Stop living paycheck to paycheck — start planning by it.

The Budget By Check Planner is an Excel spreadsheet built for people who want to take control of their money one paycheck at a time. Log your transactions once and watch your entire financial picture update automatically — budgets, charts, debt progress, and all.

WHAT'S INSIDE

📋 How To Use
Clear instructions and a full legend so you're set up and budgeting within minutes.

🗂 Categories Template
12 pre-built expense categories with monthly budget allocations — customizable to match your paycheck cycle and spending priorities.

💳 Transactions Log
One entry point for every spend: date, merchant, category, subcategory, and amount. Everything else calculates automatically.

📊 Main Dashboard

Month and year selector
KPI cards: Total Spent, Budget, Remaining, and % Used
Category breakdown showing percentage of total spending
Bar chart and pie chart for instant visual clarity

🏪 Top Merchants
Track where your money goes most — amounts and rankings update automatically with bar and pie charts.

🛡 Emergency Fund Calculator
Builds your target emergency fund from your essential expense budgets, with a progress thermometer so you always know where you stand.

💰 Debt Payoff Progress
A lightweight debt tracker with a projected payoff timeline and visual progress thermometer — see the finish line getting closer with every payment.

📅 Annual Overview
Full-year totals, a 12-month bar comparison, and a spending trend line to help you spot patterns and plan your next paycheck smarter.

INSTANT DOWNLOAD

✅ Available immediately after purchase
✅ Built for Microsoft Excel (also compatible with Google Sheets)
✅ No subscriptions, no logins — yours to keep
✅ Personal use licence included

Budget By Check Planners