Bullet Journal Money, Budget, Expense Tracker Ideas

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Jump to:

• Recommended resources
• A concerning personal finance fact
• Step 1. Know where you are financially
• Financial overview budget and expense tracker spreads
• Step 2. Set financial goals
• Debt and savings tracker ideas
• Step 3. Keep going and improving!
• Conclusion

Financial overview budget and expense tracker spreads

Here are some ideas to help you track where you currently are with your money.

Income tracker and spending tracker

Here’s a basic way to separate money coming in and going out. (via @christina77star)

Where does my paycheck go spread

Perhaps as the next step up from the idea above or if you’re more familiar with your spending categories, record such expenses in the appropriate section. Calculate the total amount at the end of the month.

You can use it to figure out the percentage, or just the simple color coding of your categories can help you visually see where you’re money is being spent. (via Pin image)

Bill tracker

Create a separate table for each of your recurring bills so you can mark the payment total and date paid. (via @bulletjournalcollection)

Free bill payments printable

This simple bill payment checklist will help you keep track of your bills for the entire year. Grab your free printable, no sign up required. (via Keeping Up with the Changs)

Utilities bill tracker

A more visual way to track your consumption levels of fluctuating bills can be recorded in a line graph form like so. (via @my_blue_sky_design)

Subscription tracker

While you could use this for its original intent as a subscription tracker, you could also modify it to make sure that you pay all your monthly recurring bills. (via @my.life.in.a.bullet)

Step 2. Set financial goals

After you get a sense of your finances, it’s time to make goals. You always want to work towards improving your finances, and therefore quality of life.

Debt and savings tracker ideas

Below are bullet journal spreads to help you conquer debt and build up your savings.

Dave Ramsey total money makeover spread

Dave Ramsey* is like a household name when it comes to tackling your money.

In this spread, I love how these goals are actionable steps that include ways to improve money habits, as well as physical savings goals. The main takeaway from this spread is that your goals don’t have to be lofty; they just have to move you from point A to a slightly better point B. (via Pin image)

Debt tracker idea

One of the first things to work on that will definitely help your finances is to pay off debt.

By splitting your debt into smaller increments, the progress will keep you motivated to reach your goal of becoming debt-free. Here's a simple debt tracker idea. (via Pin image)

Credit card tracker

Credit cards can either make you or break you. It’s all about understanding how to use credit cards wisely. The single, most important thing to remember about credit cards: pay off the FULL balance by the due date. If you only pay the minimum, you’re paying a whole lot in interest, which is totally unnecessary and very preventable.

With a spread like this, you can make sure you’re paying your credit card balance as well as see how much you’re spending month to month. (via The Petite Planner)

Bullet journal emergency fund spread

Another statistic to note is that two-thirds of Americans don’t even have $1000 in emergency funds, which is pretty scary. How easy it is to rack up unknown debt easily, like if you have car troubles or head to the ER.

You should definitely save up for an emergency fund for those unexpected circumstances. Here’s a fun Tetris tracker idea to motivate you to save up for it. (via @mycrazylifeilove)

Or here's another fun money-saving chart with randomized dollar amounts. Choose one tile each week, save that amount up, and in a year’s time, you’ll have $1,000. (via Pin image)

Bullet journal needs vs wants spread

I would do this spread after seeing how much outstanding debt and savings you have. Hopefully you’ll be more apt to cut corners with certain "luxuries" to reallocate for more necessary debt payoff or emergency savings.

That Starbucks latte you religiously order every day might revert to a weekly deal or homemade brew. You don’t need to necessarily give up the things you love, just find creative ways to save money, such as on groceries.

A simple spread for a simple concept. (via Pin image)

Savings goal tracker bar graph and wishlist spread

There are many great visual ideas to motivate you to save up for things you may need, like a new laptop if yours is breaking down, or want, like a vacation.

This simple bar graph that you color in complements the wish list spread on the opposite page very nicely. (via @painted_illustrated)

Coin and piggy bank savings tracker

If you wanted something more visual, this post that shares tip on how to teach kids about money has 2 free piggy bank printables.

Vacation savings tracker

And for a trip, what’s more fitting than an actual landmark of the destination you are headed to so you can keep your eyes on the prize? Gotta love this Vegas spread. (via Little Coffee Fox)

Bullet journal no spend challenge spread

Or to switch things up, or to focus more on changing your spending habits, why not try a money challenge?

Here’s a no-spend challenge spread. (via Pin image)

Step 3. Keep going and improving!

Money is one of those things that you’ll need to consistently with. That doesn’t mean obsessing over it every second of the day, but being aware of your money situation and growing your savings while reducing your debt will only make your life easier and happier in the long run.

Bullet journal budget and expense log

Minimalism in your bullet journal money tracker will help remind you to keep things simple. Having a basic overview of your finances like this will make keeping up with your money a cinch. Keep track of the money in your bank accounts, your expenses, and set a savings goal each month. (via Pin image)

Pocket envelope for receipts

It’s always a good idea to reflect on your activity in the month. This beautiful spread keeps your finances nicely in one place, with all your receipts, a financial overview, and a section to help you think about what worked and didn’t work with your habits so you can continue to improve. (via @journalbydesign)

When you gain more confidence with your money, you’ll see that your goals get bigger and bigger and you set yourself up to be more comfortable financially. Whereas in the beginning you might think about short-term goals, once you feel better with your money, you’ll think about the long term as well.

This could mean saving greater chunks for retirement savings, or thinking of ways to increase your income, such as through side hustles.

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