CHECK OUT THE ALL NEW 2022 BUDGET BINDER HERE!
The 2021 Budget Binder, based off of Dave Ramsey’s financial principles, will help you create a budget, build your savings, pay off debt, and give yourself permission to spend!
I’ve spent many days {and nights!} hard at work on my computer trying to make this year’s budget binder the most comprehensive yet. If you’re ready to finally take control of your finances, learn to live on a cash budget, save for emergencies, plan for future expenses, and give like no one else then the 2021 Budget Binder is for you!
Whether you’re a long-time reader or just clicked over here from Pinterest, I’m so glad you’re here! It means you want to simplify your finances and finally get on a written budget. That’s amazing! I’m so excited for you to take this step. The 2021 Budget Binder kit is the perfect place to start!
Plus, this year I’ve expanded the 2021 Budget Binder into a digital format! The 2021 Budget Template is the perfect way for you to keep your budget with you on the go. This Google Sheets template is easy to use and will keep all of your finances organized and in one place. You can see how this budgeting template is setup plus how to utilize all of its features by clicking here to view the How to Use the 2021 Budgeting Template video.
If you want to grab the 2021 Budget Template, you can check out all of our bundle options by clicking the link below!!
2021 Budget Binder
This year’s budget binder contains over 250 printables to help you finally take control of your finances once and for all. The sheer size of this kit can seem overwhelming! But don’t worry, I’ve included an entire section on how to setup and print your binder kit at the very beginning! Plus, I’ve added individual monthly downloads within the kit so you can easily get to what you’re looking for.
Use your 2021 Budget Binder to set both short term and long-term goals as well as plan ahead for future expenses. Plus, track your emergency fund, pay down debt quickly, and keep a running checklist of your bills paid so you never have to pay those annoying late fees again!
Each month contains 19 optional budgeting forms for you to use to keep your finances organized. You definitely won’t need all of them! The goal is for you to pick what will work for you and leave the rest! The great thing about the 2021 Budget Binder is that it’s so customizable to you, your family, and your budgeting needs.
Monthly Calendars
You will have 3 optional calendars to choose from each month. There is a vertical calendar, a horizontal calendar, and a calendar on two pages if you like more room to write! Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to set monthly financial goals on each calendar. You can use these calendars to track monthly bills, due dates, and other monthly budget planning!
Monthly Budget Forms
This year, you will find 3 optional monthly budget forms to choose from! I’m so excited about this feature because it really makes this so customizable to your needs.
Whether you get paid weekly, bi-weekly, twice monthly, or once a month, there is a budgeting form that will work for you!
All of your numbers will end up on this form! Start by plugging in your expected income. Then take the important stuff off the top before your money starts getting allocated to other places. This includes savings, retirement, college planning, and charitable giving or tithing. Total up this number and subtract it from your total income. This is what you will have leftover to budget for everything else!
You will notice there are two categories already labeled for each section. Those are “CASH ENVELOPES” and “SINKING FUNDS.” You will grab these numbers from other forms. We will get there shortly!
Finally add up your total expenses on the bottom left. Then subtract your total expenses from your total income. You should end up with $0. If not, you will need to go back and make adjustments. This is a zero-based budget so every dollar in your budget has a specific name and job!
Sinking Funds
The next form is your SINKING FUNDS spreadsheet. This is where you will budget in everything you need to save for throughout the year. Just a few examples of sinking funds include:
- Christmas
- Vacation
- Medical/Dental Expenses
- Kid’s Expenses
- Insurance Premiums
- Car Replacement Savings
- Car Registration Expenses
- Home Maintenance
- Car Maintenance
This list is going to be very different for every family. Sinking funds are one of the best things you can do for your budget. This will almost completely eliminate those months when you are stressing out over all the “extras” that somehow popped into your budget. Remember, if we know it’s coming then it’s not an emergency. Let’s all start planning ahead for large expenses!
You will add up all the “additions” you plan to make to each fund. That total will be placed in your main budget form on the “SINKING FUNDS” section.
Cash Envelopes
Using cash is one of the key ingredients to this budget. However, I know carrying around cash just isn’t for all of us. This year you’ll find 4 optional cash envelope forms. And for one of them, you DON’T even have to use cash!!
If you just plan to use cash, then you can use either the monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly cash envelope budgeting forms. Total up your budgeted amount, then add that number to the “CASH ENVELOPES” section on the main budgeting form you are using!
If you are set on using your debit card for purchases, but still want to try out this budget I’ve got you covered. You can use the “Cash Envelope Tracker” to keep track of how much you spend in each of your “cash” categories. Just simply set your budget, plug in your transactions, and subtract as you go. Once you’ve spent all the money in that category, it’s time to stop spending!
Irregular Income
If you receive any kind of irregular income each month, then the IRREGULAR INCOME form will be perfect for you! This could include overtime, second job income, or bonuses you might receive. This is a great way to pre-plan for income you may or may not receive. Having a plan in place will help that money not slip through your fingers!
At the beginning of the month, you will fill out the bottom half of this form. Prioritize how you plan to spend the money. Keep a running total on the far right. Once the money comes in, record it on the top half of this form. Then use your plan at the bottom to allocate that money to different places.
Credit Card Trackers
While I’m always an advocate for using cash as much as possible, I know cash just isn’t for everyone. If you do plan to use credit cards, I believe the most responsible way is to continue to track your spending on each card or in each category. This will help you pay your cards off each month so you avoid those annoying (and expensive) fees!
So this year I’ve added in an optional Credit Card Spending Tracker. You have two options you can use to track your spending while using a credit card. You can choose to track your spending by CARD or by BUDGET CATEGORY. This is just based on your personal preference.
Tracking by budget category means you’ll be able to see how much you spend on groceries, personal spending, gasoline, clothing, or any other category you want to track. Tracking by credit card means you’ll be able to easily see your total spending on each card and know how much you will owe on that specific card next month.
Charitable Donations Trackers
If you give regularly to either your church, non-profit organizations, missionaries, or any other type of donation, then it’s important that you track those amounts. They can be deducted on your taxes so having those numbers readily available can be so helpful.
This year I’ve added two forms to help you track your charitable donations. You can use the monthly Charitable Donations tracker form in each of the monthly packets to track your donations to multiple organizations. Then total up your monthly donations at the bottom.
You can then add your monthly totals to the annual Charitable Donations Tracker so you can have a full yearly overview of your donations. If you are someone who regular donates to organizations or tithes (giving 10% of your income) to your church, then I hope you find these forms helpful!
Monthly Recap + Notes
The last two forms in the monthly packs are the monthly budget goals & recap form and a blank notes page. The goals and recap form is a great way to break apart your yearly goals into much more manageable monthly goals. You have space to track 2 financial goals on this form. Plus, it provides you will a space to recap your monthly money earned, spent, saved, and your monthly debt reduction.
I had many requests for a monthly notes page this year! This page is here for you to make notes throughout the month. Sometimes we just need a place to create lists, keep reminders, or plan out big ideas! Print a few of these pages for each month to add into your monthly budget for planning purposes.
Debt Snowball
This year I’ve also added a Debt Snowball Tracker. This form allows you to track up to 4 debts (if you have more than that just print multiples copies of this form). You can then track your balances and your principle payments each month. Make sure not to track your actual payments as a portion of each of your payments will be going towards interest. This tracker will help you monitor your total debt payoffs.
Spending Trackers & Budget Planners
The final part of the 2021 Budget Binder kit includes several spending trackers and budget planners.
Spending trackers are a great way for you to keep track of your spending. They are also a great tool for figuring out how much you should put into certain sinking funds each month. By using these forms, you can see from year to year what you spend on things like medical and dental bills, home maintenance, car maintenance, and many more!
You will also find 2 budget planners included in the 2021 Budget Binder. These budget planners are specifically for CHRISTMAS and VACATION budget planning. It’s a great way to see how much you need to save.
The vacation budget planner is a great way for you to stay on track during your vacation. The Christmas budget planner will help you create a plan, set a budget, and stick to it! Plus, it reminds you of all the extras we often forget.
And that’s it! I hope you found this overview of the 2021 Budget Binder helpful. Make sure to head to this link to learn even more and grab your copy so you can get your budget organized and your finances under control in 2021!
If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to email me at kaitlin@thesimplyorganizedhome.com. 🙂