Family Budget - Excel Power Take Home Budget

Introduction: A: Budgeting is all about managing your cash! It is not about denial or rules (it can be fun). Use these sheets to get a clear view of your take home income, where it goes, and how much you should have left. Use your own real income and expenses; Not numbers you think should be used. When you have your Income and Expenses entered, you can copy that year's sheet to a new "play" sheet and take a look at what you would like to change. Make the changes and see what happens to your cash flow. Then figure out how to do it in the real world. Consider using an envelope system if you're having trouble keeping track of your cash. (See www.Wikipedia.com "envelope budgeting".) B: Created

in Excel 2003. Not tested on previous versions.

C: If you want to save this as an Excel Template (.Xlt) file, the first thing to do is to copy or rename this file with a .XLT extension (Excel Power Take Home Budget.XLT). Then you can proceed to D below. Otherwise go directly to Chapter 1 - Set-up. D: Assuming this is your first Excel Template download: 1) Make sure your protection software (i.e. Norton, MacAfee, etc.) is either turned off, or configured to accept macros from third parties. Check the documentation for that software. 2) If Excel gives you a security message about macros, go to Tools-Options-"Security" Tab and click the "Macro Security" button. Then set the level to either medium or low. 3) Find your Microsoft Office Template Folder. Look 1st under C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates. If they are not there, open "Windows Explorer" from the "Accessories" category of the "Programs" menu. Then search for files whose names are *.xlt. This should tell you where you must save the template for it to appear correctly when you want to start a new budget.

Chapter 1 - Set-up. A: This worksheet was created on a monitor running at 1680 x 1050. It is best displayed full screen with Excel zoom set at 90%. Other screen resolutions may require adjusting the zoom B: The features of this worksheet depend on Formulas and Macros. Be sure your Excel is set to run third party macros. C: Although these sheets have editing protection turned on, there is no password. It is protected just to prevent accidental changes. Use the "Protection On/Off" button on the "Take Home" toolbar (see below) to change the protection. The colored bar in column A will change between green (protection is on) and red (protection is off) and the button face will change from a closed lock (turn protection on) and an open lock (turn protection off). If you choose to unprotect any of the sheets, be sure to turn protection back on again. The "Protection On/Off" button on the "Take Home" toolbar does more than just change the protection on the active sheet, Therefore it is preferable to use it instead of the "Tools/Protection" from the command bar. D: The "Sample" Sheet. The "Sample" sheet is provided for you to play with and to become familiar with how these sheets behave. It is entirely fictitious. Go ahead and see how you would spend something like a million dollars. When you are comfortable with how things work go ahead and do your own. E: When you no longer need/want the "Cover", "Instructions" & "Sample" sheets, please feel free to delete them. It will reduce the size of your file.

Chapter 2 - Entering your numbers. A: The following applies to the "Income", "Savings/Investments Additions", and Expenses" catagories. 1) Change the descriptions in the description column (column E) to suit your needs. 2) Start by recording in the yellow cells of columns B,C,D your income and expenses that are consistent from month to month. The amount goes in the column labeled "How Much" (do not enter the $ sign). The "How Often" column is for the frequency of that amount (i.e. weekly, monthly, etc). See the comment* in the header cells for the right format*. [Example: for $2,900 every month, enter 2900 in the "How Much" column and 4 in the "How Often" column.] When the amount is on a quarterly, annual, or varied basis you will also need to enter the months involved in the "Which Month(s)" column, separating the months with a comma (,). [Example: for $2,900 in April (4), June (6), and October (10), enter 2900 in "How Much", 5 in "How Often", and 4,6,10 in "Which Month(s)". When you have all of your numbers entered, click each "Distribute" button on the "Take Home" toolbar (see below). * To show or hide all comments: Click the "View" command on the Excel command bar and then "Comments". 3) When the Amount Varies from Month to Month: When the amount of an "Income" or "Expense" item varies from month to month, enter something like "XXX" or "????" in the "How Much" column (just as an indicator). Leave the "How Often" column empty. Then enter the amounts in the appropriate months. The rest of the information will still update correctly and this row will be skipped each time a "Distribute" button is clicked. 4) To clear an entire row: When you need to clear an entire row, type "none" in the "How Much" column and click the appropriate "Distribute" button. The numbers will clear in that row leaving just the description. B:

The Take Home Tool Bar. 1) This is a custom toolbar that is created when you open "Take Home Budget" and deleted when you close the file. It is a floating tool bar and you can drag it to wherever it's convenient. Clicking on either the "Income" or "Expenses" button will run a small macro program that will take the information from the first 3 columns of either "Income" or "Expenses" and enter it (distribute it) among the months. All the rest of the information is the result of formulas. Each time you change any of the information in the first three columns, click the appropriate distribution button again and everything will update. Note: Toolbar buttons don't work if there is a cell active. Press your enter key to exit the active cell, then try the button again.

2) Preventing Automatic Distribution: When the "How Often" column contains nothing, the distribute programs will skip that row and continue with the rest. This is how you protect any changes you make manually in the month columns. [Example: You are told you will be on unpaid leave from your job July and August. Use "Clear Contents" to remove the values in the "How Often", "July", and "August" columns. Now clicking a "Distribute" button will not affect the information in that row.] The rest of the information will still update correctly.

Chapter 3 - The Summaries A: This is where you can get a quick look at your present situation and the future. If there are any red numbers in the "Income Summary", be forewarned. Your financial picture is not a happy one, unless you have planned it this way. Take a look at "Cash Flow" and the "Montly Summary" chart to see what month(s) might be a problem. B: If more than 100% of your income is accounted for, it means that your expenses exceed your income. It's probably wise to keep this figure down to 85% or less. Otherwise, you may feel maxed out and broke all the time. C: As your "Total Annual Savings" contributions go over 5% of your income, the background color will change to turquoise, and if it goes over 10% (a very good thing) the background will go to green. The 10% number is widely recommended by most of the financial "Gurus", but only you can determine how much you are happy with. D: Using the "Running Summary" 1) By entering the balance of your checking account on the first of the month (before paying expenses), and then watching the balance after scheduled income and expenses, you can see which way your checking balance will go. The "Running Summary" also repeats the "Cash Flow" figures from below "Expenses". (Note: Don't expect one month's "after expenses" balance to be the next month's beginning balance. There are probably other additions and subtractions during the month.)

Chapter 4 - Inserting and deleting rows. A: To delete a row: First turn protection off with the "Protection Off" toolbar button.Then you can delete the row(s). Only delete a row if it starts with a yellow cell! Otherwise, you may mess up the references and formulas for the rest of the sheet. Remember to turn protection back on! B: If you need additional rows, you can add them in the areas where there are rows starting with yellow cells. Use the "Insert Rows" button on the "Take Home" toolbar to insert the number of rows you need. The "Insert Rows" button will automatically insert the rows and add the right formula for the "Year's Total" cells.

Chapter 5 - Printing A: Printing is set for legal size paper in portrait mode.

Chapter 6 - Notes A: Before starting your 2010 Take Home sheet, copy the 2010 sheet to create a 2011 sheet. B: When the sum of the "Year's Total" cells and the sum of the "Monthly Totals" cells are the same, the self-check cell in the "Year's Total" will be green. If there is an error, it will be dark pink.

Sample Annual Cash Balance Guide Monthly Summary 6,000 5,000

Dollars

4,000 3,000

Row 30 Row 105

2,000 1,000

Row 108 Row 41

0 (1,000) (2,000) January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Septem ber

October

Novem ber

Decem ber

Month ** 87.3% of your income is accounted for, which includes the 4.84% of your income you are saving. ** You only have 12.7% of your income to spend without restraint. That's about $516 per month. ** There is a $3,875 difference in your monthly cash flow. Consider shifting some Income or Expenses to other months. $48,750

Total Annual Expenses

$42,564

Net Annual Income

$6,186

Total Annual Savings

$2,360

Average Income per Month

$4,063

Average Expenses per Month

$3,547

Maximum Monthly Income

$5,250

Maximum Monthly Expenses

$5,409

Minimum Monthly Income

$3,750

Minimum Monthly Expenses

$3,034

Average Monthly Cash Flow

$516

Maximum Month Cash Flow

$2,216

Minimum Monthly Cash Flow

$(1,659)

Checking Account Balance on the 1st

350

1,345

1,125

968

265

625

815

2,565

655

945

1,200

630

Income + Checking Account Balance

5,600

5,095

5,025

4,718

4,015

4,625

6,065

6,315

4,755

4,695

4,950

4,380

Expenses

3,334

3,159

3,554

4,174

3,159

3,334

3,034

5,409

3,244

3,124

4,009

3,034

Checking Account Balance After Expenses

2,266

1,936

1,471

544

856

1,291

3,031

906

1,511

1,571

941

1,346

Err:511

1,916

591

346

(424)

591

666

2,216

(1,659)

856

626

(259)

716

1,625

1,625

1,625

1,625

1,625

1,625

1,625

1,625

1,625

1,625

1,625

19,500

850

850

850

850

850

850

850

850

850

850

850

850

10,200

400

400

400

400

400

400

400

400

400

400

400

400

4,800

Child Support

875

875

875

875

875

875

875

875

875

875

875

875

10,500

Investment/Interest Income 1

1,500

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7-

-8-

-9-

-10-

-11-

Year's Total

December

October

July

May

April

March

January

-1-

November

1,625

Take Home Income 2

Income

August

Take Home Income 1

3

Description

June

1

$425

February

How Often

$375

Which Month(s)

How Much

Running Summary

Expense Summary

September

Income Summary

Total Annual Income

-12-

0

Take Home Income 3 $400

4

$875

4

$1,500

5

Alimony 1,7

3,000

1,500

0 XXX

Royalties

Monthly Totals

150

5,250

-1-

Savings & Investment Additions

3,750

-2-

-1-

3,900

-3-

-2-

250

3,750

-4-

-3-

3,750

-5-

-4-

4,000

-6-

-5-

5,250

-7-

-6-

750

350

3,750

-8-

-7-

4,100

-9-

-8-

3,750

-10-

-9-

3,750

-11-

-10-

3,750

-12-

-11-

48,750 48,750

-12360

$15

3

Savings for Birthdays

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

$25

3

Savings for the Holidays

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

600

$20

1

Short Term Saving Account 1

87

87

87

87

87

87

87

87

87

87

87

87

1,040

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

360

0

Short Term Saving Account 2 $30

4

Long Term Investment Account 1

0

Long Term Investment Account 2

0 Monthly Totals

197

Expenses

-1-

197

-2-

197

-3-

197

-4-

197

-5-

197

-6-

197

-7-

197

-8-

197

-9-

197

-10-

197

-11-

197

-12-

[2,360] [2,360] 0 0 0

Alimony $1,100

4

$115

4

$65

4

$35

4

$70

4

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

1,100

13,200

Gas & Electric

115

115

115

115

115

115

115

115

115

115

115

115

1,380

Water & Garbage

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

780

Home Phone

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

420

Cell Phones

70

70

70

70

70

70

70

70

70

70

70

70

840

1st Mortgage/Rent

0

2nd Mortgage/Rent

0

Television Service $75

1

Grocery Store Food

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

3,900

$15

1

Grocery Store, Other

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

65

780

$35

5

$10

4

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

$200

5

$10

4

$250

5

$10

4

$200

5

8

Clothing Child 1

200

200

$250

5

8

Clothing Child 2

250

250

2,5,8,11

Her Personal Grooming

35

His Personal Grooming 4,8

10

Clothing Her's

35

10

200

Dry Cleaning Her's 3

35

10

10

10

10

10

Clothing His

10

140

35

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

120 250

250

Dry Cleaning His

120 400

200

10

120

Clothing Child 3

0

Clothing Child 4

0 0

Clothing Child 5

0 $50

4

Payment Credit Card 1

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

600

$15

4

Payment Credit Card 2

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

180 0

Payment Credit Card 3

0

Payment Credit Card 4

2,700

$225

4

Car Payment 1

225

225

225

225

225

225

225

225

225

225

225

225

$12

1

Gas , Car 1

52

52

52

52

52

52

52

52

52

52

52

52

624

$190

4

Car Payment 2

190

190

190

190

190

190

190

190

190

190

190

190

2,280

$15

3

Gas, Car 2

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

360 0

Car Payment 3

0

Gas, Car 3 $300

5

$90

5

1,6 2,3,4,5,8,9,1 0,11

$300 $30

Routine Car Maintanance - Total

300 90

Cars - Gov't Fees, etc. 4

600

300

Car Insurance - Total

90

90

90

30

30

90

180

Doctor 1

30

30

90

90

90

30

30

720 300

120

30

30

30

30

30

30

0

Lawyer 1

0

Dentist/orthodontist 1

0

Dentist/orthodontist 2

0 0

Gardener/Landscape Maintanance $50

4

$850

5

$15

1

Home Owner's/Renter's Insurance 4,11

50

50

50

65

65

65

Real Estate Tax on Home

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

65

65

65

65

65

65

850

Family Eating Out

50

50

5

$75

1

8

600 1,700

850

65

65

65

780

Parents Going Out

0

His lunches

0 0

Her lunches $1,600

360

Doctor 2

Family Movies/Parks/Vacations Child Care

1,600

1,600 325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

325

3,900

Child Care

0

Health Insurance

0

Life Insurance

0

Pet Food

0

Routine Vet Visits

0

Children's School

0

Parent's Education

0

His Hobbies/Activities

0

Her Hobbies/Activities

0 0 0

Total Expenses

3,334

-1Cash Flow

1,916

3,159

-2591

3,554

-3346

4,174

-4(424)

3,159

-5591

3,334

-6666

3,034

-72,216

5,409

-8(1,659)

3,244

-9856

3,124

-10626

4,009

-11(259)

3,034

-12716

42,564 42,564 6,186

2009 Annual Cash Balance Guide

Dollars

Monthly Summary 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Row 30 Row 40 Row 104 Row 107

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Septem ber

October

Novem ber

Decem ber

Month ** 0% of your income is accounted for, which includes the 0% of your income you are saving. ** You only have 100% of your income to spend without restraint. That's about $0 per month. ** There is a $0 difference in your monthly cash flow. Consider shifting some Income or Expenses to other months.

Income Summary

Total Annual Income

$1

Total Annual Expenses

$-

Net Annual Income

$1

Total Annual Savings

$-

Average Income per Month

$-

Average Expenses per Month

$-

Maximum Monthly Income

$-

Maximum Monthly Expenses

$-

Minimum Monthly Income

$-

Minimum Monthly Expenses

$-

Average Monthly Cash Flow

$-

Maximum Month Cash Flow

$-

Minimum Monthly Cash Flow

$-

Expense Summary

Checking Account Balance on the 1st 0

0

0

Checking Account Balance After Expenses

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Err:511

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Description Income

-1-

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7-

-8-

-9-

-10-

-11-

-12-

Year's Total

0

0

December

0

0

November

0

0

October

0

0

September

0

0

August

0

0

July

0

0

June

0

0

May

0

0

April

0

0

March

0

Expenses

February

Income + Checking Account Balance

January

Which Month(s)

How Often

How Much

Running Summary

Take Home Income 1

0

Take Home Income 2

0

Take Home Income 3

0

Alimony

0

Child Support

0

Investment/Interest Income 1

0

Investment/Interest Income 2

0 0

other

Monthly Totals

0

Savings & Investment Additions

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

-1-

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7-

-8-

-9-

-10-

-11-

-12-

-1-

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7-

-8-

-9-

-10-

-11-

-12-

0 0

Short Term Saving Account 1

0

Short Term Saving Account 2

0

Long Term Investment Account 1

0

Long Term Investment Account 2

0

Holiday Savings

0 0

Birthday Savings

Monthly Totals

0

Expenses

-1-

0

-2-

0

-3-

0

-4-

0

-5-

0

-6-

0

-7-

0

-8-

0

-9-

0

-10-

0

-11-

0

-12-

[0] [0] 0 0

Alimony

0

1st Mortgage/Rent

0

2nd Mortgage/Rent

0

Gas & Electric

0

Water & Garbage

0

Home Phone

0

Cell Phones

0

Television Service

0

Grocery Store Food

0

Grocery Store, Other

0

Her Personal Grooming

0

His Personal Grooming

0

Clothing Her's

0

Dry Cleaning Her's

0

Clothing His

0

Dry Cleaning His

0

Clothing Child 1

0

Clothing Child 2

0

Clothing Child 3

0

Clothing Child 4

0

Clothing Child 5

0

Children's Dry Cleaning

0

Payment Credit Card 1

0

Payment Credit Card 2

0

Payment Credit Card 3

0

Payment Credit Card 4

0

Car Payment 1

0

Gas , Car 1

0

Car Payment 2

0

Gas, Car 2

0

Car Payment 3

0

Gas, Car 3

0

Routine Car Maintanance - Total

0

Car Insurance - Total

0

Cars - Gov't Fees, etc.

0

Doctor 1

0

Doctor 2

0

Lawyer 1

0

Dentist/orthodontist 1

0

Dentist/orthodontist 2

0

Gardener/Landscape Maintanance

0

Home Owner's Insurance

0

Real Estate Tax on Home

0

Family Eating Out

0

Parents Going Out

0

His lunches

0

Her lunches

0

Family Movies/Parks/Vacations

0

Child Care

0

Child Care

0

Health Insurance

0

Life Insurance

0

Pet Food

0

Routine Vet Visits

0

Children's School

0

Parent's Education

0

His Hobbies/Activities

0

Her Hobbies/Activities

0 0 0

Total Expenses

0

-1Cash Flow

Dennis Simpson

0

-20

0

-30

0

-40

0

-50

Page 6

0

-60

0

-70

0

-80

0

-90

0

-100

0

-110

0

-120

0 0

0

0

09/19/2009

2010 Annual Cash Balance Guide

Dollars

Monthly Summary 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Row 30 Row 40 Row 104 Row 107

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Septem ber

October

Novem ber

Decem ber

Month ** 0% of your income is accounted for, which includes the 0% of your income you are saving. ** You only have 100% of your income to spend without restraint. That's about $0 per month. ** There is a $0 difference in your monthly cash flow. Consider shifting some Income or Expenses to other months.

Income Summary

Total Annual Income

$1

Total Annual Expenses

$-

Net Annual Income

$1

Total Annual Savings

$-

Average Income per Month

$-

Average Expenses per Month

$-

Maximum Monthly Income

$-

Maximum Monthly Expenses

$-

Minimum Monthly Income

$-

Minimum Monthly Expenses

$-

Average Monthly Cash Flow

$-

Maximum Month Cash Flow

$-

Minimum Monthly Cash Flow

$-

Expense Summary

Checking Account Balance on the 1st 0

0

0

Checking Account Balance After Expenses

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Err:511

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Description Income

-1-

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7-

-8-

-9-

-10-

-11-

-12-

Year's Total

0

0

December

0

0

November

0

0

October

0

0

September

0

0

August

0

0

July

0

0

June

0

0

May

0

0

April

0

0

March

0

Expenses

February

Income + Checking Account Balance

January

Which Month(s)

How Often

How Much

Running Summary

Take Home Income 1

0

Take Home Income 2

0

Take Home Income 3

0

Alimony

0

Child Support

0

Investment/Interest Income 1

0

Investment/Interest Income 2

0 0

other

Monthly Totals

0

Savings & Investment Additions

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

-1-

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7-

-8-

-9-

-10-

-11-

-12-

-1-

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7-

-8-

-9-

-10-

-11-

-12-

0 0

Short Term Saving Account 1

0

Short Term Saving Account 2

0

Long Term Investment Account 1

0

Long Term Investment Account 2

0

Holiday Savings

0 0

Birthday Savings

Monthly Totals

0

Expenses

-1-

0

-2-

0

-3-

0

-4-

0

-5-

0

-6-

0

-7-

0

-8-

0

-9-

0

-10-

0

-11-

0

-12-

[0] [0] 0 0

Alimony

0

1st Mortgage/Rent

0

2nd Mortgage/Rent

0

Gas & Electric

0

Water & Garbage

0

Home Phone

0

Cell Phones

0

Television Service

0

Grocery Store Food

0

Grocery Store, Other

0

Her Personal Grooming

0

His Personal Grooming

0

Clothing Her's

0

Dry Cleaning Her's

0

Clothing His

0

Dry Cleaning His

0

Clothing Child 1

0

Clothing Child 2

0

Clothing Child 3

0

Clothing Child 4

0

Clothing Child 5

0

Children's Dry Cleaning

0

Payment Credit Card 1

0

Payment Credit Card 2

0

Payment Credit Card 3

0

Payment Credit Card 4

0

Car Payment 1

0

Gas , Car 1

0

Car Payment 2

0

Gas, Car 2

0

Car Payment 3

0

Gas, Car 3

0

Routine Car Maintanance - Total

0

Car Insurance - Total

0

Cars - Gov't Fees, etc.

0

Doctor 1

0

Doctor 2

0

Lawyer 1

0

Dentist/orthodontist 1

0

Dentist/orthodontist 2

0

Gardener/Landscape Maintanance

0

Home Owner's Insurance

0

Real Estate Tax on Home

0

Family Eating Out

0

Parents Going Out

0

His lunches

0

Her lunches

0

Family Movies/Parks/Vacations

0

Child Care

0

Child Care

0

Health Insurance

0

Life Insurance

0

Pet Food

0

Routine Vet Visits

0

Children's School

0

Parent's Education

0

His Hobbies/Activities

0

Her Hobbies/Activities

0 0 0

Total Expenses

0

-1Cash Flow

Dennis Simpson

0

-20

0

-30

0

-40

0

-50

Page 7

0

-60

0

-70

0

-80

0

-90

0

-100

0

-110

0

-120

0 0

0

0

09/19/2009