12 Best Budgeting Planners to Take Control of Your Money

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Last Updated on March 13, 2022 by Rebecca Lake

Budgeting Planners (That Make Budgeting Fun!)

If you struggle with making a budget–or sticking to one–budgeting planners can help. A budget planner is a planner that’s designed specifically to help manage your money in one place.

Specifically, a good budgeting planner can help you:

  • Keep track of your income
  • Keep track of your spending
  • Stay on top of bill payment due dates
  • Track your financial goals

Making a budget is one of the simplest ways to achieve financial wellness. But an estimated 65% of Americans struggle to keep up with how much money they’re spending.

Budgeting planners make it easier to categorize expenses. The right budget planner can also make budgeting fun so it doesn’t feel like a chore.

Ready to organize your budget? Today, I’ll explain:

  • What is a budget planner?
  • Are budget planners useful?
  • How do you do a monthly budget planner?
  • What’s the best budget planner?

Related post: Why Is Budgeting Important?

What Is a Budgeting Planner? (And why do you need one?)

woman making a budget
How to Use a Budget Planner

A budgeting planner is a planner that you can use to organize your finances each month. Budget planners can help you to monitor your monthly expenses, know what you spend and generally stay on top of your finances.

Rather than having scattered information like receipts, bank deposit slips or credit card statements here, there and everywhere, you can use a budgeting planner to keep it all in one convenient place.

Making a customized budget each month is the first step toward financial freedom. Goal setting (and goal achieving) becomes much easier when you know where your money is going on a monthly basis.

Do you have to use a budgeting planner to make a custom monthly budget?

No, not at all. But doing so can give you financial peace of mind if you feel more in control of your money.

Related post: Free Printable Sinking Funds Tracker (2022)

Best Budgeting Planners for Taking Control of Your Personal Finances

The very best budget planner is the one that has everything you need to feel confident about taking charge of your money.

So the budgeting planner you decide to use might be totally different from the one your mom or best friend uses.

And that’s okay! Everyone has different needs when it comes to how they plan out their monthly budgets.

best budget planners
Best Budgeting Planners

But if you’re totally new to budgeting or you’ve tried it in the past and given up, then you might not know where to start with looking for a budget planner.

So to make your life easier, I’ve rounded up the best budgeting planners to help you get organized and stop stressing about money!

1. Clever Fox Undated Monthly Budget Planner

Clever Fox makes a ton of great planning products, including this compact budget planner.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Up to date monthly budget planner
– Thick, no-bleed paper
– Comes in lots of colors
– Small enough to fit in your bag
– Convenient pocket for stashing receipts and bills
– Smaller size may not work for everyone
– Pages are difficult to lay flat

Who it’s good for:

The Clever Fox Budget Planner is one of the best budget planner books for beginners who are just starting to learn the basics of money management. You can easily keep tabs on your income, spending, savings, debt repayment and financial goals all in one place! It’s easy to create an end of month summary for monthly reviews.

This budget planner is well-made, with thick no-bleed 120 gsm paper and it’s compact, measuring 5.8 inches wide by 8.3 inches long. That’s a great size if you want a simple and compact planner that can go anywhere with you.

This Clever Fox Budget Planner comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose one that fits your personal style. It also comes with two pages of stickers and a quick-start guide on how to use the budget planner. And if you’re not completely satisfied, you can get a hassle-free refund, no questions asked.

What others say:

“Omg this planner is life ! I effing love it ! The day I brought I started writing in it and it made me realize how much money I spend (we’re not going to talk about my bad habits 🙂 just shh lol). It’s simple, lightweight but useful af. I actually feel like I’m adulting properly. I definitely recommend it to everyone. The planner has a lot more pages/sections and even stickers in the back, but here’s a few pages to show you the detailing. It’s life changing, seriously at least for me.”

Amazon customer

2. Clever Fox Budget Planner Pro

The Clever Fox Budget Planner Pro is a deluxe version of the original Clever Fox Budget Planner and it’s perfect for people who use the cash envelope budgeting method!

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Larger size for people who need more room
– Includes 5 cash envelopes
– Track spending, plan your budget and manage your financial goals in one place with a monthly bill organizer
– Comprehensive monthly and yearly budgeting, including holiday budgeting, so you can look ahead to next month or next year
– May not work for you if you don’t use the cash envelope budgeting method

Who it’s good for:

I prefer to use larger planners and the Clever Fox Budget Planner Pro fits the bill for people who like plenty of space. This budget planner is 7 inches wide and 10 inches long so you have more room to write versus the original Clever Fox Budget Planner.

Like all Clever Fox products, it’s made of quality materials that are designed to withstand frequent use. That includes no-bleed paper and a faux leather cover. There’s a pen holder and you can choose from a variety of different colors.

The real highlight of this planner are the cash envelopes that come with it. If you use cash envelope budgeting to manage your money or you’re interested in trying the zero-based budget method with cash, this is one of the best budget planners to help you get started.

What others say:

I finally found the perfect planner, especially for our finances! I tried using my phone to do finances but I just never got used to it. I love writing things down so this was very helpful to have. I’m able to visualize my spendings as opposed to always looking at my phone and changing apps to check. Writing in this book is actually kind of therapeutic. I can finally see where my finances are going instead of always thinking about them. My husband and I are on the route to being debt-free and ready for the next step in life, which is purchasing a home. We are both able to look at our finances together and be able to work on what steps we need to take to get there. Every month this has financial goals, percentages in terms of what you’ve spent and how you’ve budgeted things. I honestly think physically seeing it in a planner makes you want to spend less on things you don’t need and focus on the things you truly want.

Amazon customer

3. No B.S. Budget Planner

If you’re looking for a downloadable budget planner that includes a ton of great features, this could be just what you need.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Download and print at home for instant access
– Includes monthly and yearly budgeting trackers, bill trackers and expense trackers
– Comes with 9 super cute cash envelopes
– Includes savings and debt trackers
– Easy to do monthly reviews of your finances
– You have to print it yourself
– Doesn’t come spiral-bound

Who it’s good for:

The No B.S. Budget Binder was designed with people are who looking for simplicity in a budgeting planner.

It’s designed to help you approach monthly budgeting in a comprehensive manner, without feeling overwhelmed. Some of the things that come with this budgeting planner include:

  • 12 monthly budget templates
  • 12 monthly expense trackers
  • Monthly and yearly bill payment calendars
  • Savings trackers for financial goal setting
  • Income trackers
  • Extra trackers for side hustle income and expenses
  • Debt repayment trackers
  • 9 fun printable cash envelopes

If you’re looking for a simple budget planner or you want to make your own budget planner notebook that you can reprint and reuse year to year, this one is it!

You will have to print it yourself and either have it spiral bound or add it to a binder. But overall, it’s an affordable budget organizer that you can use year to year to organize your personal finances.

4. Clever Fox Budget Book

The Clever Fox Budget Book is designed for people who want to take a closer look at their spending.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Smaller size makes it easy to carry
– Review spending monthly to see how you can improve your finances
– Track savings, debt and bill payments
– Create a simple yearly financial summary
– Smaller size may not appeal to some people
– No monthly calendar

Who it’s good for:

The Clever Fox Budget Book is designed for people who want simplified budgeting month to month. This budget planner is 5.3 inches by 7.7 inches so it’s a bit smaller than the original Clever Fox Budget Planner. But it could be the perfect size for someone who wants to take their budget planner on the go.

This budget planner notebook has everything you need to create a monthly spending plan, including:

  • Bill reminders
  • Bill tracking
  • Expense tracker
  • Savings and debt trackers
  • Yearly financial summary

Like other Clever Fox budget planners, it features quality construction and the same money-back guarantee. There’s an elastic band for easy closure and it’s organized so that you can take control of due dates and never miss a bill payment.

Overall, it’s ideal for people who want to break bad money habits, start saving money and stay focused on their financial goals.

What others say:

Fantastic budget planner! This is my second clever fix budget planner. Last year I used the slightly bigger one with the monthly calendar layout which really helped me set up and organize my finances. This year, I’ve switched to this one which is laid out a bit differently. I love the extra pages in the back for tracking debt and savings, (my old one had fewer), the size, ease of use, and the layout. Since I started using clever fox, I’ve paid off my credit card debt, and started saving. Highly recommend!

Amazon customer

5. GoGirl Budget Book Undated Monthly Budget Planner

The GoGirl Budget Planner is a fun, colorful budget planner for busy women.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Undated, so you can start budgeting at any time
– Manage personal spending, bills, debt payment, savings and cash flow in one place
– Includes cash budget envelopes, stickers and more
– Small enough to fit in your purchase
– No monthly calendar
– Not great if you tend to take up more space when you write

Who it’s good for:

The GoGirl Budget Planner is a feminine budget planning option if you’re looking for something bright and colorful. It comes with color-coordinated cash envelopes, 220+ gorgeous stickers and a how-to guide to help you get started using the planner.

Like the Clever Fox budget planners, this one is on the smaller side. Its dimensions measure 5.8 inches by 8.3 inches so it’s small enough to slip in a purse, backpack or briefcase. The planner features no-bleed 120 gsm paper, a penholder and a handy pocket for holding receipts, bills or important notes.

One of the highlights of this budget planner is the expense tracker section. It has four pages of expense trackers with 28 rows so you have tons of room to write down all of your everyday expenses on a daily basis. And of course you get other helpful pages, including debt trackers, savings trackers and bill trackers.

What others say:

This is so easy to use, I can keep track of all of my incoming and outgoing funds, so that I know exactly how much money I have and exactly how much money I can spend on something I shouldn’t, like take-out.

Amazon customer

6. Erin Condren A5 Budget Book

This budget planner from Erin Condren has everything you need to become a budgeting boss.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Designed for 12 months of budget planning
– Built-in folder for storing receipts, bills and other financial documents
– Includes budget planner, journal, pens and stickers
– Stylish, feminine design
– No monthly calendar

Who it’s for:

The Erin Condren Budget Planner is worth a look if you’re looking for a budget planner/journal/notebook combo. This budgeting planner includes:

  • Financial planner/budget organizer
  • Checklist journal
  • Dual tip markers
  • Designer stickers

This budgeting planner may be something you’d like if you’re into bullet journaling. And it comes with inspirational quotes to help you stay motivated to reach your financial goals.

In terms of the layout, there’s no monthly calendar. But you do get monthly spending summary pages, spending trackers, debt trackers and a handy folder to help you keep it all organized.

What others say:

I love the overall product. I have used the EC petite budget book in the past and I like the spiral A5 size. I always add a little calendar to each notes page. Because this is undated. I understand why. I also feel more expense pages should be included because in reality, some have a lot more debt than others. I like the improvements of savings tracker.

Amazon customer

7. Legend Budget Planner

The Legend Deluxe Budget Planner makes organizing your finances–and keeping them that way–a breeze.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Includes a monthly calendar for tracking bill due dates
– Track your financial progress yearly and monthly
– Undated, so you can start planning your budget at any time
– Sturdy and designed to travel with you
– It’s a bit lacking when it comes to debt repayment tracking
– Smaller size may not appeal to everyone

Who it’s good for:

The Legend Budget Planner is a complete financial organizer that’s designed for experience budgeters and beginners alike. This A5 size budget planner is compact and sturdy so you can take it with you wherever you go, making it easier to keep track of spending.

Some of the highlights of this budget planner include:

  • Monthly bill tracking
  • Monthly expense tracking
  • Yearly financial planning
  • Savings goal tracking
  • Debt repayment tracking
  • Christmas budget planning

These planners come in a variety of colors so you can choose one that fits your style. It’s undated, so you can start your budget plan at any time during the year. And if you’re not satisfied with your purchase, there’s a money-back guarantee.

What others say:

This is such. gorgeous planner! I will not be able to start using it until January but I can’t wait! The cover is a stunning hunter green color. The embossed design is also very stylish. Perfect for tracking money 😉 the pages are brilliant white and good quality. I also appreciate the book doesn’t give you categories like some other planners. Not everyone has the same categories or expenses. The back of the book has a sturdy envelope I will use to store my cash envelopes. All in all this is a great purchase.

Amazon customer

8. Clever Fox Biweekly Budget Planner

The Clever Fox Biweekly Budget Planner is an ideal budgeting planner option for people who get paid biweekly and budget by paycheck.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Ideal for bi-weekly budgeting
– Larger size means you have plenty of extra space
– Comes in plenty of different colors
– Hassle-free refund process if you decide it’s not right for you
– Doesn’t include cash envelopes
– May not work as well if you use another budgeting system

Who it’s for:

The Clever Fox Biweekly Budget Planner is a great budgeting planner for anyone who budgets biweekly. This planner makes it easy to manage your cash flow and it’s an affordable budget organizer that offers plenty of extra space to jot down income and expenses.

Each bi-weekly period includes a budget table and an expense tracker, along with sections for goal setting, planning upcoming purchases and bills, tracking income and savings. There are 12 monthly calendars as well so you have extra space to write down important deadlines, appointments or other engagements.

This budget book has a high-quality faux leather hardcover and thick no-bleed 120gsm paper pages with lots of colorful layouts. It also comes with 2 pages of colorful stickers, a pocket at the back for holding bills and receipts, 3 colored bookmarks for navigation, and a detailed user manual. This is an A5 size budget planner, measuring 5.8 inches wide, 8.3 inches long, and 0.7-inch thick, which is a perfect size if you like having lots of room to write.

What others say:

This is the 1st biweekly planner I have ever come across. It makes it very easy to set out my budget for every check that I receive during the month. And the way that the pages are structured I can easily write down my expected payment amount, actual amounts, and track how much I have in different savings accounts and holiday funds. The planner is set up in a way that is very similar to how I have written out my finances over the years. It is just nice to have everything together in a neat notebook rather than on very and on various pieces of paper. I highly recommend this planner if you’re looking for some help keeping everything in order and Want an aesthetically pleasing way to view view your finances.

Amazon customer

9. Happy Planner Mini-Sized Budget Planner

If you want to swap out a bigger size budget planner notebook for a smaller one, the Happy Planner Mini-Sized Budget Planner fits the bill.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Smaller size makes it easy to take your budget with you wherever you go
– Disc system lets pages lay flat and keeps your planner customizable
– Includes savings, debt, bill payment trackers
– View your budget weekly or monthly
– Comes with inspirational quotes and a super cute design
– Smaller size may not work for everyone

Who it’s good for:

The Happy Planner Mini-Sized Budget Planner is ideal for people who want to tackle budget planning but need something that comes in a small size.

This mini budget planner makes it easy to:

  • Track your spending habits daily, weekly or monthly
  • Set your budget and save money
  • Review your finances on a weekly or monthly basis at a glance
  • Set financial goals for your money (and achieve them!)

The planner features bright colors and has a customizable layout. It comes with 12 gorgeous dividers that you can use to mark off different months for budget panning. The Mini Happy Planner is undated so you can start it any time.

You get the benefit of weekly and monthly layouts, savings trackers, debt trackers and the no spend challenge tracker. Each month begins with a new motivational quote to help you feel inspired to stick to your budgeting journey.

Since this features disc binding, you can customize your budget planner by adding in new sections, taking ones out or just moving things around. And it’s small enough that you can stash it in your purse or bag so you can easily budget from anywhere.

What others say:

I bought this in addition to my classic planner and I love it. It is quite tiny, so fine point pens and small writing will help you out. The only thing I don’t like is the pre-filled in expense categories, some people don’t have certain expenses and it’s just there now. Should be blank instead, but definitely doesn’t bother me enough to not use the planner. I’ll use happy planners till they’re off the market!

Amazon customer

10. Limitless Mindset Budget Planner

The Limitless Mindset Budget Planner is designed for long-term budget planning.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Undated planner with 12 months of planning included
– Comes with cash envelopes for cash budgeting
– Includes spending trackers, bill trackers, savings trackers and debt trackers
– Larger-sized budget planner
– Thinner pages give it a flimsier feel

Who it’s good for:

The Limitless Mindset Budget Planner is designed to help you organize your finances month to month and year to year. This planner allows you to record your expenses, track bill payments, monitor your savings goal progress and track debt repayment.

Your budget planner is set up so you can look at your month in review, figure out what worked and what didn’t and use that to adjust for the month ahead. The planner includes places to record your income as well as pockets for tucking away receipts, bills and other paperwork you need to keep track of.

If you’re looking for a larger-sized budgeting planner, this one is a contender. Though one potential drawback is that the pages are on the thinner side so you may need to be careful about your choice of pens. The planner does come with its own pen to get you started.

What others say:

I really enjoy this budget planner. It’s very simplistic and straight forward. There are lots of small detailed parts of the planner that are unknowingly necessary. When first noticing these little add-on’s I thought they were random and kind of pointless, until they weren’t … for example, the pockets on the front and rear of the planner. Use one for receipts and one for coupons 🙂

The planner itself is the ideal size. Lots of writing space and a clean & clear layout on each page. Planner also includes label stickers and budgeting envelopes.

Amazon customer

11. Zicoto Simplified Monthly Budget Planner

The Zicoto Simplified Monthly Budget Planner makes it easier to plan out your budget while fine-tuning your financial goals.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Sleek, stylish design
– Includes room to track savings, expenses, bills, debt payments and financial goals
– Create an annual financial review
– Budget for every day spending and holiday spending in one place
– No monthly calendar
– Smaller sized

Who it’s for:

The Zicoto Monthly Budget Planner is an undated 12-month planner that you can use to:

  • Set your financial goals
  • Map out financial strategies and plans
  • Track your bills
  • Track savings and debt
  • Track income
  • Record bill due dates and payments
  • Budget for holiday spending
  • Review spending monthly
  • Review spending annually

It’s a smaller-sized planner but the pages lay flat so it’s not hard to jot down everything you need to. This budget planner also comes with fun stickers and inspirational quotes on each review page to help cheer you on as you work toward your financial goals.

What others say:

I absolutely loved this product upon opening. I have the darker green journal and it looks amazing. I just got it today and started to jot down my bills and expenses from the beginning of the month , I absolutely love the layout, it has plenty of room to jot down expenses, you can forecast your budget and then write down what you actually spent. Not to mention it has a section where you can review and journal what happened that month, what did work and what didn’t. The best thing is the months aren’t already preset, so you could start this anytime of the year and not have to worry about months. It also comes with cute stickers, a lovely thank you note and a stockcard that shows the categories of the journals, how to use them and shows examples on the card too. I am very exct to use this, I’m 20 years old and need to keep track of my finances to help save. It also has a spot in the journal for you to jot down savings too!! I highly recommend for people first starting to budget , like myself.

Amazon customer

12. Planberry Budget Planner

The Planberry Budget Planner is an eye-catching planner that can make budgeting and managing money more efficient.

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Hardcover budget planner with a sturdy design
– Undated layout, with spiral binding and larger size
– Organize your budget with a monthly calendar, bill trackers, expense trackers, savings trackers and more
– Includes stickers and 12 bill pockets for storing documents
– Larger size may not fit every purse or bag

Who it’s good for:

The Planberry Budget Planner is a great choice if you’re looking for a larger budget planner that gives you plenty of room to write. This spiral-bound budget planner is undated, with a hardcover exterior and 120 gsm bleed-proof paper inside. So it’s made to last, regardless of when you start your budget.

The planner includes colorful monthly layouts where you can record bills, expenses, savings and debt. There are 12 bill pockets so if you still get paper bills you can keep them here.

What’s really great about this budget planner are the strategy and planning pages. If you’re interested in taking a deeper dive into what your financial goals are, why you want to achieve them and what money habits you might need to adopt, this planner could be a perfect fit.

What others say:

I would suggest this budget planner to anyone who is looking to organize properly. I have tried every spreadsheet, planner, checkbook registry, and notebook to keep a budget and this is the best thing I’ve found. It is sturdy so it holds up to heavy use. It has a pocket for each month to hold receipts or anything you need (also sturdy). It looks pretty too which is nice. It has pretty but real quotes each month to encourage you. I love this brand, they do planners well.

Amazon customer

Honorable mention: Boxclever Press Budget Planner

The Boxclever Press Budget Planner is a great option for budgeting all year long and it’s the perfect lightweight compact planner!

Why it’s one of the best budgeting plannersWhat you may not like
– Lightweight, compact planner
– Undated layout budget notebook with expense trackers
– Easily fits into a purse or bag so you can take your budget with you
– Track your savings, spending, debt and income in one convenient place
– Doesn’t include cash envelopes for budgeting
– Softcover, not hardcover

Who it’s for:

The Boxclever Press Budget Planner is a lightweight planner that’s ideal for recording daily or weekly expenses, noting each bill’s due date, recording monthly goals and keeping track of your income. This planner is particularly well-suited to people who may struggle to keep up with spending on credit cards.

It’s one of the best budgeting planners for removing the stress of unexpected bills. The planner is undated so you can start it at any time. You also have a place to write down your budgeting goals and keep track of them.

You can highly bill payments due each month, track debt, monitor your savings progress, analyze your day to day spending and get a handle on your income. By recording annual, monthly and daily finances you can pinpoint areas for improving your money management skills and achieve financial peace of mind.

What others say:

I was looking for something simple to help me keep daily track of spending and automated bills for our household. My alternative was writing out budget categories every month in a spiral notebook and doing the math for each expenditure as it happened, but I got tired of rewriting every budget category each month.

This book proved to be perfect for my purpose. It gives a Financial Goals for the Year page, a simple lined Debt Tracker page, and a simple lined Savings Tracker page. Then there are two simple lined pages for Budgeting Strategy/Tactics. I can use these however I want because they’re not overformatted. The next 4 pages are Bill Trackers (see picture). I love the idea of these pages, but I just keep track of recurring payments on the monthly calendars. The other beginning page is an Annual Expenses form broken down by common budget categories and months.

best budgeting planners for managing money
Best Budgeting Planners to Organize Your Money

Budgeting Planner FAQs

What is a good budget planner?

A good budget planner is comprehensive enough to cover everything you need to keep track of with your money. And it’s designed in a way that appeals to you and how you manage your finances.

There are lots of different ways to make and keep a budget, including:

Budgeting apps can be particularly useful if you need a regular bill reminder notification or you’re trying to gain credit card control. These apps can link to your bank account and credit cards to track your spending and bill due dates for you.

The best budget planner includes all the things you need to stay on top of your financial situation, including:

  • Expense trackers
  • Bill payment calendars (or bill payment alerts if you’re using an app)
  • Savings trackers
  • Debt repayment trackers
  • Space to plan out your personal financial goals
  • An easy to follow system for creating an annual summary

And most importantly, a good budget planner should be easy to use. Otherwise, you may get frustrated with the whole thought of budgeting and chuck it out the window.

Are budget planners useful?

Budget planners are useful for helping you to organize your personal finances and take control of your money.

The key is choosing a budgeting planner that fits your needs and style, then committing to using it. So when comparing budgeting planners, pay attention to things like:

Size: Do you need a budget planner that’s a smaller size or one that’s larger so you have extra space to write? A compact planner may work for some people may prefer a budget planner book that’s on the bigger side.

Paper quality: When it comes to writing in your budget journal, it pays to find budget notebooks with heavier paper. This can eliminate bleed-thru when you’re using pens, markers or highlighters to record monthly bills and other financial information.

Customization: Some budgeting planners offer more customization than others. You might be able to move pages around, include dividers or pockets for storing receipts for credit cards or bills, or add stickers. So consider how important customizable budgets and layouts are to you.

Dated vs undated: You may not be starting your budget on January 1st, in which case you may want an undated yearly budget planner. Then again, you may want a planner that already has the dates for the next month included.

Features and layout: Layout is important because not everyone budgets the same way. So when shopping for budgeting planners, consider what kind of space you have to record bill payment reminder notes, paychecks and other income, spending, debt payments and deposits to savings.

Quality: Last but not least, consider the quality of the budget notebook or budget journal you’re buying. Is it sturdy and made to last? Does it have a soft or hard cover? Checking the quality can ensure that you’re getting something that’s worth the money.

And finally, consider reviews of any budgeting planners that catch your eye. This is something you can easily do if you’re shopping for a budget planner on Amazon, which is a great place to find a variety of different planners at affordable prices.

Look for budget planners that have good reviews and plenty of them. This is a great way to help you find the best planner to take control of your personal finances.

What’s the best way to budget money?

The best way to budget money is to add up your income for the month first, then add up your expenses. You subtract the total amount of expenses from your income and ideally, there’s money left over.

There are different budgeting methods and budgeting systems you can follow. If you need some ideas, try these budgeting options:

You can use budgeting planners with any of these budget methods. They all work in different ways but the most important thing is to find a budgeting system that works for you.

Final thoughts on the best budgeting planners

Making a budget is the first step in improving your finances so you can save more, live better. With a budget, you can take control over where your money goes.

The budgeting planners I’ve included here are truly the ones I think are the best based on form, function, features, style and cost. As mentioned, I’m partial to the Happy Planner line of budget planners but I also think Planberry’s budget planner option is a great pick if you’re really focused on setting monthly financial goals.

I hope you’ll find the perfect budget planner for you on this list! Before you go, be sure to check out my favorite Smart Money Tools for making and saving money!

Not sure how to make a budget? Learn how to budget by percentages, the easy way!

Best Budgeting Planners to Organize Your Finances

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About Rebecca Lake

Rebecca Lake is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance, freelance writer and homeschooling single mom of two. Since 2014, she's paid off nearly $100,000 in debt and grown her net worth to seven figures. Her work has appeared online at top personal finance websites, including Forbes Advisor, Bankrate, Investopedia, The Balance, CreditCards.com and U.S. News & World Report. Find out more.