Free Monthly Budget Planner — Zero-Based & 50-30-20 Envelopes
Build a monthly budget with envelopes for every dollar: zero-based or 50-30-20 mode, over-budget highlighting, month navigation, print + PDF summary. Free, private.
A planning aid, not financial advice.
How to use this tool
- 1
Set your monthly take-home income in the money profile.
- 2
Add an envelope per category — rent, groceries, dining — and give each a planned amount.
- 3
Watch the left-to-allocate number reach zero, or switch to 50-30-20 mode to see suggested targets.
- 4
Print the sheet or export the PDF summary; navigate months to plan ahead.
FAQ
▸What is the difference between zero-based and 50-30-20 budgeting?
Zero-based budgeting gives every dollar a job until income minus allocated equals zero — the envelope planner shows what's left as you fill it in. The 50-30-20 rule splits after-tax income into 50% needs, 30% wants and 20% savings; the planner computes those targets from your income automatically.
▸How do budget envelopes work?
Each envelope is a spending category with a planned monthly amount — groceries, rent, dining out. The planner totals your envelopes, compares them to your income, and highlights when you've allocated more than you earn.
▸Where is my budget stored?
In your own browser's local storage, on your device. Nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and no bank is ever connected. Export a PDF summary any time.