Cash Envelope Budget Tracker Excel

Cash Envelope Budget Tracker Excel — The envelope system in a spreadsheet: annual plan per envelope, spent so far, what is left, and the months it has to cover.

Built for anyone who wants the whole picture on one page: what the goal is, what is actually there, and which line is quietly falling behind — without accounting software or a subscription app. If one line is underfunded, this workbook shows it while there is still time to fix it.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (6 sheets):

- Envelope Planner — Every envelope: annual plan, spent so far, remaining, percent used, a typical month, and months of runway — by formula except the yellow inputs.

- Spending Log — Every logged envelope spend January-October: date, envelope, description, amount, and payment method, with running total and share of total by formula.

- Monthly Plan — Month by month: planned envelope spending, actual spending from the log by formula, the difference, and cumulative planned vs actual.

- Category Summary — Envelopes grouped by type (needs, wants, family): counts, plans, spent, remaining, and percent used — all by formula.

- Dashboard — Total envelope plan, total spent, remaining, percent used, typical month, and the fullest and emptiest envelopes.

- Cover and How to Use — start here. Yellow cells are the only ones you edit.

EXAMPLE DATA (2026 — replace with your own numbers):

- Target 27,600; current 21,940; remaining 5,660; 79.5 percent complete overall.

- 30 logged entries (January-October 2026) totaling 20,850; monthly plan planned 27,600 for 2026 against actual 20,850 so far.

- Strongest line: Entertainment at 96.2 percent. Weakest line: Giving and Gifts at 64.3 percent. Largest line: Groceries at 7,800.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Download the Excel file instantly after purchase.

2. On sheet 1, enter each envelope's annual plan, spent so far, and a typical month. Remaining, percent used, and runway fill in by formula.

3. On sheet 2, add a row per spend: date, envelope (spelled exactly as on sheet 1), amount, and how you paid.

4. On sheet 3, set planned envelope spending per month. Actuals land by formula from the log.

5. Sheets 4 and 5 summarize everything by formula. Check them monthly.

HOW THE NUMBERS WORK:

Remaining is the target minus the current amount. Percent is the current amount divided by the target. Months figures divide the remaining amount by the monthly amount, rounded up. Monthly actuals are the sum of log entries in that month. Category totals group sheet 1 by its category column. Nothing in the example assumes investment growth or interest unless a sheet says so in plain words.

PLEASE NOTE:

- Instant digital download. No physical item ships.

- Works in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets (upload to Google Drive to open in Sheets).

- Example data is included so you can see how it works. Replace the yellow cells with your own numbers — yellow cells are the only ones you edit.

- This is a bookkeeping tool, not tax, legal, or CPA advice.

- Built by an accountant: B.S. Accountancy, ASU W. P. Carey, with revenue-reconciliation experience at Marriott and audit work at PwC.