RESOURCES
SPENDING TRACKER 1: BY BANK ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION
This spending tracker template is the format that I personally used to use for years before discovering YNAB (YouNeedABudget.com). Make it your own by clicking the link below and making your own copy. This design is meant to always reconcile with your bank account balance and track spending by category. At the bottom, it automatically tallies your savings rate, which I find a positive motivator.
SPENDING TRACKER 2: BY SINGLE-NUMBER GOAL
Even simpler than the spending tracker template above, this spending tracker template simply relies on a single number spending goal. You can adjust this to be a per-paycheck or per-time period goal. In the example, the person determined that they could spend $1,000 each month and still save for their other goals and pay down other debts.
INTEREST RATE COMPARISON TOOL
While there are many good individual online calculators out there to help you figure out how much interest you will save by paying off your car loan early, or by saving money in an online savings account, or investing for retirement, there aren't any calculators out there that can illustrate scenarios like these all at once and help you determine which option is best for you. I created this spreadsheet for my personal use and for my clients. It illustrates the tradeoffs you're making by making additional payments to one or the other or a combination of both.
CASH FLOW PRIORITIES ONE-PAGER
Not sure where to start in how to funnel your income towards savings, paying off debts, or investing towards your goals? Start with this one-page outline of which order you should start from - treat it as a guideline to get started!