Description

What You Get

This Bare Bones Budget Calculator helps you model your minimum survival budget with ease. You’ll receive 3 connected sheets covering 3 years, each divided into 12 months to project your income and expenses.

Your income section includes 9 customizable sub-categories to reflect your changing situation. On the expense side, you can group totals into the 3 main budget categories: Need, Want, and Invest.

For more detail, a dedicated sheet lets you separate expenses into fixed and variable costs — giving you a complete view of your spending structure.

👉 If you’d like a full walkthrough check out our in-depth guide on creating your own Bare Bones Budget.

How the Calculator Works

Once you enter your numbers, the calculator automatically shows your monthly balance (income – expenses). Positive months are marked in green, while deficits appear in red. At the end of each year, your remaining balance — whether surplus or shortfall — carries over to the next year.

A graph area visualizes your balance, letting you see how your savings grow in good months and shrink in tougher ones. This overview helps you stay on top of your Bare Bones Budget at all times.

Why This Matters

The last thing you want during your Bare Bones Budget phase is a hidden gap that forces you into debt or eats up your savings. That’s why the tool also includes a “Food for Thought” section — key reflection questions to help you stay alert to blind spots and financial leaks.

Special Bonus

A separate sheet allows you to split your NEEDs and WANTs into 10 detailed sub-categories, further divided into fixed and variable expenses. Fixed costs (like housing or insurance) are essential for survival, while variable costs are within your control.

As you question which “needs” truly are non-negotiable, you’ll likely experience a few aha moments. The calculator then aggregates all your expenses and visualizes them in a two-part pie chart. Seeing how much of your spending is flexible gives you instant clarity — and motivation to adjust your habits.

Finally, the tool calculates your monthly and yearly savings for each category in your Bare Bones Budget, comparing them directly to your regular budget to help you reach your financial goals faster.