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Budget Planner & Expense Tracker

Free • Open Source • No Signup • 100% Local

This Month's Income

₹0

This Month's Expenses

₹0

This Month's Savings

₹0

Biggest Expense

-

to
Add Income
Add Expense
Set Budget Limit (alerts when exceeded)
Income Trend (Last 12 Months)
Expense Trend (Last 12 Months)
Income vs Expense (This Month)
Income Sources (This Month)
All Entries
Date Type Category Amount (₹) Description Action

Budget Report

${new Date().toLocaleString()}
Charts
Entries Table
`); reportWindow.document.close(); setTimeout(() => { const summaryCards = summary; reportWindow.document.querySelector('.summary-cards').appendChild(summaryCards); const chartIds = ['incomeTrend', 'expenseTrend', 'incomeExpensePie', 'incomeSourcePie']; const chartsDiv = reportWindow.document.getElementById('chartsContainer'); chartIds.forEach(id => { const chart = document.getElementById(id); if (chart) { const img = document.createElement('img'); img.src = chart.toDataURL("image/png"); img.className = 'chart-img'; chartsDiv.appendChild(img); } }); let { from, to } = getSelectedRange(); let filtered = entries.filter(e => { let d = e.date; return (!from || d >= from) && (!to || d <= to); }); let table = ``; filtered.slice().reverse().forEach(e => { table += ``; }); table += '
DateTypeCategoryAmount (₹)Description
${e.date} ${e.type} ${e.category} ${e.type === 'income' ? '+' : '-'}₹${e.amount.toLocaleString()} ${e.description}
'; reportWindow.document.getElementById('entriesContainer').innerHTML = table; }, 400); } render();

What is a Budget Planner?

A budget planner is a financial tool that helps you track your income and expenses, set spending limits, and achieve your financial goals. Our free budget planner allows you to categorize transactions, monitor spending patterns, and maintain a healthy balance between earnings and expenditures. With features like 12-month trend analysis, budget alerts, and visual charts, you can make informed financial decisions and build wealth over time.

The budget planner follows the proven 50/30/20 rule: allocate 50% of income to needs (rent, utilities, groceries), 30% to wants (entertainment, dining out), and 20% to savings and debt repayment. This simple framework ensures you cover essentials while building financial security.

How to Create a Monthly Budget?

Creating an effective monthly budget involves five key steps:

Our budget tracker automates calculations, provides real-time alerts when you exceed limits, and generates visual reports to help you understand spending patterns. You can export data to CSV for backup or import existing financial records for comprehensive analysis.

Why Use an Expense Tracker?

An expense tracker is essential for financial awareness and control. Studies show that people who track expenses save 15-20% more than those who don't. Here's why tracking matters:

Our tracker provides category-wise breakdown, 12-month trends, and comparative analysis to help you make data-driven financial decisions. All data is stored locally in your browser - we never collect or transmit your financial information.

What is the 50/30/20 Budget Rule?

The 50/30/20 rule is a simple budgeting framework popularized by Senator Elizabeth Warren. It divides your after-tax income into three categories:

50% - Needs (Essential Expenses)

These are expenses you cannot avoid:

  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Utilities (electricity, water, gas, internet)
  • Groceries and essential food
  • Transportation (fuel, public transport, car maintenance)
  • Insurance (health, life, vehicle)
  • Minimum loan payments
  • Healthcare and medications

30% - Wants (Discretionary Spending)

These are lifestyle choices that enhance quality of life:

  • Dining out and restaurants
  • Entertainment (movies, concerts, streaming services)
  • Shopping (clothes, gadgets, hobbies)
  • Vacations and travel
  • Gym memberships and fitness
  • Premium subscriptions

20% - Savings & Debt Repayment

Building financial security and freedom:

  • Emergency fund (3-6 months of expenses)
  • Retirement savings (EPF, NPS, mutual funds)
  • Investment in stocks, bonds, real estate
  • Extra loan payments to reduce debt faster
  • Children's education fund
  • Long-term financial goals

If your needs exceed 50%, look for ways to reduce costs - consider a roommate, switch to cheaper utilities, or use public transport. If you're spending more than 30% on wants, identify areas to cut back. The key is flexibility - adjust percentages based on your life stage and goals.

How to Track Expenses Effectively?

Effective expense tracking requires consistency and the right tools. Follow these proven strategies:

  1. Record Immediately: Log expenses as soon as they occur - waiting leads to forgotten transactions
  2. Categorize Accurately: Use consistent categories (Groceries, Transport, Entertainment) for meaningful analysis
  3. Include Everything: Track even small purchases - coffee, snacks, parking fees add up significantly
  4. Review Weekly: Spend 10 minutes every Sunday reviewing the week's spending
  5. Use Automation: Our tracker auto-calculates totals, alerts you to overspending, and generates charts
  6. Set Realistic Limits: Base budget limits on actual past spending, not wishful thinking
  7. Adjust as Needed: Life changes - update your budget when income or expenses change

Our expense tracker provides visual analytics including pie charts for category breakdown, line graphs for monthly trends, and comparison charts for income vs expenses. You can filter by date range, export to CSV for tax purposes, and print monthly reports.

What Should I Include in My Budget?

A comprehensive budget includes all income sources and expense categories. Here's a complete checklist:

Income Sources:

Fixed Expenses (Same Every Month):

Variable Expenses (Change Monthly):

Periodic Expenses (Quarterly/Annual):

Don't forget to budget for irregular expenses - set aside money monthly for annual costs. For example, if annual insurance is ₹12,000, budget ₹1,000 monthly to avoid surprises.

How Do I Stick to My Budget?

Creating a budget is easy - sticking to it is the challenge. Here are proven strategies to maintain budget discipline:

  1. Start Realistic: Base your budget on actual spending, not ideal spending. Gradual improvement works better than drastic cuts
  2. Use Budget Alerts: Our tracker warns you when approaching category limits, preventing overspending
  3. Automate Savings: Set up automatic transfers to savings accounts on payday - save before you spend
  4. Use Cash for Discretionary Spending: Withdraw your "wants" budget in cash - when it's gone, stop spending
  5. Review Weekly: Spend 10 minutes every Sunday reviewing expenses and planning the week ahead
  6. Plan for Splurges: Budget for occasional treats - complete restriction leads to budget abandonment
  7. Track Progress: Celebrate milestones - paid off a credit card, saved ₹50,000, stayed under budget for 3 months
  8. Adjust When Needed: Life changes - update your budget for new jobs, moving, family changes
  9. Use Visual Reminders: Our charts show spending patterns - seeing the data motivates better choices
  10. Find an Accountability Partner: Share goals with a friend or spouse for mutual support

Remember, budgeting is a skill that improves with practice. The first month may be challenging, but by month three, tracking becomes habitual. Our 12-month trend analysis shows your progress over time, motivating continued discipline.

Budget Planner Features

Our free budget planner includes powerful features for comprehensive financial management:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a monthly budget?

To create a monthly budget: (1) Track all income sources (salary, freelance, business), (2) List all expenses by category (rent, utilities, groceries, etc.), (3) Set budget limits for each category, (4) Monitor spending throughout the month, (5) Adjust as needed. Our tracker automatically calculates income, expenses, and savings.

What is the 50/30/20 budget rule?

The 50/30/20 rule divides your after-tax income into: 50% for needs (rent, utilities, groceries, insurance), 30% for wants (dining out, entertainment, shopping), and 20% for savings and debt repayment. This simple framework helps balance essential expenses, lifestyle spending, and financial goals.

How can I track my expenses effectively?

Track expenses by: (1) Recording every transaction immediately, (2) Categorizing expenses (groceries, transport, entertainment), (3) Setting budget limits per category, (4) Reviewing spending weekly, (5) Using visual charts to identify patterns. Our tracker provides automatic categorization, budget alerts, and 12-month trend analysis.

What should I include in my budget?

Include all income (salary, freelance, investments) and expenses: Fixed costs (rent, utilities, insurance, loan payments), Variable costs (groceries, transport, dining), Discretionary spending (entertainment, shopping, hobbies), and Savings (emergency fund, retirement, investments). Don't forget annual expenses like insurance premiums.

How do I stick to my budget?

Stick to your budget by: (1) Setting realistic limits based on past spending, (2) Using budget alerts to warn when approaching limits, (3) Reviewing expenses weekly, (4) Adjusting categories as needed, (5) Automating savings transfers, (6) Using cash for discretionary spending, (7) Tracking progress with visual charts.

Is my financial data safe?

Yes, absolutely. All your financial data is stored locally in your browser using localStorage. We never collect, transmit, or store your data on any server. Your income, expenses, and budget information remain completely private and under your control. You can export data to CSV for backup.

Can I use this budget planner on mobile?

Yes! Our budget planner is fully responsive and works perfectly on smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. All features including income/expense tracking, charts, budget limits, and CSV export are available on mobile devices. Your data syncs across devices if you use the same browser.

How much should I save each month?

Financial experts recommend saving at least 20% of your after-tax income. This includes emergency fund (3-6 months of expenses), retirement savings (EPF, NPS, mutual funds), and specific goals (home down payment, education). Start with 10% if 20% seems difficult, then increase gradually. Our tracker helps you monitor savings progress monthly.