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One thing I have found is that I absolutely need a separate planner for my finances. Check out how I have set up my Finance Planner and I hope it gives you some ideas on setting up your own!
I’ve been using a separate planner for my finances for years now. I feel like money has this tendency to get really complicated, and I needed something that would simplify the process as much as possible. But when I tried to keep all in my normal planner, there just wasn’t enough room for everything I needed to track. So my finance planner was born.
And then when I saw JenPlans on Youtube showing her finance setup in a Erin Condren Deluxe Monthly Planner, I was in love with her setup. Her planner was perfection and everything I dreamed that mine would be. Plus she introduced me to sinking funds… but that’s whole different story.
So while I knew that my finances and budget looked very different from her’s, I loved some of her ideas and wanted to find a way to use the ideas that would work for me.
But I didn’t want to spend the money on a Deluxe Monthly Planner. Well, I wanted to, but I just couldn’t. But I had another idea that just… might… work…
And I purchased an Erin Condren Notebook instead at about half the price. Total score.
Plus you can save $10 off your first purchase from Erin Condren through my link. Just sign up for an account and you will be emailed a code for $10 off your first purchase.
*Side note* I choose the productivity layout because I liked the checklist on the side of the page. But if I was doing it again, I would probably get plain lined or dot grid. I’m finding the checklist part to be restricting.
The Setup
I also made a video to show you the flip through of my finance planner, as well as watching me set it up for March. So check that out to see more of how it’s set up.
Monthly Calendar
In order to make it functional for a finance planner, I made my own printable monthly calendar. You can download it for free right here. You’re welcome. 😉 I just created a basic monthly calendar that would fit on the pages and printed it on sticker paper, then attached it to the pages.
You can also print it on normal paper and use tape, glue sticks, or (my favorite) a glue runner to attach it to the pages. If you choose this method, I would use thicker paper, like 32lb or cardstock. Just so you won’t see the lines or dots behind the paper as much.
This monthly calendar is where track all my bills. Sometimes I use stickers at times, and sometimes just write them in. When they are paid, I just check them off. It just works well with my brain to have it this way, and I can see at a glance what I still need to pay.
On the sidebar I write my financial goals for the month, as well as any tasks that I need to take care of (like cancelling services that I no longer need to be paying for, or buying birthday gifts).
Spending Tracker
Currently, the next page holds my spending tracker. This is what I use to keep track of the balance I have in the bank to make sure that I don’t overdraft as I pay my bills.
Because that sucks.
And I’ve done it more than once.
Every time I get paid, I calculate out which bills, savings, and givings need to be paid during that pay period. And then there comes the sad part where I see how little is left. Hopefully you don’t know what that feels like, but I suspect a lot of us do. That’s why we budget, right? So we can learn what it feels like to have money left over… eventually? I’m just guessing though.
Budget Overview
I also wanted a place where I could see where all my money was going at a glance. So the next page is designated for that very purpose.
I have space for income, savings & sinking funds, bills, cash envelopes, and extra debt payments. Then the side bar checklist is where I write the totals of each category.
Blog, Youtube, & Etsy Finances
New to this month, I decided I wanted to also track my business expenses and income in this planner. It might eventually be switched over to my actual business planner, but right now I think it’s a better fit to have in this planner.
It won’t be anything fancy, but since I’m just adding it in now, I’m also going to put in past stuff from January and February so that I’ll have all of 2019 together.
And since there is always something that comes up during the month, I left the last page blank that I can use as needed for notes or adding up expenses.
Notes Pages
Aside from the monthly pages, there are some things that I wanted to be able to track for the whole year. I used some of the pages from the back of the notebook to use as these pages. Some of the things I’m tracking are:
- Passwords and logins
- Debts and payoff progress
- My credit score
- Sinking funds I want to start this year
- Renewal dates for my website domains
- Vehicle maintenance on my car
Extras – Purchased & Created
And, since I customize everything I touch, I also purchased (or made) a few more things to help my financial planner be more functional and work for my needs.
- Plan for it pouch – Made by Erin Condren to fit inside the planners, I got this pouch and attached it to my coil with coil clips. I use it to hold some of my stickers.
- Laminated goals dashboard – I made this using scrapbook paper and my laminator. Then used more of the coil clips to keep it inside the planner.
- Vis a Vis – Wet erase markers – I got these markers from Amazon. They have been working perfectly to write on the inside of the planner covers. This is where I keep the list of my monthly bills to make sure that I don’t forget any of them.
- Mini Snap-in Bookmark – Also an Erin Condren product. I love these because they can mark the page I need to easily turn to, but they don’t cover a lot of the page. One thing I was pleasantly surprised about was how thick they actually are. They are great quality and will last a long time I’m sure!
- Monthly Tabs – These are super simple and just fancy transparent sticky notes from Office Depot. I wrote on them using a Sharpie and they have been working perfectly to easily find each month.
It’s a great option if you want to save a little money
Well, there ya have it. I’m so happy with my Erin Condren Notebook. It has all the quality of the Deluxe Monthly Planner, but costs quite a bit less. So if you are looking for a lower cost option, I highly recommend giving it a try.
Plus you can save $10 on your order too if you sign up here. Just make an account and you will be emailed a code that you can use for $10 off your first order (plus I will also get a $10 credit to use on Erin Condren awesomeness)!
How do you organize your finances? Do you have a separate planner, use your regular one, or use nothing at all? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear any ideas and tips you have!
