Simple One-Page Monthly Spending Tracker Template

Are you tired of trying budgeting apps, spreadsheet budgeting templates, or multi-page printable budgeting templates to manage and track your spending? Wouldn’t it be great if you could manage and track all your spending on a simple one-page monthly spending tracker?

My printable one-page monthly spending tracker template allows you to manage and track all your important spending in less than one hour a month!

Set up my 15-Second Spending Plan payday routine and track the balance and activity of your secondary bank account using my one-page monthly spending tracker.

One-Page Monthly Spending Tracker Template

Step-by-Step Instructions to Build Your Template

• Complete your 15-Second Spending Plan eBook and transfer the data as follows:
  • Transfer your fixed expenses from Step 3a to your spending plan tracker
  • Transfer your variable expenses from Step 3b to your spending plan tracker
  • Transfer your periodic expenses from Step 3c to your spending plan tracker
  • Transfer your debt payments from Step 3d to your spending plan tracker
  • Transfer short-term sinking funds from Step 3eto your spending plan tracker
  • Print your One-Page Monthly Spending Tracker Template

Transfer your fixed expenses to your spending plan tracker

Fixed recurring expenses are paid monthly in the same amount. These are recurring expenses like mortgage/rent payments, cell phone bills, subscriptions, pet insurance, and daycare expenses.

Transfer your fixed recurring expenses monthly amounts from Step #3a of your 15-Second Spending Plan to your spending plan tracker as follows:

• Transfer the expense name to column 4 of the spending plan tracker.
• Transfer the expense monthly amount to column 1 of the spending plan tracker.
• In column 2 of the spending plan tracker enter the frequency you are paid.
  Enter 1 if paid monthly, 2 if paid bi-weekly or twice a month, and 4 if paid weekly.
• In column 3 of the spending plan tracker enter the result of column 1 divided by column #2. For example, the monthly rent of $1,000 divided by 2 equals a $500.00 target per pay.
• Enter the day of the month the expense is due in the due date column of the spending plan tracker.

Transfer your variable expenses to your spending plan tracker

Variable recurring expenses are paid monthly in varying amounts. Electricity, heat, and other seasonal expenses usually fall into this category.

The example below shows that the annual cost of electricity is $900. The $900 is then divided by 12 resulting in a monthly blended amount of $75

Transfer your variable recurring expenses monthly amounts from Step #3b of your 15-Second Spending Plan to your spending plan tracker as follows:

• Transfer the expense name to column 4 of the spending plan tracker.
• Transfer the expense monthly amount to column 1 of the spending plan tracker.
• In column 2 of the spending plan tracker enter the frequency you are paid.
  Enter 1 if paid monthly, 2 if paid bi-weekly or twice a month, and 4 if paid weekly.
• In column 3 of the spending plan tracker enter the result of column 1 divided by column #2.
  For example, monthly electricity of $75.00 divided by 2 equals a $38.00 target per pay.
• Enter the day of the month the expense is due in the due date column of the spending plan tracker.

Transfer your periodic expenses to your spending plan tracker

Periodic recurring expenses are not paid monthly. These are bills like car insurance, renters/homeowners insurance, life insurance, professional fees, and real estate taxes.

In the example below the car insurance bill of $900 is paid every six months resulting in a monthly amount of $150 ($900/6).

Transfer your periodic recurring expenses monthly amounts from Step #3c of your 15-Second Spending Plan to your spending plan tracker as follows:

• Transfer the expense name to column 4 of the spending plan tracker.
• Enter the full amount of the periodic expense and the name of the month the full payment is due next to the expense name in the spending plan tracker.
• Transfer the expense monthly amount to column 1 of the spending plan tracker.
• In column 2 of the spending plan tracker enter the frequency you are paid.
  Enter 1 if paid monthly, 2 if paid bi-weekly or twice a month, and 4 if paid weekly.
• In column 3 of the tracker enter the result of column 1 divided by column #2.
  For example, monthly car insurance of $150.00 divided by 2 equals a $75.00 target per pay.
• Enter the month and day the periodic expense is due in the due date column of the spending plan tracker.

Transfer your debt payments to your spending plan tracker

Monthly debt payments are recurring expenses too. These payments are car loans/leases, student loans, home equity loans, and credit card payments.

Transfer your debt payment monthly amounts from Step #3d of your 15-Second Spending Plan to your spending plan tracker as follows:

• Transfer the debt payment name to column 4 of the spending plan tracker.
• Transfer the debt payment monthly amount to column 1 of the spending plan tracker.
• In column 2 of the spending plan tracker enter the frequency you are paid.
  Enter 1 if paid monthly, 2 if paid bi-weekly or twice a month, and 4 if paid weekly.
• In column 3 of the tracker enter the result of column 1 divided by column #2.
  For example, a monthly car payment of $250.00 divided by 2 equals a $125.00 target per pay.
• Enter the day of the month the debt payment is due in the due date column of the spending plan tracker.

Transfer short-term sinking funds to your spending plan tracker

Sinking fund items helps you prepare for expenses you know will come up at some point. YNAB refers to these expenses as True Expenses.

In the example below, the annual estimate for car maintenance is $1,200.00. The $1,200.00 divided by 12 equals $100.00 a month to put aside for car maintenance.

Transfer your short-term sinking fund monthly amounts from Step #3e of your 15-Second Spending Plan to your spending plan tracker as follows:

• Transfer the sinking fund item name to column 4 to the spending plan tracker.
• Transfer the monthly amount to column 1 of the spending plan tracker.
• In column 2 of the spending plan tracker enter the frequency you are paid.
  Enter 1 if paid monthly, 2 if paid bi-weekly or twice a month, and 4 if paid weekly.
• In column 3 of the tracker enter the result of column 1 divided by column #2.
  For example, car maintenance of $100.00 divided by 2 equals a $50.00 target per pay.
• The due date column is optional for short-term sinking fund items.

Print your One-Page Monthly Spending Tracker Template

Congratulations! Your one-page monthly spending tracker is now ready to start using to track your spending. Unlike typical budgets that make you continually update your budget, I recommend using this template for at least 3 months. You can make small adjustments and move money between expenses using the Transfer Between Categories column.