Monthly budget worksheet.
Three approaches to budgeting. Fill in the one that fits how your brain works.
Last reviewed April 27, 2026
ClearMoneySchool
Free money worksheet
Monthly Budget Worksheet
Three approaches: 50/30/20, zero-based, and single-paycheck. Pick the one that fits how your brain works.
Plain-English finance education, clearmoneyschool.com · Education only. ClearMoneySchool does not provide individualized investment, tax, or legal advice.
1. The 50/30/20 split
Take your monthly take-home pay (after taxes). Split it into three buckets.
Rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, minimum debt payments, basic insurance.
Eating out, subscriptions, hobbies, entertainment, the upgraded versions of needs.
Emergency fund, retirement, extra debt payments above the minimum, savings goals.
2. Zero-based budgeting
Start with your monthly take-home. Assign every dollar a job until income minus assignments equals zero. Slower to set up but the tightest control.
3. Single-paycheck method
For people paid bi-weekly or weekly. Each paycheck gets a job before it lands. Bills come from one paycheck; savings from another. Removes the "will I have enough this paycheck?" anxiety.
Paycheck #1, covers fixed bills
Paycheck #2, covers variable + savings
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