How to make a budget quickly and easily?

There are several ways to make a budget quickly and easily. You can use a mobile app, an online budgeting tool, a spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets) or simply pen and paper.

How do you draw up a budget for the first time?

To make a budget, you must first identify all your income and expenses. Write them down in a spreadsheet or enter them in a budget application. Look at your bank and credit card statements to make sure you don't forget any expenses. Then budget amounts for each category and enter your actual expenses. Analyze variances and adjust the budget if necessary.

How do I create a budget in Excel?

Spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are excellent tools for budgeting. Enter your income first, then your expenses. Analyze the difference between your income and expenses (Excel formula) and review certain expense items that could be optimized. You can also use the graphs to quickly and easily see the amounts allocated to each expense category. If required, you can use our Excel budget file, available free of charge in our toolbox.

Vincent Morin

Vincent achieved financial independence and took early retirement (FIRE) at the age of 35. After a career in financial technology with a major American investment bank, he founded Retraite101, a personal finance website that reaches over 350,000 unique visitors annually and has more than 40,000 social media followers. Passionate about finance, reading, cycling, hiking, and travel, he continues to write for several Quebec media outlets to inspire and motivate those who want to take control of their finances.

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