Understand What You Spend
Tip: “Save Draft” stores your entries in this browser only (localStorage). PDF export uses a snapshot of the worksheet.
Auto-calculates Monthly set-aside
Smarter Savings Association • Financial Education for Every Stage of Life
Understand What You Spend:
Fixed, Periodic & Variable Expenses
Budgeting Basics Worksheet
This worksheet helps you sort your spending into three simple buckets so you can build a budget that fits real life.
The 3 spending buckets
Fixed expenses
Bills that stay about the same each month and are due on a schedule (predictable).
Examples: rent/mortgage, car payment, phone plan, insurance premium
Periodic expenses
Costs that don’t happen every month, but you know they’re coming. Plan for them by saving a little each month.
Examples: car repairs, holidays, annual fees, back-to-school, some medical costs
Variable expenses
Day-to-day spending that changes from month to month and is easiest to adjust.
Examples: groceries, gas, dining out, entertainment, clothing
Quick steps (10 minutes)
- Pull up the last 30 days of transactions (bank + credit card).
- Label each expense as Fixed, Periodic, or Variable.
- For periodic expenses, estimate the yearly total and divide by 12 to get a monthly “set-aside.”
- Circle one variable category you want to adjust next month (small changes count).
Notes
Map Your Expenses
If you’re short on time, start with your top expenses. The goal is clarity, not perfection.
A) Fixed expenses (monthly)
| Expense | Amount | Due date |
|---|
B) Periodic expenses (not monthly)
Tip: Monthly set-aside = estimated yearly cost ÷ 12
| Expense | When it happens | Estimated yearly cost | Monthly set-aside |
|---|
C) Variable expenses (flexible month to month)
| Category | Last month | Next month target | One small change to consider |
|---|
Reflection (1 minute)
Next
Next