Free Budgeting Resources
Debt Free Empire resources are free budgeting tools—spreadsheets, a debt payoff tracker, a savings tracker and more — everything to start a zero-based budget and reach debt free at your own pace.
Start here: How to Budget for Beginners
A simple, step-by-step guide to building your first budget, with an example budget, beginner-friendly methods and how to fit in debt payoff.
How do I start with these resources?
If you're new to budgeting, start with the budget spreadsheet. It walks you through listing your income, planning your spending categories, and making sure your numbers add up to zero — every dollar assigned before the month starts.
If debt is the main problem, the debt payoff tracker is the better first stop. Enter each balance with its interest rate and minimum payment. The built-in simulator shows you your debt-free date and how extra payments change the timeline.
The savings goal tracker works alongside the budget. Create a separate vault for each goal — emergency fund, car repair, vacation — and update it monthly. Seeing named goals instead of one savings account makes it easier to protect the money.
Free vs. the app
The spreadsheets are standalone files — download once, use in Excel or Google Sheets, no account needed. They're good for people who prefer a spreadsheet or want to customize the layout.
Paper & Prosperity is the app version of the same system. It combines budget, debt tracker, and savings vaults in one place, runs on your phone and the web, and is also free. If you find yourself opening the spreadsheet every week, the app is worth trying — same concepts, faster to update on your phone.
What's coming soon
A budget workbook is in progress. It is a longer guided resource for people starting debt payoff for the first time — it covers goal-setting, listing all debts, choosing a payoff strategy, and building a first budget from scratch.
Sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of this page to hear when they're available.
Common questions
- Are the spreadsheets really free?
- The Etsy shop has both free and paid versions. The free listings are listed as free and require no payment. Some premium versions with extra features have a small price.
- Do the spreadsheets work in Google Sheets?
- Yes — the spreadsheets are built in Excel format and open in Google Sheets without issues. Formulas and formatting carry over correctly.
- Is there a printable budget template?
- The budget spreadsheet can be printed from Excel or Google Sheets, and a guided budget workbook is coming soon.
Tools to organize your money
Budget Spreadsheets
Practical budget spreadsheets for planning, tracking and organizing your financial life, available in our Etsy shop.
Shop budget spreadsheets on EtsyDebt Payoff Tracker
Organize balances, minimum payments and interest rates, then use the Debt Simulator to see your debt-free date.
Open the debt payoff trackerSavings Goal Tracker
Create a savings vault for each goal and follow your progress every month in the free app.
Open the savings trackerBudget Workbooks
Guided physical budget workbooks for budgeting, debt payoff, saving and reflection.
Coming soonWhich budgeting tool should I start with?
New to budgeting
Start with the free app and a simple zero-based budget: give every dollar a job. Our Paper & Prosperity page walks through setup in about two minutes.
Paying off debt
Try the free debt payoff calculator, then track progress in the debt payoff tracker.
Prefer paper or spreadsheets
Browse budget spreadsheets on Etsy. Budget workbooks are on the way; join the newsletter to hear first.
Compare budgeting apps
Not sure what to pick? Read Paper & Prosperity vs YNAB, vs EveryDollar, and why we built a budget app that actually looks good.
How do I build a simple budget in four steps?
- Write down your monthly take-home income.
- List your fixed bills, such as rent, utilities, insurance and minimum debt payments.
- Add flexible spending like groceries, gas and fun money.
- Subtract everything from your income and adjust until the result is zero, so every dollar has a job.
Review it once a week for a few minutes. A budget is not a punishment; it is a plan you can change. If you want it done with less typing, the Paper & Prosperity app is free and keeps your data on your device.