This free printable budget binder and budget planner can help you save more money and spend less! Get ready to crush debt and start saving!
The 2021 Budget Binder is here! I've been getting dozens of emails requesting the 2021 version, and today is the day! I share a budget planner each year in hopes that by tracking income and expenses, people can spend less money, save more, pay off those debts and end 2021 in a much better financial position than where they started.
[Did you know that we offer more than 200 pages of free printables on the blog?! See all of our free printable binders, calendar printables, and other organizing printables.]
How to Make a Budget Binder
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
With the holiday bills about to start piling up, now is the perfect time to start getting our finances in check, amiright?!
What supplies do I need to put together a Budget Binder?
Here's what I use to compile my Budget Binder:
- Printer (I currently use this one and love it.)
- Paper (I like to use at least 24# and sometimes even go up to 32#.)
- A 3-Ring Binder (I like this one and this one.)
- Dividers (I like these ones with pockets and these ones without.)
- Clear Sleeves (Like these, optional.)
- Hole Punch (I use this heavy duty one.)
- I like to use this label maker + clear tape to label my divider tabs.
What's included in the budget planner for 2021?
Want to see what's included in this year's Budget Binder? Let's check it out:
A Pretty Cover
Of course it had to have a pretty cover page! 🙂 This year's cover is cheery and simple, with space to write your name on the provided line.
Goal Setting Sheet
Goal setting is oh-so-important to me, especially when it comes to finances. When Donnie and I take the time to sit down together and write out our financial goals, it puts us on the same page, and we are much more likely to achieve what we set out to do!
Let’s say we’ve set a goal to pay off our student loans in the next year. We’ll write it down on this page, give ourselves a timeframe in which to complete it (by the end of December 2021), and then we’ll list the action steps that we are going to take in order to reach that goal.
Maybe we’ll plan to make a double payment each month. Maybe we can get an extra little side job to make some additional money to put toward the debt. Or maybe we can cut down on our budget in other areas like clothing or eating out to come up with the extra cash. However we decide to do it, it’s not enough to just set the goal. We need to have a plan to get there.
These goals and action steps are in the front of the binder for a reason– they’re there as a constant reminder of what we're working toward. If we’re looking at them each day or week when we’re tracking expenses in the binder, we renew our commitment and drive to reach them.
Then, for example, if we’re really tempted to go out to eat instead of just grabbing something from home, we think of our goal. Paying off those student loans will feel better than an extra meal out ever could!
Tracking Recurring Expenses
The next thing I wanted to have in our Budget Binder was a list of recurring expenses. This includes anything we pay on a yearly, quarterly, or monthly basis. Some examples might be:
- Loan payments (like rent or a mortgage, car payment, or student loan)
- Insurance payments (like homeowner's insurance, car insurance, or health insurance)
- Utility bills (like electric, gas, water, and sewage)
- Subscription services (like Netflix, magazine subscriptions, or meal services)
- Tuition or lesson fees (like kids' music lessons, sports teams, or clubs)
- Gym memberships
- Regular charitable giving (like to churches or non-profits)
- Recurring contributions to savings (like a general savings account or a retirement fund)
What if I don't know what recurring payments I have?
If you don't already have a list of your recurring payments, look back over your last few months of bank statements (most banks provide them online these days!) and write down each bill that you pay on a recurring basis.
You can also also use your bank statements to fill in the amount of each recurring bill (if it varies slightly each month, I usually write down what it is when the bill is on the higher end) and the day of the month it comes out of the account.
The small boxes on the right half of the page have the initials of each month at the top; when a bill is paid, I can just check the box to keep track and I know I'm good for another month.
Monthly Expenses
After the recurring expenses were taken care of, I needed a way to keep track of any purchases we make throughout the month. We break down our purchases into categories and budget a certain amount of money for each category.
This can be as simple or as detailed as you want, but everything you buy during the month needs to fit into one of your categories. Some of our Budget Binder categories for tracking our expenses include:
- Groceries
- Eating out
- Household expenses
- Gas
- Entertainment
- Clothing
- Gifts
- Car maintenance
- Fun money (You may want to give each member of your household a little bit of guilt-free fun money each month so they don’t get burnt out with being so strict about the budget– everyone needs a little splurge every once in a while!)
I created a tracking sheet (kind of like a checkbook register) and printed one out for each category. At the top I can list the category and amount of money we've budgeted for it.
Then I use the chart to record our purchases and keep a running balance of what we've spent so that I always know how much we have left in our budget for the month.
How do I know how much to budget for each category?
If you're new to budgeting or haven't done it in a while, just leave the budget amount blank for the first month and simply track your expenses. This will give you a good ballpark figure for your budget amounts for month #2.
Note: You will print out a new set of tracking sheets each month.
Monthly Check-In
And finally, at the end of each month, I have included a monthly check-in page where we evaluate how things went. We jot down things that went well and things we can improve the following month so that we know where our strengths and weaknesses lie. There is also room to break down some of our bigger goals into specific goals for the month.
Going back to our “paying off our student loans” example, maybe this month we want to be able to put an extra $100 toward our payment. We can commit to that in this space and write down the specific steps we’re going to take to get there in our Budget Binder.
Revisiting our goals each month and seeing how far we’ve come can be really motivating and give us that extra push we need to keep pressing toward our financial goals!
How do I get the free 2021 Budget Binder?
Ready to snag your copy of the 2021 budget planner? Click the button below and get it delivered directly to your inbox! You will also gain access to my full library of free printables that are exclusively for my newsletter subscribers!
Do you have any tips for getting finances organized? I'd love to hear them in the comments!
Not ready to set up your Budget Binder right this second? Save this post to return to later-- pin the image below!
Looking for ideas for saving money? These posts can help:
Our Top 5 Tips for Living on One Income
10 Practical Ways to Save More Money This Month
30+ Tips to Help You Make Money While You Declutter
How to Get Organized Without Spending a Lot of Money
*I am not a financial professional. I am simply sharing strategies that have worked for my family in the past to help save more money, and I hope they will be helpful for you as well! Thanks for reading!
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
The images below are from a previous version of this post.
I love this, Abby! I need to go back to writing down all my purchases. That really does make you more aware of what you're spending and where you need to cut things out. Have a great weekend! XO
Thanks, friend! I know our bank account is a lot happier when I'm writing things down, lol. Now I just have to stick to it! Have a wonderful weekend, Christy!
~Abby =)
Hi Abby! So cute!!! I love these so much! I get an error each time I click on the pink banner in order to print the free budget sheets. Any ideas?? thanks - Heather
Hi, Heather! So sorry it's giving you trouble! Sometimes if you click the button before the page has fully loaded on your computer, you'll get that error message. Try giving it an extra minute to load up and then click the button. I apologize for the inconvenience!
~Abby =)
How awesome is this?! Such cute printables too! Thanks for sharing.
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Thank you so much, Jennifer! I'm hoping the cuteness will give me extra motivation, lol. Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Thanks so much for the downloads! I can't wait to start using them. Every year I think I start off trying to budget, and then give up after a while, but this year I'm going to really try and stick with a budget, and this defintiely will help. Thanks again!
You are most welcome, my friend! You and I both-- I'm hoping this will help me stick to things more easily this year! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
the link for the printable doesn't work
Hi, Stephanie! I just tried it, and it worked for me... sometimes if you click it while the page is still loading you'll get an error message, so try giving it a minute to load before you click. So sorry about that! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
Sticking to our budgets and saving more $$$ is one of my goals this year so this is very helpful!
I think I too need to ditch our computer budget and go for good ol' paper and pen method!
Thanks for sharing, Abby!
Have a fabulous weekend 🙂
Thanks, Selene! I'm a pen and paper girl, too, so hopefully this method will work for both of us! Enjoy your weekend!
~Abby =)
Abby this is great I can totally use this in my quest to get organized! Thanks for the fun finance 🙂 Printables,
Cheers
Thanks so much, Therese! Happy organizing! Have a great day!
~Abby =)
Oooh so pretty Abby! I am so impressed with how organized you are!! My receipts always end up in a pile at the bottom of my purse:) But I am sure that knowing you are going to write everything down means you think twice before you buy!
I totally understand the pile of receipts in the purse. I was having the same problem, so hopefully this system will help! Have a great day!
~Abby =)
Oooooh...I need this. I need this bad. Thanks for sharing!!! 🙂
Lol, me too! Hopefully I can stick to it! 😀 Hope you're having a wonderful week, friend!
~Abby =)
Hey! Your monthly expense sheet looks extremely similar to the one I made! Good job! I love mine. 🙂 I grabbed your printables and hope to use them in my routine!
Thanks Abby!
You know what they say... great minds think alike! 😉 Hope you have an awesome week, Renee!
~Abby =)
They do say that don't they!! 🙂 have a great week too Abby!
Super cute AND useful! I might just have to try this. Thanks Abby, Happy New Year to you!
Thanks so much, Sharon! Happy New Year to you as well! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
I'm getting so many great organizational tips this morning! And you money saving binder is so cute and practical. Pinning to remember! Thanks.
your (half asleep)
Thanks so much for the pin, Miss Alli! Hope you have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
It is always surprising when you track your expenses. Good for you. I started with something smaller - the linen closet. When organizing for thenNew year, I have to do the one step at the time method or I get overwhelmed.
I'm all for baby steps! Do what you're comfortable with and build on that-- good for you, Yvonne! Hope you have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I need this binder in my life!
So glad it's helpful! Have a wonderful week, Miss Tiff!!
~Abby =)
This is right up my alley! Thanks so much for sharing...looks like I'll be adding another binder to my "system".
Thank you, Andrea! Gotta love binders, right? I'm slightly obsessed! 😀 Have a great day!
~Abby =)
I am SO excited I found your blog! I love link ups...I will have to write a DIY post next month so that I can link up! Great savings binder....I need to make myself one of these!
Thanks so much, Megan! Looking forward to checking out your project! Have a great day!
~Abby =)
GIRL. This is awesome! downloaded!! 🙂 I love lists and pretty templates!
Thank you so much, friend! You are the queen of pretty printables, so that means a lot! Hope you're having a great day! See you tomorrow night!
~Abby =)
Thank you for the great printables! I'm always looking for ways to keep track of my finances! Glad I found your blog!
Thank you so much, Tanya! You are so sweet! I'm so glad you stopped by. Have a great day!
~Abby =)
Thank you for this awesome printable. I found it on pinterest and it is exactly what my husband and i needed to track our spending. Thank you!!!
Yay! I'm so glad it was useful, Julie! Happy tracking!
~Abby =)
Great post about saving money! Not to mention a great start for the year! Love the printables....very cute!
Thank you so much, Miss Sabrina! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Thanks so much. With all my current medical expenses we will definitely be more disciplined to be more budget minded. And these forms are just what I needed. Thanks Abs!
Thanks so much, Sonya! I'm glad the printables are helpful! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
This is great - thanks so much for the tips. We have been tackling this as well for about a year now through online systems, but I think you are right - pen and paper is more reliable, and for some reason, the money seems more "real" when you write it down. I appreciate it!
I linked to a post where we shared a new organizing method we are using to attack the toys in our house (that is first up...clean up, clear out, sell and donate!)
I agree-- there is something about good old pen and paper that makes it feel more real! Love your method for clearing out toys-- I need to get on that myself! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I just found this today & fell in love! I've been looking for nice budgeting printables all morning & this was the first one I found that had a nice simple design to it. Thank you so much!
Yay! Thank you so much, Jerica! I'm so glad the printables were helpful. Happy budgeting! 😀
~Abby =)
Love the expense sheets. I've been wanting to move to something like this. Quick question: when you're at Walmart or Target and buying stuff from different categories do pay separately or all together and figure the math at home? This has been the reason I've never gone to the expense sheets. Any thoughts you can throw my way I'll be grateful.
Thanks, Christina! I pay for everything together and then separate it out at home. Sometimes if I'm in a hurry, I just round it out to the closest dollar when I split it up. A few cents really won't throw my budget off! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you're having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Thank you for these. I love the recurring bills tracker - especially because it separates them yearly, quarterly, monthly. The one I have doesn't so I might just be switching to your version 🙂
Thank you so much, Shailynn! I'm so glad they're helpful! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
hi! I just subscribed to your email newsletter but haven't received an email with the link to the PDF to print the budget binder. can you send that to me or is there somewhere else on the website where I can download it?
Abby,
This is so helpful! I'm about to graduate from college, and I didn't know where to start as far as planning and organizing my expenses and personal documents. These printables & the printables from your home binder page are so incredibly helpful.
So thrilled to have found your site. Thank you!
-Hannah
Thank you so much, Hannah! Your sweet comment totally made my day! Congrats on your upcoming graduation-- so exciting! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
What a great post, Abby! Such awesome tips!
Hugs,
Jamie
Thank you, Jamie! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
I subscribed but didn't get a link to the binder. What did I do wrong?
Hi, Rosalyn! The links to the binder pages are at the bottom of this post; you don't have to subscribe to get them! When you subscribe to my newsletter list, you'll get a PDF that teaches you how to make your own organizing printables. If you don't see it within an hour of subscribing, check your spam folder. Sometimes they make their way there, unfortunately. If you still don't see the PDF, let me know, and I'll email you a copy. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!
~Abby =)
Thanks so much!
Love, love, love your budget binder! Thank you so much for sharing. It has saved me so much time and is exactly what I was looking for. Plus it's adorable. Thanks again!
Yay! So glad I could help! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, Raeanne!
~Abby =)
Love this organized way of keeping track! I also prefer pen and paper, I find I am more likely to keep looking at it that way, however I have recently started to scan all of my recipts for big purchases as well as keep the origonal when I noted the recipt started to wear over time.
Thanks so much, Heather! Yes, I am totally a pen and paper girl! My hubby, on the other hand, is obsessed with being paperless, so he does a ton of the scanning that you mentioned. I guess opposites attract, right?! 😉 Hope you have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I suppose that is true. I like to do the organization while my hubby dislikes doing any of that.
Instead of using a binder, I use envelopes to write down my expenses and contain receipts. However, in the future I might have to start using a binder. That's a great idea! I'm a decently new college graduate ('13) who has been out on her own for about 9 months now. My first month on my own I wrote a budget and have been sticking to it ever since. I find that budgeting my money gives me piece of mind and allows me to live richer than I would if I just spent my money willy-nilly.
Congrats on sticking to your budget! So many people struggle with that, and it's great that you're doing it right out of college! Your future self will thank you! 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend, Holly!
~Abby =)
Hi, just like to say that my wife Sylvia thinks these are "Awesome", She is very methodical and keeps receipts and writes expenses etc in a little note book. Now she has your printables, things are looking for the better on keeping tabs with expenditures. Especially living in Cyprus, you have to retain receipts and watch the money flow. Thank you.
Thank you so much! So glad the printables are useful! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Abby,
I love your printables. I was curious what fonts you used for your budget binder.
Thanks so much, Kim! The cursive font is Jenna Sue and the print is Graphite Std Light. Hope this helps!
~Abby =)
Love this! I've just signed up cant wait to get my pack and get started
Just wondering, but are all your recurring bills the same amount every month? Mine aren't, so I'm trying to figure out how you would keep track of that. I would have to change the amount every month. Can you help me??
Love this idea, though!
Hi, Wendy! Some of our bills (like utilities) vary from month to month, so on my budget sheet, I have listed a higher end average of what we expect them to be. Then I'll often note the actual amount in the little box for each month. I hope this helps!
~Abby =)
I LOVE this Abby you are amazing!!! 🙂
I just use a budget sheet as well, but sometimes this type of budget sheet confuses me. My bills (i.e water, power, gas, etc) aren't always the same AMOUNT every month. I don't understand how you keep track of that. I have tried to make my own where I have a space every month to write the amount and the due date and if it's paid. Could you please help me understand??
Love your ideas, though!!
Hi, Wendy! For bills that fluctuate a little bit, I just put an estimation (on the high side), so we know around how much to expect, and then I write the actual amount in the tiny check box so we can keep track and know if our estimation is still on par. I hope this helps!
~Abby =)
Abby,
Does these printables come in the A-4 size by chance? I just love them!
Thanks,
Kim
I just have the full size. So sorry about that!
~Abby =)
I have been searching the Internet for templates to use to make our "tax season process" more manageable. My husband and I adopted a child almost eight months ago who is currently undergoing cancer treatment for Acute Lymphatic Leukemia at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Your documents have helped me SO MUCH better manage out expenses and at home and at our other "home-away-from-home." Thank you for your kindness in sharing these resources.
Oh Kathryn, I will be praying for your sweet family. I'm so glad the binder has been able to help. Hugs!!
~Abby =)
I wish I could share your Organizing Finances on my FB page. Is there a way to do that?
Thanks-Tricia Kelly
These are perfect for our new commitment to budgeting. I really think it will stick this time! Thanks for sharing!
I love this idea and have already printed everything up. I also kept a "master" copy of each sheet and placed it into a clear sleeve and put it into the back of my binder. This will make it quick and easy to make copies and not have to hunt for them on my computer. Can't wait to get started.
So sorry about that, Noelle! I just emailed you!
~Abby =)
Hi, Stephanie! I just emailed you!
~Abby =)
Abby, Thanks so much for sharing your printables! I loved using your pretty 2016 monthly calendar sheets to write out a visual look at when my bills are coming due. Do you have any similar calendar pages for 2017?
Hi, Jill! You can find the 2017 calendar here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/free-printable-2017-calendar/. Thanks and have a great day!
~Abby =)
I tried downloading the binder but the link hasn't come through to my email for me to download it.
So sorry about that, Chandra! I had my assistant email it to you at minte[email protected] so you should receive it shortly!
~Abby =)
I would love to receive your printables link but neither of my email addresses are receiving the link. Not sure what is going on. Would you be so kind to send me a link, please? It would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, Denise! Can you send us an email at hello {at} justagirlandherblog {dot} com and we'll get you all set up. Sorry about that!
~Abby =)
I love this. I definitely need to go back to writing down all of my expenses! A habit that I've gotten out of.
Hi,
How do I download or print the budget binder pages?
Hi, Teresa! Did you receive the email with the budget binder printables? You should be able to open it and print with any program that works with PDF's. If you didn't receive the email, send us an email at hello {at} justagirlandherblog {dot} com and we'll get it to you. Thanks!
~Abby =)
Hi Abby
I love your ideas i get daily emails from you
When will the 2018 binder be available?
I do want to start using one
Thank you for sharing with us !!
Jackie
Hi, Jackie! I usually release the new one sometime in November, but none of the printables are dated so the 2017 version would work now as well! 🙂 Have a great evening!
~Abby =)
Hooray! Thanks for taking the time to get ME organized! Haha
Yay! So glad it will be helpful for you, Renee! Happy budgeting! 🙂
~Abby =)
I use Excel for my budget and expenses tracking, but I'll try your printables, they look so nice 🙂
Thanks so much! Hope they're helpful for you! 🙂
~Abby =)
Hey there, I just happen on to your blog. I was doing research for a post on my blog and I really appreciate what you are doing here. I look forward to your next posts
So glad it was helpful for you, Iceta! Have a great day!
~Abby =)
These are awesome, thank you very much Abby!
So glad it was helpful!
~Abby =)
I feel like I’ve been living under a rock. I’ve searched Pinterest for something like this blog and finally I’ve come across exactly what I’ve always wanted, but never knew how to do myself. Your budget binder and organized lists are so beautiful. I appreciate you for sharing these with others without charging a crazy fee. I love this blog and I love how easy the entire site is to navigate. Thank you so much. I am beyond thankful for your family.
Thank you so much for your sweet words, Lola!! They really mean a lot! I'm so glad that the printables will be helpful. Have a wonderful day!
~Abby =)
Dear Abby,
I am trying to finally get my finances back on track and in a much better place. It does take time and patience for sure. I was just thinking I need a budge sheet and was so happy in finding your blog it's the budget planner is so well put together and love the colors seem relaxing when we're all so stressed from bills we have each month.
I will share this with my daughter who loves this stuff and being very organized like you & I see will be getting married in the next few years, saving for a new home so this should help her out a lot. So, I wanted to say Thank you for all your time in reaching out and making our life easier with this great Budget Planner you created.
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year of great financial income and less debt for 2018!
Aw, thank you so much, Linda! So glad it will be helpful for you guys! Have a wonderful holiday! <3
~Abby =)
I love your budget binder printables!! My favorite design so far has been the 2016 design. And because they are undated I have used them year after year! One thing I also do in my budget binder is print your calendar sheets, then I write in paychecks and the bills. I separate them out between bills that come out automatically and ones paid by check in the mail. This helps me see when our larger bills come out in comparison to our paydays, and helps me budget how much to set aside each paycheck for those larger expenses. I also have a folder in my binder, one side I have the bills I have paid, the other side has the bills that need to be paid. This way I can compare charges from month to month and verify that they received my last payment. Thank you so much for all your hard work!! I love all of your printables!!
So glad the Budget Binder has been helpful for you, Brandy! Love to hear that! Hope you're having a great weekend!
~Abby =)
Is there a way to get an older version of the Recurring Monthly Expenses worksheet. The spacing on the older versions worked much better for us, and I'm down to my last copy and can't seem to find the download on my computer anywhere.
Thank you!
Hi, Esther! There have been a few older versions. I would be happy to send it to you if I can figure out which one you're looking for. Could you possibly email me a screenshot of the one you'd like at [email protected]? Then I can get you what you need! Thanks!
~Abby =)
This looks great! I’ve always been one to write down where I make purchases and how much was spent but it’s never been this organized. I literally just hand write purchases down in a notebook. It’s actually worked very well for me but this looks like a big step up from what I’m doing. I may just have to reconsider my technique:) Thanks for sharing!
Yay! So glad it will be helpful for you!
~Abby =)
Am I missing something here? The title says free printable but then I click and find out its $10. Click bait???
Hi, Tyson! The budget binder on the site is free. If you click one of the long pink buttons that says "Grab your free 2019 Budget Binder printables right here! Let's get saving!" and enter your info, we send the binder straight to your inbox and there is no cost. We do offer a version of the binder with additional designs and extra pages in our shop, and that one is paid, but the basic version we're showing in this post is totally free. So sorry for the confusion! Have a great day!
~Abby =)
Thank you so much for this FREE budget resource! Perfect timing!
So glad it will be helpful for you, Dana!
~Abby =)
I love that the financial goals are included right at the beginning and then revisited each month. That vision is so important. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! So glad you're enjoying it, Marielle! <3
~Abby =)
A fun read and quite helpful too. I'm gonna print and stick it in my room. Thanks Abby!
Yay! So glad it'll be helpful for you, Linda! <3
~Abby =)
This looks great! I'll say I've found it nice to have a space to write confirmation #s for bills I call in to pay. And to have a small section for notes if there's an issue. That way I can always refer back to it the next month to verify everything has been taken care of.
So glad it will be helpful for you, Allie! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
This is such a great resource! Thanks for sharing!
Glad it'll be helpful for you, Ashley! <3
~Abby =)
Thank you so much. I was looking mostly for budget printables when I found your blog. I have some I made myself in Excel which have everything I want except being pretty. I feel like the more colorful and fun I can make my binder the more likely I will write in it often. I was really good last year but this year mid-year I stopped 🙁 Yours is really similar to the basic ones I made for myself but nicer-looking than mine. I do wish the tracking expenses sheet by category in particular was somehow editable. I like to have more room in the notes for a longer description of what I purchased and I like to have a section at the top that has a box for how I calculated the category budget (e.g. car category - 55/oil change, 25/mo tires due every 3 years, air fresheners 3/bimonthly, etc). I try to think of every object that might cost money so that I can plan accordingly even if it only costs like $3. Also, I prefer a landscape version as it means more room to write per purchase. But other than that - it is just a much nicer version of what I have. Thank you!
Glad it will be helpful for you, Ally! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Thank you for sharing ♡
So glad it was helpful for you, Minnie! Have a great week!
~Abby =)