Introduction:

A: Budgeting is all about managing your cash! It is not about denial or rules (it can be fun).
Use these sheets to get a clear view of your take home income, where it goes, and how much you should have left.
Use your own real income and expenses; Not numbers you think should be used. When you have your Income and
Expenses entered, you can copy that year's sheet to a new "play" sheet and take a look at what you would like to
change. Make the changes and see what happens to your cash flow. Then figure out how to do it in the real world.
Consider using an envelope system if you're having trouble keeping track of your cash. (See
www.Wikipedia.com "envelope budgeting".)

B: Created in Excel 2003. Not tested on previous versions.

C: If you want to save this as an Excel Template (.Xlt) file, the first thing to do is to copy or rename this file with a .XLT
extension (Excel Power Take Home Budget.XLT). Then you can proceed to D below. Otherwise go directly to
Chapter 1 - Set-up.

D: Assuming this is your first Excel Template download:

1) Make sure your protection software (i.e. Norton, MacAfee, etc.) is either turned off, or configured to accept macros
from third parties. Check the documentation for that software.
2) If Excel gives you a security message about macros, go to Tools-Options-"Security" Tab and click the "Macro
Security" button. Then set the level to either medium or low.
3) Find your Microsoft Office Template Folder. Look 1st under C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application
Data\Microsoft\Templates. If they are not there, open "Windows Explorer" from the "Accessories" category of the
"Programs" menu. Then search for files whose names are *.xlt. This should tell you where you must save the
template for it to appear correctly when you want to start a new budget.

Chapter 1 - Set-up.
A: This worksheet was created on a monitor running at 1680 x 1050. It is best displayed full screen with Excel zoom set
at 90%. Other screen resolutions may require adjusting the zoom

B: The features of this worksheet depend on Formulas and Macros. Be sure your Excel is set to run third party macros.

C: Although these sheets have editing protection turned on, there is no password. It is protected just to prevent
accidental changes. Use the "Protection On/Off" button on the "Take Home" toolbar (see below) to change the
protection. The colored bar in column A will change between green (protection is on) and red (protection is off) and
the button face will change from a closed lock (turn protection on) and an open lock (turn protection off). If you
choose to unprotect any of the sheets, be sure to turn protection back on again. The "Protection On/Off" button on
the "Take Home" toolbar does more than just change the protection on the active sheet, Therefore it is
preferable to use it instead of the "Tools/Protection" from the command bar.

D: The "Sample" Sheet.

The "Sample" sheet is provided for you to play with and to become familiar with how these sheets behave. It
is entirely fictitious. Go ahead and see how you would spend something like a million dollars. When you are
comfortable with how things work go ahead and do your own.

E: When you no longer need/want the "Cover", "Instructions" & "Sample" sheets, please feel free to delete them. It will
reduce the size of your file.

Chapter 2 - Entering your numbers.

A: The following applies to the "Income", "Savings/Investments Additions", and Expenses" catagories.
1) Change the descriptions in the description column (column E) to suit your needs.
2) Start by recording in the yellow cells of columns B,C,D your income and expenses that are consistent from month to
month. The amount goes in the column labeled "How Much" (do not enter the $ sign). The "How Often" column is for
the frequency of that amount (i.e. weekly, monthly, etc). See the comment* in the header cells for the right format*.
[Example: for $2,900 every month, enter 2900 in the "How Much" column and 4 in the "How Often" column.] When
the amount is on a quarterly, annual, or varied basis you will also need to enter the months involved in the "Which
Month(s)" column, separating the months with a comma (,). [Example: for $2,900 in April (4), June (6), and October
(10), enter 2900 in "How Much", 5 in "How Often", and 4,6,10 in "Which Month(s)". When you have all of your
numbers entered, click each "Distribute" button on the "Take Home" toolbar (see below).
* To show or hide all comments: Click the "View" command on the Excel command bar and then "Comments".

3) When the Amount Varies from Month to Month: When the amount of an "Income" or "Expense" item varies from
month to month, enter something like "XXX" or "????" in the "How Much" column (just as an indicator). Leave the
"How Often" column empty. Then enter the amounts in the appropriate months. The rest of the information will still
update correctly and this row will be skipped each time a "Distribute" button is clicked.

4) To clear an entire row: When you need to clear an entire row, type "none" in the "How Much" column and click the
appropriate "Distribute" button. The numbers will clear in that row leaving just the description.

B: The Take Home Tool Bar.

1) This is a custom toolbar that is created when you open "Take Home Budget" and deleted when you close the file. It is
a floating tool bar and you can drag it to wherever it's convenient. Clicking on either the "Income" or "Expenses"
button will run a small macro program that will take the information from the first 3 columns of either "Income" or
"Expenses" and enter it (distribute it) among the months. All the rest of the information is the result of formulas. Each
time you change any of the information in the first three columns, click the appropriate distribution button again and
everything will update.
Note: Toolbar buttons don't work if there is a cell active. Press your enter key to exit the active cell, then try the
button again.
 2) Preventing Automatic Distribution: When the "How Often" column contains nothing, the distribute programs will
skip that row and continue with the rest. This is how you protect any changes you make manually in the month
columns. [Example: You are told you will be on unpaid leave from your job July and August. Use "Clear Contents" to
remove the values in the "How Often", "July", and "August" columns. Now clicking a "Distribute" button will not affect
the information in that row.] The rest of the information will still update correctly.

Chapter 3 - The Summaries

A: This is where you can get a quick look at your present situation and the future. If there are any red numbers in the
"Income Summary", be forewarned. Your financial picture is not a happy one, unless you have planned it this way.
Take a look at "Cash Flow" and the "Montly Summary" chart to see what month(s) might be a problem.

B: If more than 100% of your income is accounted for, it means that your expenses exceed your income. It's probably
wise to keep this figure down to 85% or less. Otherwise, you may feel maxed out and broke all the time.

C: As your "Total Annual Savings" contributions go over 5% of your income, the background color will change to
turquoise, and if it goes over 10% (a very good thing) the background will go to green. The 10% number is widely
recommended by most of the financial "Gurus", but only you can determine how much you are happy with.

D: Using the "Running Summary"

1) By entering the balance of your checking account on the first of the month (before paying expenses), and then
watching the balance after scheduled income and expenses, you can see which way your checking balance will go.
The "Running Summary" also repeats the "Cash Flow" figures from below "Expenses". (Note: Don't expect one
month's "after expenses" balance to be the next month's beginning balance. There are probably other additions and
subtractions during the month.)

Chapter 4 - Inserting and deleting rows.

A: To delete a row: First turn protection off with the "Protection Off" toolbar button.Then you can delete the row(s). Only
delete a row if it starts with a yellow cell! Otherwise, you may mess up the references and formulas for the rest of the
sheet. Remember to turn protection back on!

B: If you need additional rows, you can add them in the areas where there are rows starting with yellow cells. Use the
"Insert Rows" button on the "Take Home" toolbar to insert the number of rows you need. The "Insert Rows" button will
automatically insert the rows and add the right formula for the "Year's Total" cells.

Chapter 5 - Printing
A: Printing is set for legal size paper in portrait mode.

Chapter 6 - Notes
A: Before starting your 2010 Take Home sheet, copy the 2010 sheet to create a 2011 sheet.

B: When the sum of the "Year's Total" cells and the sum of the "Monthly Totals" cells are the same, the self-check cell in
the "Year's Total" will be green. If there is an error, it will be dark pink.
 Sample Annual Cash Balance Guide
Monthly Summary
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
Dollars

Row 30
2,000 Row 105
1,000 Row 108
0 Row 41
(1,000)
(2,000)
January February March April May June July August Septem October Novem Decem
ber ber ber
Month

** 87.3% of your income is accounted for, which includes the 4.84% of your income you are saving.
** You only have 12.7% of your income to spend without restraint. That's about $516 per month.
** There is a $3,875 difference in your monthly cash flow. Consider shifting some Income or Expenses to other months.

Total Annual Income $48,750 Total Annual Expenses $42,564

Net Annual Income $6,186 Total Annual Savings $2,360
Average Income per Month $4,063 Average Expenses per Month $3,547
Income Maximum Monthly Income $5,250 Expense Maximum Monthly Expenses $5,409
Summary Minimum Monthly Income $3,750 Summary Minimum Monthly Expenses $3,034
Average Monthly Cash Flow $516
Maximum Month Cash Flow $2,216
Minimum Monthly Cash Flow $(1,659)

Checking Account Balance on the 1st 350 1,345 1,125 968 265 625 815 2,565 655 945 1,200 630
Income + Checking Account Balance 5,600 5,095 5,025 4,718 4,015 4,625 6,065 6,315 4,755 4,695 4,950 4,380
Running Expenses 3,334 3,159 3,554 4,174 3,159 3,334 3,034 5,409 3,244 3,124 4,009 3,034
Summary Checking Account Balance After Expenses 2,266 1,936 1,471 544 856 1,291 3,031 906 1,511 1,571 941 1,346
Err:511 1,916 591 346 (424) 591 666 2,216 (1,659) 856 626 (259) 716

September
How Much

How Often

November

December
February
Month(s)

January

October
Description

August

Year's
Which

March

Total
June
April

July
May
Income -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12-
$375 1 Take Home Income 1 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 1,625 19,500
$425 3 Take Home Income 2 850 850 850 850 850 850 850 850 850 850 850 850 10,200
Take Home Income 3 0
$400 4 Alimony 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 4,800
$875 4 Child Support 875 875 875 875 875 875 875 875 875 875 875 875 10,500
$1,500 5 1,7 Investment/Interest Income 1 1,500 1,500 3,000
0
XXX Royalties 150 250 350 750
Monthly Totals 5,250 3,750 3,900 3,750 3,750 4,000 5,250 3,750 4,100 3,750 3,750 3,750 48,750
-1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- 48,750

Savings & Investment Additions -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12-
$15 3 Savings for Birthdays 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 360
$25 3 Savings for the Holidays 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 600
$20 1 Short Term Saving Account 1 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 1,040
Short Term Saving Account 2 0
$30 4 Long Term Investment Account 1 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 360
Long Term Investment Account 2 0
0
Monthly Totals 197 197 197 197 197 197 197 197 197 197 197 197 [2,360]
Expenses -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- [2,360]
0
0
Alimony 0
$1,100 4 1st Mortgage/Rent 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 13,200
2nd Mortgage/Rent 0
$115 4 Gas & Electric 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 1,380
$65 4 Water & Garbage 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 780
$35 4 Home Phone 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 420
$70 4 Cell Phones 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 840
Television Service 0
$75 1 Grocery Store Food 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 3,900
$15 1 Grocery Store, Other 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 780
$35 5 2,5,8,11 Her Personal Grooming 35 35 35 35 140
$10 4 His Personal Grooming 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 120
$200 5 4,8 Clothing Her's 200 200 400
$10 4 Dry Cleaning Her's 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 120
$250 5 3 Clothing His 250 250
$10 4 Dry Cleaning His 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 120
$200 5 8 Clothing Child 1 200 200
$250 5 8 Clothing Child 2 250 250
Clothing Child 3 0
Clothing Child 4 0
Clothing Child 5 0
0
$50 4 Payment Credit Card 1 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 600
$15 4 Payment Credit Card 2 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 180
Payment Credit Card 3 0
Payment Credit Card 4 0
$225 4 Car Payment 1 225 225 225 225 225 225 225 225 225 225 225 225 2,700
$12 1 Gas , Car 1 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 624
$190 4 Car Payment 2 190 190 190 190 190 190 190 190 190 190 190 190 2,280
$15 3 Gas, Car 2 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 360
Car Payment 3 0
Gas, Car 3 0
$300 5 1,6 Routine Car Maintanance - Total 300 300 600
2,3,4,5,8,9,1
$90 5 Car Insurance - Total 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 720
0,11
$300 Cars - Gov't Fees, etc. 180 120 300
$30 4 Doctor 1 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 360
Doctor 2 0
Lawyer 1 0
Dentist/orthodontist 1 0
Dentist/orthodontist 2 0
Gardener/Landscape Maintanance 0
$50 4 Home Owner's/Renter's Insurance 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 600
$850 5 4,11 Real Estate Tax on Home 850 850 1,700
$15 1 Family Eating Out 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 780
Parents Going Out 0
His lunches 0
Her lunches 0
$1,600 5 8 Family Movies/Parks/Vacations 1,600 1,600
$75 1 Child Care 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 3,900
Child Care 0
Health Insurance 0
Life Insurance 0
Pet Food 0
Routine Vet Visits 0
Children's School 0
Parent's Education 0
His Hobbies/Activities 0
Her Hobbies/Activities 0
0
0
Total Expenses 3,334 3,159 3,554 4,174 3,159 3,334 3,034 5,409 3,244 3,124 4,009 3,034 42,564
-1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- 42,564

Cash Flow 1,916 591 346 (424) 591 666 2,216 (1,659) 856 626 (259) 716 6,186
 2009 Annual Cash Balance Guide
Monthly Summary
1
1
1
1
Dollars

1 Row 30
0 Row 40
0 Row 104
0 Row 107
0
0
0
January February March April May June July August Septem October Novem Decem
ber ber ber
Month

** 0% of your income is accounted for, which includes the 0% of your income you are saving.
** You only have 100% of your income to spend without restraint. That's about $0 per month.
** There is a $0 difference in your monthly cash flow. Consider shifting some Income or Expenses to other months.

Total Annual Income $1 Total Annual Expenses $-

Net Annual Income $1 Total Annual Savings $-
Average Income per Month $- Average Expenses per Month $-
Income Maximum Monthly Income $- Expense Maximum Monthly Expenses $-
Summary Minimum Monthly Income $- Summary Minimum Monthly Expenses $-
Average Monthly Cash Flow $-
Maximum Month Cash Flow $-
Minimum Monthly Cash Flow $-

Checking Account Balance on the 1st

Income + Checking Account Balance 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Running Expenses 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Summary Checking Account Balance After Expenses 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Err:511 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

September
How Much

How Often

November

December
February
Month(s)

January

October
Description

August

Year's
Which

March

Total
June
April

July
May

Income -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12-
Take Home Income 1 0
Take Home Income 2 0
Take Home Income 3 0
Alimony 0
Child Support 0
Investment/Interest Income 1 0
Investment/Interest Income 2 0
other 0
Monthly Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
-1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- 0

Savings & Investment Additions -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12-
Short Term Saving Account 1 0
Short Term Saving Account 2 0
Long Term Investment Account 1 0
Long Term Investment Account 2 0
Holiday Savings 0
Birthday Savings 0
Monthly Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [0]
Expenses -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- [0]
0
0
Alimony 0
1st Mortgage/Rent 0
2nd Mortgage/Rent 0
Gas & Electric 0
Water & Garbage 0
Home Phone 0
Cell Phones 0
Television Service 0
Grocery Store Food 0
Grocery Store, Other 0
Her Personal Grooming 0
His Personal Grooming 0
Clothing Her's 0
Dry Cleaning Her's 0
Clothing His 0
Dry Cleaning His 0
Clothing Child 1 0
Clothing Child 2 0
Clothing Child 3 0
Clothing Child 4 0
Clothing Child 5 0
Children's Dry Cleaning 0
Payment Credit Card 1 0
Payment Credit Card 2 0
Payment Credit Card 3 0
Payment Credit Card 4 0
Car Payment 1 0
Gas , Car 1 0
Car Payment 2 0
Gas, Car 2 0
Car Payment 3 0
Gas, Car 3 0
Routine Car Maintanance - Total 0
Car Insurance - Total 0
Cars - Gov't Fees, etc. 0
Doctor 1 0
Doctor 2 0
Lawyer 1 0
Dentist/orthodontist 1 0
Dentist/orthodontist 2 0
Gardener/Landscape Maintanance 0
Home Owner's Insurance 0
Real Estate Tax on Home 0
Family Eating Out 0
Parents Going Out 0
His lunches 0
Her lunches 0
Family Movies/Parks/Vacations 0
Child Care 0
Child Care 0
Health Insurance 0
Life Insurance 0
Pet Food 0
Routine Vet Visits 0
Children's School 0
Parent's Education 0
His Hobbies/Activities 0
Her Hobbies/Activities 0
0
0
Total Expenses 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
-1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- 0

Cash Flow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Dennis Simpson Page 6 09/19/2009

 2010 Annual Cash Balance Guide
Monthly Summary
1
1
1
1
Dollars

1 Row 30
0 Row 40
0 Row 104
0 Row 107
0
0
0
January February March April May June July August Septem October Novem Decem
ber ber ber
Month

** 0% of your income is accounted for, which includes the 0% of your income you are saving.
** You only have 100% of your income to spend without restraint. That's about $0 per month.
** There is a $0 difference in your monthly cash flow. Consider shifting some Income or Expenses to other months.

Total Annual Income $1 Total Annual Expenses $-

Net Annual Income $1 Total Annual Savings $-
Average Income per Month $- Average Expenses per Month $-
Income Maximum Monthly Income $- Expense Maximum Monthly Expenses $-
Summary Minimum Monthly Income $- Summary Minimum Monthly Expenses $-
Average Monthly Cash Flow $-
Maximum Month Cash Flow $-
Minimum Monthly Cash Flow $-

Checking Account Balance on the 1st

Income + Checking Account Balance 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Running Expenses 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Summary Checking Account Balance After Expenses 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Err:511 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

September
How Much

How Often

November

December
February
Month(s)

January

October
Description

August

Year's
Which

March

Total
June
April

July
May

Income -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12-
Take Home Income 1 0
Take Home Income 2 0
Take Home Income 3 0
Alimony 0
Child Support 0
Investment/Interest Income 1 0
Investment/Interest Income 2 0
other 0
Monthly Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
-1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- 0

Savings & Investment Additions -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12-
Short Term Saving Account 1 0
Short Term Saving Account 2 0
Long Term Investment Account 1 0
Long Term Investment Account 2 0
Holiday Savings 0
Birthday Savings 0
Monthly Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [0]
Expenses -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- [0]
0
0
Alimony 0
1st Mortgage/Rent 0
2nd Mortgage/Rent 0
Gas & Electric 0
Water & Garbage 0
Home Phone 0
Cell Phones 0
Television Service 0
Grocery Store Food 0
Grocery Store, Other 0
Her Personal Grooming 0
His Personal Grooming 0
Clothing Her's 0
Dry Cleaning Her's 0
Clothing His 0
Dry Cleaning His 0
Clothing Child 1 0
Clothing Child 2 0
Clothing Child 3 0
Clothing Child 4 0
Clothing Child 5 0
Children's Dry Cleaning 0
Payment Credit Card 1 0
Payment Credit Card 2 0
Payment Credit Card 3 0
Payment Credit Card 4 0
Car Payment 1 0
Gas , Car 1 0
Car Payment 2 0
Gas, Car 2 0
Car Payment 3 0
Gas, Car 3 0
Routine Car Maintanance - Total 0
Car Insurance - Total 0
Cars - Gov't Fees, etc. 0
Doctor 1 0
Doctor 2 0
Lawyer 1 0
Dentist/orthodontist 1 0
Dentist/orthodontist 2 0
Gardener/Landscape Maintanance 0
Home Owner's Insurance 0
Real Estate Tax on Home 0
Family Eating Out 0
Parents Going Out 0
His lunches 0
Her lunches 0
Family Movies/Parks/Vacations 0
Child Care 0
Child Care 0
Health Insurance 0
Life Insurance 0
Pet Food 0
Routine Vet Visits 0
Children's School 0
Parent's Education 0
His Hobbies/Activities 0
Her Hobbies/Activities 0
0
0
Total Expenses 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
-1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- 0

Cash Flow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Dennis Simpson Page 7 09/19/2009