Freelancer Irregular-Income Budget Spreadsheet: Pay Yourself a Steady Salary (Excel/Sheets)

Freelance income is never the same twice. One month brings a big payment, the next almost nothing. This spreadsheet uses the buffer method to turn that lumpy income into a steady monthly salary you pay yourself.

How it works

Every paid invoice goes into a buffer first. Your income-tax and VAT set-asides go into their own pot straight away. From the buffer you pay yourself the same salary every month: good months top the buffer up, slow months draw it down. You can always see your runway, meaning how many months you could keep going.

Fill in the cream cells. Everything else is calculated for you.

What's included

- 2 files: an EXAMPLE version with fictional sample data, and a BLANK version ready to use

- Start Here: plain-language setup guide (about 10 minutes), colour key and tips

- Settings: currency label (EUR by default; any text, e.g. GBP, CHF, USD), year, income-tax set-aside %, VAT/USt %, emergency-fund target in months, bare-bones monthly budget, your salary, starting balances and editable expense categories

- Income Log: room for 500 invoices. Enter the client, project, invoice no., net amount, whether VAT was charged and whether it's paid. VAT, gross total and the set-asides for each invoice are calculated for you. Only paid invoices count as income (cash basis), and invoices marked unpaid are highlighted.

- Expenses: room for 500 entries, with a category dropdown. Each category is automatically tagged Business (paid from the buffer) or Personal (paid from your salary).

- Monthly Dashboard: 12 months at a glance, with summary cards and two charts ("Lumpy income vs. steady salary" and "Buffer balance")

- Buffer Smoothing: monthly buffer flow, salary shortfall, runway in months of salary and of bare-bones budget, plus a plain note on whether your salary looks sustainable

- Tax & VAT Pot: monthly set-asides, the payments you record, the pot balance, a "Pot short!" warning, and the tax and VAT due on unpaid invoices

- Sinking Funds: for yearly costs such as insurance, equipment or holidays. Shows target, due date, a suggested monthly amount, balance, % funded and status.

- Annual Summary: gross and net income, profit, taxes set aside and paid, salary, savings, buffer, emergency-fund progress, best and slowest month, and spending by category

Format

- .xlsx, which opens in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets (upload it to Drive) and LibreOffice

- Standard functions only: no macros, scripts or external links

- Instant download

Please note: not tax or financial advice. This is a budgeting and planning tool for general information only. It is not tax, legal, accounting or financial advice. The tax and VAT set-asides are simple percentage rules of thumb, not tax calculations, and input VAT is not deducted. Rules differ by country and situation, so check your actual obligations with a qualified tax advisor or your tax office. All example data is fictional.

Questions? Email rod@gostella.de. If a file doesn't open or isn't as described, we'll fix it or refund you.

Want the method first? Get the free guide: https://payhip.com/b/3juvC