretionary – Misc. $ lightbulbs, batteries
4 Student Loans $ $ <–this is what you paid towards the loan this month.
Credit Card 1 $ $
Credit Card 2 $ $
Personal Loan: $ $
Other: ___________________ $ $
Other: ___________________ $ $
Other: ___________________ $ $