How to use Planly Budget on a Page

Your template lives in your own Google Drive, so the first step is making your personal copy.

1. Open the PDF from your Etsy purchase (Etsy → You → Purchases and reviews → Download files).
2. Click the “Make my copy” button. If you're asked, sign in to your Google account.
3. Google shows a “Copy document” screen. Click the blue “Make a copy” button.
4. Your copy opens. Rename it if you like (click the title in the top-left), e.g. “My 2027 Budget”.

Before you type anything, take a quick look at how a finished budget looks.

1. Open the INSTRUCTIONS tab. It's a filled-in January budget.
2. Hover over cells with a small black triangle in the corner (like BUDGET PERIOD, CATEGORY, DUE and the TRANSACTION TRACKER headings) to read a note explaining what goes there.
3. Open MOCK DATA to see another complete example, from the BUDGET SUMMARY down to the TRANSACTION TRACKER.
4. Notice how each transaction's BUDGET NAME matches a category above. That's what fills in the REAL column.

A few details at the top of MY BUDGET set the stage for the month.

1. Click “ENTER YOUR BUDGET NAME HERE” and type a name, e.g. “January 2027”.
2. Next to BUDGET PERIOD, enter the first and last day of the month (double-click a date cell to open a small calendar).
3. Next to CURRENCY SYMBOL, type your symbol ($, €, £…).
4. In BUDGET SUMMARY, enter your STARTING BALANCE: under BUDGET, what you plan to start the month with; under REAL, what you actually have on day one.
5. In INCOME, list each CATEGORY (paycheck, side hustle…) and the EXPECTED amount.

Now list where your money is going this month. Enter planned amounts before the month starts.

1. BILLS: type each CATEGORY (rent, utilities, insurance, phone…), its DUE date and BUDGET amount.
2. EXPENSES: flexible spending like groceries, gas, dining out and clothes, each with a BUDGET.
3. SUBSCRIPTIONS: streaming, apps and memberships, with DUE date and BUDGET.
4. DEBTS: loan and credit card payments, with DUE date and BUDGET.
5. SAVINGS: emergency fund, retirement and other goals, each with a BUDGET.
6. Check BUDGET SUMMARY: AMOUNT LEFT under BUDGET shows what's still unplanned.

Planly Budget on a Page · My budget

The TRANSACTION TRACKER at the bottom of the page is where you record what really happened, income included.

1. Scroll down to TRANSACTION TRACKER.
2. For every paycheck, purchase or payment, enter the DATE and AMOUNT.
3. Choose the BUDGET NAME from the dropdown and CATEGORY fills in by itself. Add a DESCRIPTION if you like (optional).
4. Watch the REAL columns fill in across INCOME, BILLS, EXPENSES, SUBSCRIPTIONS, DEBTS and SAVINGS.
5. Check the dashboard cards at the top (INCOME, EXPENSES & BILLS, DEBT PAYMENTS, SAVINGS) and AMOUNT LEFT in BUDGET SUMMARY.
6. WHERE DOES MY MONEY GO? shows each category's share of your spending, and WHEN DO I SPEND MY MONEY? charts when your spending happens.

Planly Budget on a Page · Expenses & balance overview

The BONUS tab is a simple saving goals tracker for things like a vacation, a new car or an emergency fund.

1. Open BONUS and type your CURRENCY SYMBOL.
2. In FUNDS OVERVIEW, enter each GOAL NAME, GOAL AMOUNT and MONTHLY GOAL, plus anything you've already saved under START.
3. Each time you save, log it in CONTRIBUTION TRACKER: DATE, GOAL NAME and AMOUNT.
4. Watch SAVED, LEFT, PROG, MONTHS LEFT and ESTIMATE DATE update, along with the totals at the top.

Each month gets its own copy of MY BUDGET, so you can look back at previous months any time.

1. Right-click the MY BUDGET tab at the bottom of the screen and choose Duplicate.
2. Right-click the new tab, choose Rename and give it the month's name (e.g. “FEB”).
3. On the new tab, update the budget name, BUDGET PERIOD and STARTING BALANCE.
4. Clear last month's rows in the TRANSACTION TRACKER and adjust any planned amounts that change.