Excel & Google Sheets · Free Starter

Where did my money go? See it in one sheet.

A free monthly budget for living on your own. Type into the yellow cells. Totals and your real leftover calculate for you. No bank login.

It's on its way. Check your inbox (and Promotions/Spam) for the email with your sheet.

Download the .xlsx now Moving out this year? See the $12 system

Instant .xlsx download · No bank login · Unsubscribe anytime

✓ Excel + Google Sheets
✓ Yellow cells = your inputs
✓ Formulas auto-calculate
✓ No bank connection

Free_Monthly_Budget.xlsx — Monthly BudgetFictional sample data

Total income$4,550

Actual spent$3,478

Leftover$1,072

Category	Planned	Actual	Diff
Rent / Housing	1,400	1,400	+0
Groceries	420	455	−35
Dining Out	120	95	+25
Subscriptions	45	55	−10
Savings / Emergency	250	250	+0
Total (14 categories)	3,485	3,478

✎ Yellow = you type= Grey = auto-calculatedLeftover = income − actual

Look inside

Click through the real sheets

One sheet at a time, so it never feels like a wall of cells. All numbers below are fictional examples copied from the actual workbook samples.

Included in Free Starter

One month, planned vs. actual

3 income rows and 14 expense categories. Type planned and actual amounts; differences, totals, leftover and savings rate fill in on their own.

The $12 version's Monthly Budget adds weekly / biweekly / semi-monthly pay conversion and 19 categories.

Monthly BudgetFictional sample data

Income		Amount
Primary job / paycheck		4,200
Side income		350
Total income		4,550

Expense	Planned	Actual	Diff
Rent / Housing	1,400	1,400	+0
Utilities	160	148	+12
Groceries	420	455	−35
Transportation	110	100	+10
Personal / Fun	100	130	−30
Total (14 categories)	3,485	3,478
Leftover · savings rate		1,072	23.6%

In $12 Full System

14 move-in costs, before they surprise you

Deposit, first month, movers, utility setup, furniture, renters insurance and a buffer. Estimated vs. paid, with "still owed" and your setup funding gap worked out for you.

Move-In & SetupFictional sample data

Item	Estimated	Paid	Still owed
Security deposit	1,000	1,000	0
First month rent / prorated	1,000	1,000	0
Moving truck / movers / supplies	250	150	100
Utility deposits / connection fees	150	0	150
Mattress / bed / basic furniture	450	250	200
Kitchen / household basics	160	100	60
Emergency move-in buffer	500	500	0
+ 7 more rows (internet, phone, cleaning, transport, work clothes, renters insurance, other)
Totals (14 items)	3,960	3,280	680

In $12 Full System

Emergency fund and goals you can see

Set a target and a monthly transfer. Remaining amount and progress update as you go. Targets are yours to choose; the sample is not a recommendation.

Savings GoalsFictional sample data

Goal	Target	Saved	Remaining	Monthly
Emergency fund	6,000	800	5,200	400
Replenish move-in buffer	1,000	100	900	100
Annual bills / insurance	900	150	750	75
Travel / visit loved ones	1,200	200	1,000	100
Home upgrade / furniture	1,500	0	1,500	100
Total			9,350	775

Free Starter & $12 System

Only type in the yellow cells

Labels and formulas are locked in Excel (no password), so you can't wipe them by accident. In Google Sheets, re-protect with Data → Protect sheets and ranges.

How it worksFictional sample data

Cell	What it is	Example
Month	You type	Nov 2026
Groceries · Actual	You type	455
Groceries · Diff	Auto	−35
Leftover	Auto	1,072

1 · Replace yellow sample numbers2 · Grey totals update3 · New month: clear yellow only

How it works

Three steps, about ten minutes

Open in Excel or Google Sheets

It's a normal .xlsx. For Sheets: upload to Drive → Open with Google Sheets → File → Make a copy.

Type only into pale yellow cells

Replace the fictional sample numbers with yours. Everything else is formulas.

See your real leftover

Leftover = income − actual spending. You can see exactly which categories went over.

⇄

Excel + Google Sheets

Standard formulas. Chart styling may vary after import.

🔒

No bank login

No account numbers, no syncing. The file stays with you.

✎

Hard to break

Formulas are locked in Excel; only yellow cells are open.

$12 once

The full system is a one-time purchase. No subscription.

Free vs. full system

Start free. Upgrade only if you're moving out.

The free sheet handles this month. The $12 workbook covers the whole first year on your own: move-in costs, goals, debt and a 12-month log.

Free Monthly Starter

2 tabs: Instructions + Monthly Budget
3 income rows, 14 expense categories
Planned vs. actual, leftover, savings rate
Excel + Google Sheets
Move-in costs, goals, debt, yearly log

Get the free sheet

FULL SYSTEM

First Year on Your Own — Budget System

$12 one-time payment

8 tabs + a 5-page Guide.pdf
Pay-frequency converter + 19 budget categories
14-item Move-In & Setup cost checklist
Savings goals incl. emergency fund
Debt tracker (no account numbers)
12-month summary log + chart

Get the 8-Tab System — $12

Secure checkout on Gumroad · instant download · we never see your card details

Start HereFive-minute setup walkthrough and tab directory

DashboardIncome, spending, leftover, setup costs, savings and debt at a glance

Monthly BudgetWeekly→monthly pay conversion, 19 expense and transfer categories

Move-In & Setup14 setup costs: estimated, paid, still owed

Savings GoalsEmergency fund, annual bills, move-in buffer, your goals

Credit BasicsPlain-language terms and a habits checklist, no sensitive numbers

Debt TrackerBalances, APR, required and extra payments, simple remaining math

12-Month SummaryA month-end log you fill in, with yearly totals and a chart

Questions

Before you download

Do I need a paid Excel subscription?

No. The file is a standard .xlsx. It opens in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice, or for free in Google Sheets.

How do I open it in Google Sheets?

Upload the .xlsx to Google Drive → right-click → Open with Google Sheets → File → Make a copy. Formulas carry over; chart sizing and styling may look slightly different. Excel's cell locks may not carry over, so use Data → Protect sheets and ranges if you want them back.

Does it connect to my bank account?

No. Nothing syncs and nothing asks for logins or account numbers. You type your own numbers, and the file stays on your device or Drive.

What's the difference between the free sheet and the $12 system?

The free sheet is one monthly budget (2 tabs). The $12 workbook has 8 tabs for a first year on your own: dashboard, a monthly budget with pay-frequency conversion, a 14-item move-in cost checklist, savings goals, credit basics, a debt tracker and a 12-month summary, plus a PDF guide.

Can I break the formulas?

It's hard to. Only the yellow cells are meant for typing, and in Excel the formula cells are protected (no password, so you can unlock them if you want to customize). Keep a backup copy before big changes.

The email didn't arrive / my file won't open. Who do I contact?

Check Promotions and Spam first. You can also download the free sheet right after signing up. For anything else, including a damaged $12 file, email [email protected]. $12 sales are final except where law or Gumroad's policies require otherwise; damaged files are replaced.

Made by Lilith Lab. Calm, no-shame spreadsheets for people living on their own for the first time. Lili is our mascot; the spreadsheets are the real thing.