Once I had my Excel budget set up for next 12 months using the templates that I had kept. It was easy to review my budget using 2008 figures as all was on the spreadsheets.

Looking at my Bill Estimates Tracker which is my best program, I could work how much I would need for next year bills & regular expenses. I did over estimate here by 20% in some cases as with so much natural disasters around the place and my friend house insurance coming up to over $1000 per year on her renewal I have allowed extra 40% on that one and same with my car. All our bills have gone up mostly likely never to come down again; if they do you will find new tax or cost to keep at that level or higher. Normally I add 10% on the each bill per year but with everything going up its best to add more I hope I can go back to my 10% for 2010.

Here a little idea on how it works.

As this Bill Estimates Tracker can be changes by just changing the figures in it. You can see what any changes has on your budget at any point in the year, it done monthly with input on the amount going in, adding to want is left from the previous month on next column, list of bills for that month and next column has the amount with a total of that months bill and in next column you have whats left for that month hopefully it doesnt have a minus in it.

Column 1 ~ Months
Column 2 ~ Bill money input for that month
Column 3 ~ Money input plus previous month leftover money total
Column 4 ~ Bills for that month in order of due dates
Column 5 ~ Amounts of bills (including total in last line of that month - this let you see outgoing total on monthly bases)
Column 6 ~ Different between Column 3 & Column 5, This now becomes previous month leftover money for next month.

Each month is worked as separate to each other but interwoven into each other. So that if you change one figure all will change in the spreadsheet giving you a good overview of any shortfalls in the months to come.

I have found since I use this spreadsheet I know how much money I will need as a float to keep it going without worry where the money will come for the next large bill month which I have about every 3 months which more than my income before any rent or food is bought and on a fixed income you need to know these things. This year my kick start float is $1300 so that I will not at anytime going into a minus for any month. Last year it was around $1000 but I have taken two items out of it and made floats which will be a back up to this bill account money. Emergency Fund and Vets float, I have save enough not to include any more money for now. My bill account is now at $275 per pay input which has to be classed as bill money to keep this system working and cant be spent in other areas of my budget. I have been doing this kind budget on this scale for a many years now I know that I will not spend it on others things. Any money leftover at end next year will be the kick start float for the next year and any money above amount that will go into the Emergency Fund float.

This spreadsheet is only part of a group of spreadsheets used.

Next day to day living budget soon!

Other links in this series