14 of the Best Budget Planners to Help You Manage Your Finances
The insider’s guide to picking the best budgeting planner in the bunch!
Author: Kari Lorz – Certified Financial Education Instructor
I love to see something laid out step by step. All you need to do is fill in the blanks!
You know that you’re on the right path, that you didn’t miss anything important, and you’ll end up reaching your destination.
Budget planners are the perfect example of using directions to guide you to exactly where you want to be. But you don’t just want any budget planner; you want the best budget planner!
Today, we’re going to find you the best budget planner so you can manage your money and reach your financial goals!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may make a commission at no cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more info
- TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES: Budget Planner PRO combines a spacious, large format, effective budgeting tools, and helpful extras to make personal finance management easy, effective, and stress-free.
But… there are 14 other GREAT planners out there, so be sure to check the list for all your options!
Now, many people like to use a budgeting app, and they’re great. But there’s something special (tactile) about putting pen to paper and writing things out. If you rack your brain and think back to HS, you’ll remember the learning pyramid. It covers the different ways we learn and how each additional “level” of learning helps us retain more information.
So if you’re looking to make lasting change, pass by any budgeting software or a budget app and use old-fashioned pen & paper.
I will go through the planners and suggest what “type” of a person it may be best for. YET, please don’t think that you can’t get it if you have a different focus than what I am suggesting.
It’s only to give you a rough idea and be able to narrow down your choices quickly. These are in no particular order.
01. Clever Fox Budget Planner – Expense Tracker Notebook – $$
Best budget planner for those who like things organized & straightforward
The Clever Fox Budget Planner snags Amazon’s Best Seller distinction with 4.6 stars and 8,000+ ratings! The Clever Fox brand has several different budget planners, but this one is an excellent middle of the road option, perfect for those just starting!
- TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MONEY & ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS – Are you looking for the best monthly budget planner to keep your finances organized? Clever Fox Budget Book will help you keep your money organized, spend well and start saving.
Features:
- A5 size (5.8″ x 8.3″)
- Monthly budget worksheets
- Monthly budget review sheets
- Strategy & mind mapping activity
- Financial goal sheets
- Savings tracker
- Expense tracker
- Bill tracker
- Cash flow worksheets
Pros:
Cons:
There are lots of great accessories that are a part of the Clever Fox planner! Lots of fun budgeting stickers and cash envelopes that you can add on to your purchase!
02. Clever Fox Budget Planner & Monthly Bill Organizer with Pockets – $$$
Best budget planner for those who have a lot of receipts & paper bills
The Budget Planner & Monthly Bill Organizer with Pockets is the next level up budget planner notebook from Clever Fox, yet this one focuses on budgeting & bills. If you liked the one above but wished it was a little “more,” then look no further! This one has 4.7 stars with 1,000+ ratings!
- KEEP YOUR FINANCES ORGANIZED, ALL IN ONE PLACE: Clever Fox Budget Planner & Bill Organizer with pockets will help you manage all your household and personal finance in one place and control your savings, debt, payments due, bills, expenses, and more.
Features:
- 8″ x 9.5″
- Monthly budget
- Monthly calendar
- Expense tracker
- Debt tracker
- Savings tracker
- Regular bill tracker
- Pockets for bills
- Financial goal sheets & mind mapping
- 12-month usage
Pros:
Cons:
Writing down your budget & expenses (in a budget planner just like these) is Tip #5 in my Top Tips for Successful Budgeting. If you don’t write it down, you’ll 100% forget! So if you’re even 1/2 considering getting a budget planner… DO IT!
03. Life & Apples Budget Planner – Monthly Budgeting Notebook for Family and Personal Finance – $$
Best budget planner for those who need some extra motivation!
The Life & Apples Budget Planner doesn’t have as many reviews as bigger companies, but I don’t want you to look past it just on that. The company has a wide variety of planners, but its main focus is to motivate you! We could all use a little motivation, and if that is your Achilles heel with budgeting, then be sure to check this option out!
- SMART AND SIMPLE BUDGET BOOK: manage your monthly income and expenses and achieve your financial goals.
Features:
- A5 sizing
- Monthly budget plan
- Income, savings, and expenses logs
- Undated calendar with goals and gratitude sections
- Monthly expense tracker
- Goal setting section
- Vision board – visualize your goals
- Holidays and special projects budgeting tracker
- Debt tracker
- Savings tracker
- Bill payment tracker
- Yearly and quarterly budget review
Pros:
Cons:
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04. Erin Condren Designer Petite Planner – Financial Planner/Budget Planner Organizer Book: $$ – $$$$
Best budget planner for those who want budgeting to be a part of a whole planning program
Everyone raves about Erin Condron Planners (there are many Facebook groups dedicated to this line of planners)! The Petite Financial Planner Book lives up to the hype with 4.5 stars with 1,000 ratings!
So what makes it a petite planner? I mean, it’s small, but there’s more than just that. The petite planning line is where you can mix & match 4 of any petite planners to go into a folio system. So if you want budgeting to be part of a larger “planning” goal that you have, then be sure to check out this line! Other petite planners include – wellness, meal planning, weekly planning, daily planning, self-care journal, weekly intention setting, and more! You can check out the full line of petite planners here.
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: Measuring 5.7″ x 8.25″, this planner is easy to carry and fits perfectly in your bag or purse, making on-the-go budgeting convenient.
Features:
- 8.25″ x 5.75″ size
- 1 saving tracker spread
- 72 pages of monthly spending summaries
- 4 pages of debt tracking
- 1 quote page
- 1 sticker sheet
Pros:
Cons:
“I have always thought that I kept decent track of my finances but at the end of the month I wondered why I always had debt leftover on my credit cards and not enough money to save in my personal accounts. This book has laid out ways for me to keep organized sections of my budget so I am more mindful of how much per month I am able to spend based of my salary.”
Amazon reviewer
05. Legend Budget Planner – Deluxe Financial Planner Organizer & Budget Book – $$
Best budget planner for those who want quality
Legend Planners have a variety of planners, not just budgeting. They market themselves as our planners “will help you to figure out what you really want in life, create your personal vision, define and breakdown your short and long-term goals, and incorporate them into each area of your daily life.”
Looking through the features and benefits of their Deluxe Budget Book, it sounds like it’s almost guaranteed to deliver! In fact, they do guarantee it with hassle-free returns for any reason!
- SET FINANCIAL GOALS & TRANSFORM YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE – This financial budget planner organizer will help you define your financial goals, create a strategy, and then follow through with your plan, thanks to simple and efficient money management instruments.
Features:
- A5 sizing
- 2 pages for making a financial plan for your life
- 2 pages for setting your financial goals and their breakdown on the mind map
- 4 pages for tracking savings
- 4 pages for debt tracking
- 12 months (8 pages per month)
- 2 pages for Christmas budgeting
- 2 pages for regular bill tracking
- 2 pages for an annual summary to track your progress throughout the year.
- Accordion pocket for receipts
Pros:
Cons:
06. Budgeting Workbook – $
Best budget planner for the no-nonsense kinda girl
Now don’t let the low price of this budgeting workbook fool you; it has almost everything you NEED to budget effectively. That being said, it’s not a traditional “planner,” as there are no cute stickers or bells & whistles, but it gets the job done (and you can’t beat the price)!
Features:
- 148 pages
- Paperback – standard 8.5″ x 11″ sizing
- Monthly Budget Worksheet
- Weekly and Daily Expense Tracker
Pros:
Cons:
07. Budget Planner – Monthly Budget Book and Expense Tracker – $
Best budget planner for the basic forms
Sometimes, you want the middle-of-the-road option, as it’s not too overwhelming, but it has just what you need to get the job done.
- ☔ MONTHLY BUDGET PLANNER – Our budget planner is undated so it can be started at any time. Its perfect size of 5.3″x 7.6″(smaller than A5) the budget planner fits in every bag and is always at hand. This budget planner is combination of blue and purple ink and gold leaf cover. By using this budget planner, you will become a personal finance and budgeting expert.
Features:
- 5.3″ x 7.6″ (small)
- Spiral-bound (pages lay flat)
- 2 pages for regular bill trackers
- 12 months of monthly budget planner and expense tracking
- Annual expenses budget.
- monthly income, regular monthly payments, monthly direct debits & bills, monthly savings, monthly essentials,
- 3 monthly day-to-day spend pages
- 2 monthly spend totals pages and Month overview
- Special section for Christmas & extra expenses
- 1 inner pocket
Pros:
Cons:
08. Smart Planner Bill Organizer – $$
Best budget planner for someone who is doing the debt snowball
Smart Planners are for those that “have a million tabs open in their minds.” Yup, I’m raising my hand right here! They focus on scientific approaches with productivity in mind, perfect for busy moms! Smart Planner Budget Planner has 4.6 stars with 250+ reviews!
- 🗓️12 MONTHLY BUDGET PLANNER ORGANIZER – Take control of your personal finances with our 12-month budget planner 2024-2025. Containing a wide variety of trackers, calendars and budget planning sheets, this financial planner is ideal for tracking your income, expenses, budget, savings and money goals
Features:
- 8.3″ x 5.8″
- 12 colors to choose from
- 176-page financial planner
- Affirmations pages
- Goal setting pages
- Tracking your debts (debt snowball method – this is great!)
- Expense sheets
- Spending analysis
- Monthly calendars
- 10 blank pages for spider mapping your plan of action
- 10 lined pages for notes
- Expanded pockets for receipts
- Focus on quality paper and construction
Pros:
Cons:
09. ✅ Clever Fox Budget Planner Pro – Financial Organizer – $$$
Best budgeting planner for the seriously committed!
If you’re looking for a budgeting planner that will focus in on the most important factor for success, then the Budget Planner Pro is it! This is one of the only budget books that give space to your big goals and dreams, and the strategies (action steps) that will get you there. There’s also space for spending reflections, which can help you pinpoint stumbling blocks and help you plan better in the future. Remember your mindset is your most powerful asset in helping you reach your financial goals!
This is our pick for the BEST budget planner!
- TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES: Budget Planner PRO combines a spacious, large format, effective budgeting tools, and helpful extras to make personal finance management easy, effective, and stress-free.
Features:
- The financial organizer made to last, to motivate, to inspire.
- Inner pocket for receipts and notes
- 2 sheets of colorful stickers
- Vegan leather hardcover
- Thick 120gsm pearl white paper
- 2 pages for setting your financial goals
- 2 pages for writing down your strategy and tactics. 2 pages for tracking savings
- 2 pages for debt tracking followed by 12 months (8 pages per month)
- 2 pages for Christmas budgeting
- 2 pages for an annual summary to track your progress throughout the year!
- 5 cash envelopes
Pros:
Cons:
“I finally found the perfect planner, especially for our finances! I tried using my phone to do finances but I just never got used to it. I love writing things down so this was very helpful to have. Every month this has financial goals, percentages in terms of what you’ve spent and how you’ve budgeted things. I honestly think physically seeing it in a planner makes you want to spend less on things you don’t need and focus on the things you truly want.”
Amazon reviewer
10. The Total Money Makeover Workbook: $ – $$$
Best budget planner for someone who wants to learn a lot about money & behavior
The Total Money Makeover Workbook is more of a whole picture perspective than the planners above. It combines education (from the most famous money guru in America) and a financial workbook. This book goes along with the book The Total Money Makeover.
Focuses on:
- Assessing the urgency of your situation
- Understanding where your money’s going
- Creating a realistic budget
- Dumping your debt
- Cleaning up your credit rating
Pros:
Cons:
11. GoGirl Budget Planner – $$
Best for those that want simple & stylish
GoGirls’ mission is to help you have a more inspired and happier everyday life! Now that sounds like something I can get behind! This GoGirl Budget Planner has 4.5 stars with over 4,500 ratings!
- ALL YOU NEED TO MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE – GoGirl Finance Planner will help you keep your money organized, spend well, start saving, and achieve your financial goals.
Features:
- Two size options – 5.3″ x 7.7″ and an A5 size (5.7″ x 8.5″)
- Monthly goals & budget
- Debt tracker
- Expense tracker
- Monthly review sheets
- Savings tracker
- Stickers included
- Holiday spending tracker
- Accordion pocket for receipts
Pros:
Cons:
12. GoGirl Budget Book – $$
Best for those that use the cash envelope system
For just a few dollars more, you can grab the GoGirl Budget Book, which appears to be brand new as it only has a handful of ratings. This is similar to the budget planner, but it follows the cash envelope system.
- ALL YOU NEED TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES – This easy-to-use budget book helps you manage your personal finances, savings, budgets, debt, payments, bills due, cash flow, and expenses – all in one place.
Features:
- A5 size
- 12 months comes with a calendar spread
- monthly goals & budget spread
- 3 debt tracker pages
- notes page
- 2 savings tracker pages
- 4 debt tracker pages
- 2 holiday budget pages
- 2 regular bill tracker pages
- 2 summary of the year pages
- 220+ stickers and guide
Pros:
Cons:
If you love the cash envelope method be sure that you keep everything organized with a cash envelope wallet. It makes it so much easier and cleaner than having random envelopes in your purse!
Pros:
Cons:
13. Money for the Mamas instant download printable budget planner – $$
Best budget planner when you want to start right this second
Okay, so 99% of these are all physical products that need to be shipped to you. Yes, Amazon has 2-day shipping, but sometimes you need to start RIGHT NOW while your motivation is sky high!
The good news is that there are lots of printable budget planners available, which can be downloaded immediately! I have created 6 different printable budget planners (one for each of the main budgeting methods). So be sure to check those out if you are ready to roll RIGHT NOW!
Features:
- 6 types of budget planners
- Zero based budget
- Simple budget
- 50/30/20 budget
- Budget by paycheck
- Cash envelope budget
- Budget sampler pack
- Instant download so you can start right now!
- Budget form for each month
- Undated calendar
- Quick start guide
- Budget category lists
- Important dates list
- Quarterly review guide
Pros:
Cons:
14. Best budget planner for skeptics – Money for the Mamas free templates – $0
I get it, budgeting isn’t for everyone, and it’s traditionally considered not a lot of fun. But, there are many nerds (just like me) who love it! Maybe you just need an easy path to the heavenly side of budgeting nirvana 🙂
If so, then grab my set of free budgeting templates; it will take you $0 and just two minutes of your time to get and print these handy budgeting sheets! Try them out and get a feel for what kind of info is in the physical planners, and maybe you’ll want to upgrade later.
If you’re a bullet journal fanatic, then no, you don’t need another planner. You can easily incorporate some financial spreads into your current dot journal! Using a BuJo is a great way to keep your finances front & center as you use your journal multiple times a day!
Why should you use a budget planner?
A budget planner works great for so many women, because the good planners…
- Are comprehensive
- Easy to use
- Fun (creative outlet with stickers, pens, etc.)
- Keeps you engaged with budgeting (this is the most important piece!)
- Are formatted efficiently, so everything flows nicely together, and you know that you haven’t forgotten anything!
Remember up above when I talked about roadmaps? A great budget planner guides you along on a journey without needing a money guru on call! It allows you to take control of your personal finances while still having a guide along!
Also, when you start actively participating in something, it gives you a greater sense of control over “it.” Taking action puts you in the driver seat of your finances, even if you’re just filling out a budget notebook. Everyone knows that the first step is the hardest. So committing yourself by buying a budget planner is a GREAT first step!
Once you have mastered your budget planning, and are using it to strategically plan your finances, you can go anywhere! Budget Planners can get you your heart’s desire, as almost everything comes back to money, or “can I afford it?”
I hate to sound callous or crude, but money can buy you what you really want. (It’s the greed and not being satisfied with “enough” that gets people into trouble). If you want more free time for your hobby, then having enough money can enable you to take time off of work. Want to be a world class chef? It’s money that can buy you lessons. I could go on with thousands of examples, but in the end, the truth is that money can buy you happiness. (just don’t get greedy on us!)
How to pick the best budget planner for you
The good news is that there are lots of options for you! The bad news is that it can make it a bit overwhelming to pick one. No worries, by the end of this post, you will know which is the best budget planner for you!
Things to consider when picking out the best budget planner book
Features:
You’ll want to look at a variety of planners, so you know what’s available and the features that appeal to you. Pay attention to…
- How big/small it is: portability, will it fit in your favorite bag?
- Binder & paper size: listed in inches
- A4 8-1/4 x 11-3/4
- A5 5-7/8 x 8-1/4
- A6 4-1/8 x 5-7/8
- Dated or undated: i.e., can you start at any time?
- Format and layout: horizontal, vertical, grid, lined, sectioned
- The level of detail: do you want general instructions and guiding or very specific?
- Available accessories: stickers, decorative tape, add in pages for budget planner notebooks, etc
Format:
What do I want to track & plan? Many planners have the same kind of informational planning & tracking sheets. Which could include…
- monthly calendar
- spending tracker
- bill tracker
- monthly budget template
- weekly budget template
- financial goal planner
- cash envelopes
- debt payoff tracker
- sinking fund tracker
- monthly review worksheet
- budgeting tool guide
- savings goal tracking
- credit score tracker
- net worth tracker
- financial accounts log
- budgeting method used (i.e. envelope budgeting, zero-based budget, budget by paycheck, 50/30/20 method, etc.
Usage:
Think about…
- How will I use it? (at home, to plan big picture stuff or plan EVERYTHING)
- How often do I want to use it?
- One year or multi-year use
- Return policy
- Any social media groups that use this book (community can be great for learning tricks and new ideas)
Maybe you’re worried about choosing the wrong one? Here’s a tip, pretend you’re a physic! Physics notice details about you, and they know something about human nature. A physic would look at your outward appearance, notice your word choices, they would play into common fears and desires.
So if you’re super stylish but conservative, they would pick out a simple but elegant planner. Or, if you talk about loving the new kitchen gadgets that you just got, they would pick out a planner with accessories.
They would pick a planner that plays up your strengths and is something that you’re already drawn to. That’s how a physic would pick the best budget planner for you!
How much do budget planners cost?
I will give a general cost range for each item, yet prices change, so I will give a range.
- $ = $10 and under
- $$ = $20 and under
- $$$ = $35 and under
- $$$$ = $50 or more
With a few planners, you can easily drop $100 or more if you decided to go hog wild with all the accessories. A cautionary tale (of course), DON’T go too crazy!
A great idea is to add these items to your Amazon gift wishlist! Be it for your birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Arbor Day (just kidding) 🙂 This way, you can snag the fun, cute extras but not put yourself over budget.
I went through all the 1 & 2-star ratings to find common dissatisfiers and laid it out for you. So you don’t have to go digging for any real-life info; I’ve done it all for you!
Best budget planner accessories
Cash envelopes
- GoGirl makes these very sturdy multi-use cash envelopes. These are a pack of 12 and a zip bag to hold them all.
- Cute color-coordinating laminated cash envelopes, set of 12
- Clever Fox sturdy cash envelopes with pouch
- Binder with clear cash envelopes
Reusable trackers & add-in sheets
- Wet-erase marker set
- Erin Condron monthly bill tracking snap-in sheet
- Erin Condron to-do list checklist
- Extra expense tracker sheets for Happy Planner
- Happy Planner spend well extension pack (big size) from me & my big ideas
Stickers, tape & pens
- 48 roll washi tape for decorating
- 36 color journal pens – fine point tip, 4.5 stars with over 2,800 ratings!
- Clever Fox budgeting stickers – 1,000+ on 14 sheets
- Me & my big idea budgeting sticker set – set of 682
- Happy Planner Get Paid sticker set – set of 365
Misc accessories
- 6 hole puncher for planners
- Filler paper for planners
- Planner tabs
- Happy Planner expander discs
- Happy Planner storage case
At the end of the day
I used a budget planner for quite a few years, and then I switched over to my own printable budget planner and a budget spreadsheet. Yet, I can’t deny the allure of using a fun & cute planner! Getting that planner in the mail was always a highlight, and I loved putting it together.
I was literally so excited to put the stickers in, date it all, and write out my goals! And I think that is what most of us don’t like about the stereotypical budgeting process; it’s not fun, it’s not motivating. And if you’re not motivated to use it, then you won’t use it, and you quit. So if lack of motivation is a typical roadblock for you, then give a budget planner a try!
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Could you answer this question please. I have a Pen+Gear budget planner which I like, but I do not know how or what to use the Monthly calendar page for, do you have any idea.
Thank You,
Kathy
The monthly calendar page can be turned into a great visual habit tracker. So for every day you go under your spend goal you get a star, or for every week you make your budget you get a big purple heart. Or every week that you log all your receipts… and so on. There are so many things you can track! I am a huge fan of visuals, it’s so easy to see at a glance how I am doing towards meeting my goals.
Ooh what a great list! I’m going to get one that has refillable option, stickers and not to bulky to start the New Year. Pinning this too so I don’t forget
Super smart! Not too bulky, which it totally can get out of control fast!
There’s something for everyone here! I love how you highlight the usefulness of each budget planner. Fantastic!
Thanks so much, glad you liked it!
Great suggestions to help maintain your budget planning.
Thanks for stopping by Mamie!
Oh I really need to grab a good budget planners. Thanks for sharing this list, will help.me choose the best one.
So glad you found it helpful!
This is such a thorough guide. You’ve made it so easy to decide on what I might want in a planner.
Thanks for stopping by Abby!
Such an informative post! I had no idea how many different budget planners are out there! Thanks for sharing!
You’re so very welcome Marie!
Great post! Loved how you very clearly labeled them all and gave pros and cons!! I currently have the one you put in there from amazon(geometric looking one) but this list will help with future purchases when I’m ready for another!
So glad you found one that works for you!
I don’t currently have a budget planner but your post might encourage me to get one. Who knew making a budget could be such a creative outlet?!
Honestly, they can be an accessory girl’s dream! Especially with the Erin Condron planners or the Happy Planners!
It is important to create a budget and stick with it. We must control our finances so that we can make the best use of our resources.
Yes! You need to make the best use of what you’ve got!
I love this comprehensive analysis! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve purchased a planner only to discover it doesn’t really work for me. Thanks for the valuable list! 🙂
I too hate buying something just to later realize it’s not for me. I feel like I wasted my money and my time! I hope this guide helps people make better, more informed decisions so they don’t waste either!
Great list of budget planners. As a planner fanatic, not just for budget and finances but for everything in life, I cant recommend enough the benefits of having a budget planner to organize your finances!
Yaaaa for a planner fan! So glad you find yours helpful! I think everyone should at least try one to see how it can help!
Thank you. I ended up creating my own budget binder because I couldn’t find a planner I loved. I’m gonna check some of these out.
I totally get needing something more personalized to your needs! Check out Happy Planners as they have a lot of customizations available! Or use the one you made, the best budget planner is the one that works for you!