Free Envelope-Style Budgeting Template
Get started with manual budgeting. This simple template helps you track income, assign categories,
and spot spending leaks—like subscriptions or BNPL—without connecting your bank. Privacy by default.
- Enter Your Income: Start with your monthly take-home pay.
- List Categories: Use 8–12 realistic ones (customize as needed).
- Assign Amounts: Budget totals should not exceed income.
- Track Spending: Update actual amounts manually.
- Calculate Remaining: See what's left in each "envelope."
- Review & Adjust: At month-end, note variances. For BNPL, allocate full cost upfront.
- Tip: Use a spreadsheet for auto-calcs or print for paper tracking.
Educational only; not financial, investment, or tax advice.
| Category |
Budgeted Amount ($) |
Actual Spent ($) |
Remaining ($) |
Notes (e.g., Subscriptions) |
| Income Total | [Enter monthly income] | - | - | - |
| Groceries | | | | |
| Gas/Transportation | | | | |
| Eating Out | | | | |
| Subscriptions | | | | List items & review for cancels |
| Essentials (Utilities, Rent) | | | | |
| Fun/Entertainment | | | | |
| Debt Payments | | | | Include full BNPL upfront |
| Savings/Emergency | | | | Aim for 10–20% of income |
| Other (Health, Gifts) | | | | |
| Totals | [Sum budgeted] | [Sum actual] | [Budgeted − Actual] | Check: Actual ≤ Budgeted? |
You can copy the table above into a spreadsheet like Google Sheets for easy editing.
| Category |
Budgeted Amount ($) |
Actual Spent ($) |
Remaining ($) |
Notes |
| Income Total | 4000 | - | - | - |
| Groceries | 500 | 300 | 200 | |
| Gas/Transportation | 200 | 150 | 50 | |
| Eating Out | 150 | 100 | 50 | |
| Subscriptions | 100 | 80 | 20 | Netflix, Spotify – Cancel unused? |
| Essentials (Utilities, Rent) | 1500 | 1500 | 0 | Fixed costs |
| Fun/Entertainment | 200 | 100 | 100 | |
| Debt Payments | 500 | 500 | 0 | Includes full BNPL for $200 purchase |
| Savings/Emergency | 600 | 600 | 0 | |
| Other (Health, Gifts) | 250 | 150 | 100 | |
| Totals | 4000 | 3480 | 520 | Under budget – Roll over to savings? |
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Safety & Transparency
- Free resource: This template is free to download. No payment is required to access the file.
- No sensitive data: We will never ask for bank logins, card numbers, PINs, or one-time passcodes to use this template. Do not enter sensitive information into the PDF.
- Official source: Only download from
seabirdbudgeting.com. If you receive emails/messages asking for payment or credentials “to unlock this template,” do not respond—forward them to support@seabird.biz.
- Clear terms: See our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Refunds & Cancellation.
- SeaBird Budgeting provides educational budgeting software and materials; it is not a bank and does not provide financial, investment, or tax advice. No guarantees of outcomes. Brand names in examples are illustrative only; no endorsement implied.
How do I use this budgeting template?
Enter your income, assign amounts to categories, track spending, and review monthly. It's manual for mindful control.
Can I use this with SeaBird Budgeting?
Yes! Import your categories into the app for real-time visuals and insights. Get started free.
Try SeaBird (Manual Budgeting App)
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