Is the budget template really free?

Yes. The spreadsheet downloads directly with no payment and no email required. You can optionally leave your email to receive occasional budgeting tips, but the download works whether or not you do.

Does the template work in Google Sheets?

Yes. It is an .xlsx file, so it opens in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc and WPS Office. In Google Sheets, upload it to Drive and open it with Sheets; all formulas carry across.

Free Monthly Budget Template in Excel (Indian Rupees)

Q: Can I change the categories?

Yes, every category is editable. The template ships with categories common in Indian households such as rent, groceries, EMIs, family support and domestic help, but you can rename, delete or add rows and the totals will update automatically.

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Monthly Budget Template (.xlsx)

Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and WPS Office.

Download the template — free

No email required. The file downloads straight away.

What is inside

Income section for salary, freelance work, rental income and other sources
Fixed costs — rent, EMIs, insurance premiums, school fees, family support
Variable costs — groceries, transport, utilities, mobile and internet, domestic help
Discretionary spending — eating out, subscriptions, shopping, travel
Savings and investments — emergency fund, SIPs, PPF, extra loan repayment
Automatic totals showing planned against actual, and what is left over

How to use it

Fill in your monthly take-home in the income section — the amount that actually reaches your account, not your CTC.
Enter what you plan to spend in each category. Guessing is fine for the first month.
Record actual spending as the month goes, or in one sitting each weekend if that suits you better.
At month end, compare planned against actual. The gaps are the information — they tell you which estimates were fiction.

The first month is usually a shock and the second is usually accurate. That is normal, and it is worth pushing through the first one.

Using it in Google Sheets

Upload the file to Google Drive and open it with Sheets. Every formula carries across. If you would rather keep it in Sheets permanently, use File then Save as Google Sheets after opening.

A spreadsheet is a good place to start

For a lot of people it is also a good place to stay. Spreadsheets are free, private, endlessly customisable, and they do not send your data anywhere.

What they are less good at is the daily habit. Opening a laptop to record a ₹40 auto fare is enough friction that most people stop within a few weeks, which is the point at which a phone app starts earning its place. If you reach that point, Smart Budget Tracker keeps the same principle — your data stays on your own device, and there is no bank login involved.

Either way, the template is yours to keep, with no strings attached.

Common questions

Is it really free?

Yes — no payment, no email required. You can optionally subscribe for occasional budgeting tips, but the download works regardless.

Does it work in Google Sheets?

Yes. It is a standard .xlsx file and opens in Sheets, Excel, LibreOffice Calc and WPS Office with formulas intact.

Can I change the categories?

All of them. Rename, delete or add rows as you like; the totals update automatically.

This template is a general budgeting aid, not personalised financial advice. For decisions about investments, taxes or debt, consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser or a qualified financial planner.