Gridwork template
Monthly budget spreadsheet template
List your income and each bill twice, once as you planned it and once as it really was. The template works out the difference on every line, what’s left over at the end of the month, how much you spent and which cost was biggest.
What’s in it
The template opens with example numbers you can type over, and a chart that follows the numbers. Here’s the first sheet as it opens:
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monthly budget | |||
| 2 | Month | November 2026 | ||
| 3 | Item | Planned | Actual | Difference |
| 4 | Income: salary | $2,850.00 | $2,850.00 | $0.00 |
| 5 | Income: side work | $300.00 | $420.00 | $120.00 |
| 6 | Rent | -$1,100.00 | -$1,100.00 | $0.00 |
| 7 | Energy | -$120.00 | -$134.50 | -$14.50 |
| 8 | Water | -$35.00 | -$35.00 | $0.00 |
| 9 | Phone and internet | -$55.00 | -$55.00 | $0.00 |
| 10 | Groceries | -$380.00 | -$412.80 | -$32.80 |
| 11 | Transport | -$140.00 | -$121.40 | $18.60 |
| 12 | Eating out | -$120.00 | -$165.00 | -$45.00 |
| 13 | Subscriptions | -$38.00 | -$38.00 | $0.00 |
| 14 | Savings | -$400.00 | -$400.00 | $0.00 |
| 15 | Other | -$100.00 | -$64.20 | $35.80 |
| 16 | Left over | $662.00 | $744.10 | $82.10 |
| 17 | ||||
| 18 | Spent this month | $2,525.90 | ||
| 19 | Biggest cost | Rent |
The formulas it uses
- D4:
=C4-B4gives $0.00. - B16:
=SUM(B4:B15)gives $662.00. SUM: adds the numbers. - B18:
=-SUMIF(C4:C15,"<0")gives $2,525.90. SUMIF: adds the cells that match. - B19:
=INDEX(A4:A15,MATCH(MIN(C4:C15),C4:C15,0))gives Rent. INDEX: the value at a row and column; MATCH: the position of a value; MIN: the smallest number.
Tips
- Put money coming in as positive numbers and money going out as negative ones: then one SUM gives what’s left.
- Copy the sheet each month (tap its tab, then Duplicate) so you can compare months side by side.
- If a line is always over plan, change the plan rather than hoping: a budget you can keep beats a strict one you can’t.
Questions
What’s the difference between planned and actual?
Planned is what you expect to spend at the start of the month; actual is what you really spent. The Difference column is actual minus planned, so a negative number on a bill means it cost more than you planned.
How do I add another bill?
Insert a row above “Left over” (long-press or right-click the row number, then Insert row above) and type it in: the SUM ranges grow to include it.
Can I open it in Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes: in Gridwork, More then Save as Excel (.xlsx) keeps the formulas. It’s free, with no account, and the file stays on your device until you save it.