Create A Finance Binder + FREE Spreadsheets

Hey everyone! It's FRIDAY! Can I get a HOORAY?! It's been a long week.

So, I was inspired by Kayla's post on making a bill payment station. I, too, pay all of our bills. Until now, I've been solely using spreadsheets on my computer. Every month I would open up my spreadsheet and use it to pay the bills. But then I was thinking, what if we lost that spreadsheet? What if our computer crashed and we lost all of that information? It. would. be. bad. I decided to print them all out and put them into a binder so we would also have a hard copy. I also decided to make you guys some fully downloadable, editable, and printable versions of the spreadsheets I use!

First, I had to go out and get a binder. Is anyone else surprised by the prices on these things? I did NOT want to spend 8 dollars on a binder. I ended up finding this awesome bundle at Target! They just put them out with the school supplies. Go pick up one (or several) before they're gone!

I made a cover page for the binder that you can also use. Here is the free printable (shown in the first picture). (*Edit* I've made a new cover for 2014, get it by clicking here!)

Now, onto what's inside the binder.

Tab 1: Bill payments. I use this spreadsheet for reference when paying bills. It has the name of the bill, when it is due, notes on the payment (like how it's paid), and a box I check after it has been paid for that month. The version of the spreadsheet I have made for you all is through Google Docs. You can download it as an excel file, and then edit it however you please. I've put some examples in each spreadsheet to help clarify where things go. There are formulas built in the spreadsheet for you, as well.

  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE:

You MUST download and save the spreadsheet to edit!

Tab 2: Extras. Here is where I record all other purchases- like groceries, gas, and random trips to target or dinner/movie. This spreadsheet helps me keep track of the money we have leftover after we pay our bills.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE:

Tab 3: Debt payoff. We are in the process of paying off our debt. College is expensive, despite what admissions counselors tell you! Every month I like to go in and update the amounts we owe on certain things. It feels good to see those numbers going down, and it can help you get a better idea of when certain things will be paid off.

  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE:

Tab 4: Notes. I keep some notebook paper here for quick note taking or doing some math.
Tab 5: Statements. I keep statements we get in the mail here. Sometimes we get those random bills we need to pay that aren't on the spreadsheet. This helps me not lose them in a pile of other mail!
Pocket Pouch: Voided checks. We deposit our paychecks at home, and I feel like I need to hold onto those checks for a while, just in case. You never know, right?

Pocket Pouch 2: Receipts. If I remember, I stuff all of my receipts in here after recording them on my "extras" spreadsheet.
Things I still want to get: A little pencil pouch that holds things like- stamps, envelopes, checks, post-its & flags, pens & pencils, and a small calculator.

And there you have it! I hope I didn't bore you all to tears. I am a pretty organized/detail-oriented person, and having these spreadsheets really helps me from obsessing/freaking out every time I go to pay the bills. Maybe they will help you, too.

I keep this binder with my Home Binder. I mentioned it in my How to Start Menu Planning post. It's so nice to have everything that is on paper and important put away and organized.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Anyone have any awesome plans? My Dad is coming to stay with us for a few nights, and I am SO excited.

Happy organizing!

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