Managing your finances doesn’t have to feel like you are navigating a maze.
Say goodbye to those sneaky late fees and the panic of a payment sneaking up on you with a monthly bill tracker!
I break it down into simple, doable steps using my monthly bill tracker. My monthly bill tracker makes organizing bills and monitoring finances a breeze.
Key Takeaways
- A Monthly Bill Tracker helps you avoid late fees on payments, keeps your spending in check, and helps you plan, all with a personalized touch of spreadsheets or apps.
- Creating budgets can be a breeze with expense tracking and setting savings targets, all made easier with my free printable monthly bill tracker.
- Use my free budget templates below to start managing your cash flow!
- Apps like You Need a Budget offer cool features like budgeting, expense sorting, monthly bill tracker, and timely bill nudges.
Monthly Bill Tracker & Steps To Use It
My monthly bill tracker is your financial diary, giving you the full scoop on every monthly bill and where your money’s going every month.
This monthly bill tracker is all about putting you in the driver’s seat of your finances: no more surprise fees, no more “where did my money go?” moments.
Collect Accounts Statements
To kick things off with your monthly bill tracker, the first step is to collect all your statements and bills for a few months.
Here’s a quick list of what to gather for your monthly bill tracker:
- Bank Statements: Grab these to see your incoming and outgoing cash.
- Utility Bills: Think electricity, water, gas – all the essentials.
- Credit Card Bills: For tracking how much you owe and your spending habits.
- Loan Statements: If you have any loans, you’ll want these details handy.
- Subscription Services: Netflix, internet, gym memberships, and any other regular services.
Categorize Expenses
You’ve got your stack of monthly bill statements, so what’s next? Sorting them out with your monthly bill tracker.
Let’s break it down into easy categories for the monthly bill tracker:
- Housing: Whether it’s rent or mortgage payment.
- Transportation: Everything that keeps you moving.
- Food: From coffee runs to grocery hauls.
- Utilities: Keeping your home comfy and your gadgets charged.
- Personal Expenses: All the stuff that’s uniquely you.
You can get a bit more detailed with your monthly bills and bill categories on the monthly bill tracker.
Create A Budget
Now that you’ve got your monthly bill tracker filled out, it’s time to create a budget:
My Free Budgeting Printables
All of my printables are super easy to download – just click on the image, and you’re on your way! And they work great with the monthly bill tracker!
Simple Budget Template
For those who like to see the entire month at a glance, the Simple Budget Template is your go-to.
You’ll start with your income at the top, then move down to list your fixed expenses (like mortgage and car payments) and variable expenses (like groceries and fun cash).
Biweekly Budget
The Biweekly Budget is perfect if your paychecks come in every other week.
It’s got spots for both the 1st and 2nd paychecks, helping you plan your expenses based on when your cash actually hits your bank account.
It’s a great way to break down the month and use your monthly bill tracker to see exactly where your funds should be going with each paycheck.
Needs Vs. Wants
Now, it’s time to start filling out what goes into your budget.
Getting a handle on your money means figuring out the difference between what you need and what you just want:
- Needs? They’re the must-haves for getting by– a roof over your head, food on the table, and keeping healthy.
- Wants are the fun stuff or the extras- grabbing dinner at that new restaurant, hitting up a concert, or planning a weekend getaway.
50/30/20 Rule
Ever heard of following the 50/30/20 Rule? It’s a super straightforward way to get your finances in shape without making your head spin.
Here’s the breakdown of how you’ll spend your money:
- 50% Needs: Half of your take-home pay goes to the essentials, like rent, groceries, and utilities.
- 30% Wants: Then, a bit less than a third is for the fun stuff – think eating out, hobbies, or streaming subscriptions.
- 20% Savings or Paying Debts: The last chunk is for beefing up your savings or tackling any debts you might have.
Savings Goals
Setting up savings goals is like drawing your financial treasure map. It gives you something to aim for and keeps you motivated to stash away that cash.
Think of your savings goals in three main categories:
- Short-term goals: This is about saving for the near future, like building an emergency fund or planning that much-needed vacation.
- Mid-term goals: Got your eye on a new car or dream of a kitchen remodel? That’s where mid-term saving comes into play.
- Long-term goals –This is the big stuff- retiring comfortably, funding your education, or maybe helping your kids through college.
Try money-saving charts to get help setting money aside from every paycheck.
Digital Alternatives: Monthly Bill Tracking Apps
If you’re all about that digital life and want a straightforward way to keep your finances on track, You Need A Budget (YNAB) is definitely worth checking out.
Here’s the lowdown on YNAB:
- Flexibility with bill tracking: Choose between automatic updates or manually logging your bills.
- Smart budgeting tools: Get insights into your spending patterns and find new ways to save.
- Reminders for payments: Say goodbye to missed payments with helpful reminders.
- Organized expenses: Easily categorize your spending to see where your money’s going.
FAQs
How can I keep track of monthly bills?
Use a printable bill tracker like my monthly bill tracker that lists out all your household bills – how much, how often, when they’re due, and where they’re supposed to be paid.
A monthly bill tracker can be a game-changer. Just tick off the monthly bill tracker each bill as you pay it every month, so you know exactly what’s been handled and what hasn’t.
You can also check out my full Budget Binder with over 80 pages to help you manage your money and prioritize saving over spending.
How can I organize my bills?
Organizing your bills can really help take the stress out of managing your finances. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:
First up, figure out which of your expenses are fixed (like rent or mortgage) or insurance and which are variable (like dining out or groceries).
Use my monthly bill tracker to keep track of them and see where your money goes.
Is this printable bill tracker free?
My printable bill tracker is completely free! You can click on the picture above, download it, and print it for no money at all.
Are there free apps to track bills?
Absolutely! There are lots of free apps out there to help you keep tabs on your bills, like YNAB, Empower, and more.
There are paid services or printable bill trackers, but I suggest starting with free things- why have another bill payment to add to your tracker?
Final Thoughts
Getting on top of your monthly bill payments and working with budget templates are your ticket to less stress and more financial chill.
Marking those due dates off the monthly bill tracker and celebrating every paid bill is the goal of a monthly bill tracker.
So, kick off your journey to financial coolness today. Grab a monthly bill tracker, get those monthly bills in line, and start feeling like you’ve got this.
Because, guess what, Mama? You really do!
