I’m no newbie to using binders to organize the paper clutter at home. Last year I shared with you how I used a Family Organization Binder to keep all my household papers in order. This year as we moved from one home to another, I realized that my finances were not as organized as I would like. Not only that, but my filing system needs a few adjustments (I will share the changes in another post).
Our Finance Binder is a now a tool used often that both my husband and I appreciate. In conjunction with our 2016 Everyday Planner
I have created 10 PDF formatted printables that I use in my finance binder.
I found my binder with matching dividers at Office Depot. It is from a fun line named “See Jane Work” and it matched perfectly with my Everyday Planner cover.
My dividers are labeled as follows:
Bills // In this Section is where you will find my monthly bill checklist. In the first column, you have the day of the month the bill is due, followed by a description or name of the bill. In the next column, you would check off the box if it is an automated payment. Last you have the monthly boxes to check off every month once you have made your payment. I have also included an area below the bills for notes and/or confirmation numbers (I hate these).
Budget // In this section, I have added a monthly budget worksheet. It is very detailed and includes an extra section for additional expenses that might pop up monthly. I figure, If you have all your expenses laid out for the month, you visualize where your money should be going. That way, next time I am at the mall and I see some christian louboutin heels that I am dying to buy, I put myself in check.
Debt // No this section is not a place to turn to and get depressed, it is a place to go to and see how far you have come and how far you are going. I have created a debt payoff printable for this section so you can see how little or big of a contribution you have made monthly in paying off your debt. Even if you don’t do monthly payments to your debt, you can use this sheet to keep track of whom and what you owe.
Savings // I wish this section was full. I know many have the same issue as I do, so why not own it. I haven’t saved, and I have two kids! Actually that is probably the reason why I have not been able to save. So many things come up that have to be taken care of. Soccer uniforms, league payments, school supplies, clothing they grow so quickly out of, and so on. I half blame them, but seriously, I know we are responsible for our savings. Living in San Diego with such high living expenses doesn’t help. I can’t help but live near the beach, though, I tried Las vegas for a few years, that didn’t work.
So this section if for all the saving I am going to start doing this year. Maybe I will print 4 and separate them by family member, that way everyone can help me out.
Accounts // You will find a banking account info worksheet here, as well as a password log for online accounts. I have something to confess, I have not changed my online passwords in years, but when creating this worksheet I promised myself that I would give myself time to do so. You should too!
Expenses // This is a daily expense log. Like a checkbook register, keep in check all your expenses. Because in reality, you have a monthly budget set-up but there is always that rogue bill or purchase that pops up in the middle of the month. For me this month, my son’s glasses broke… bummer.
Receipts // At the end of the binder you will find a clear paper protector sleeve with all the important receipts for the month. You can actually keep all of your receipts for the month here until you input the amount into your expense log, then toss out all of your non-important ones out when you’re done.
Budget Envelope // Cash, ugh I hate carrying it around. This actually doesn’t work for me. My husband can’t do it. He tells me I’m crazy if I think he is going to carry around different envelopes when he go’s out to buy something for me at the grocery store. But here is how it does. I use them like a register. I have them in my purse, when I make a purchase, I place the receipt in the appropriate envelope. When my husband comes home from running out to get milk, all I ask for is the receipt. That way when I am at home I still tally up what has been spent, and know how much I have left over before the next grocery run. Groceries, gas, eating out, kids, label them as you like, whatever works for you.
Here are a few of the printables in a more detailed look. They are fun and fresh, and will make this finance organizing a little less boring. Looking to get your own? Check them out in my Etsy Shop.
This Finance Binder is a little new to us, getting our finances in order is a must though and I am really looking forward to how this binder is going to work for us.
How do you keep your finances in order? Do you use budget envelopes, or does your husband think you are crazy like mine does? Actually I would love to know who takes care of the finances in your house. Is it a couple thing, a wife thing or does the hubby take on the job? What works for you?
This planner has been one of my best sellers by far!
Laila (@OnlyLaila)
This is so cute! I am trying to get my finances in order as well.
iselaespana
Thanks Laila,
It’s no easy task, but we will do it together!
xo – Isela
Jodi
I love your binder. I tried getting my husband to use cash as well and it didn’t work at all! So I went in search of something that I could keep track of and found “You Need a Budget” (YNAB for short). It is like using virtual envelopes. My husband and I sit down before each month and do a budget and then I get on YNAB and put money into each envelope. Then when we make a purchase, we get on our phone and record the transaction and it automatically updates that envelope! It couldn’t be easier! You should check it out!
Dominique
Ugh budgeting is the most daunting task ever! But at least you are able to look at these pretty binders while you are doing it 🙂
iselaespana
I agree with you Dominique! Not fun, but at least I get to break out my favorite pens!!
Tonya P
I’m curious how you use the Daily Expense Log. Could you explain what you put on it? Thanks!
iselaespana
Hi! The Daily expense log is made to be used like you would use your check registrar. If you make a payment online, payment at the store, payment for gas, you would log it in here at the end of the day. I created this page because the one you get online is sometimes a little confusing because it is not named what you would expect or if you pay with cash.
Hope that helps. 😉
-Isela
monica
Your story and mine are very similar! I used a simple binder to get our finances back on track, Got everything perfect, then my husband graduated colllege, we moved, changed jobs and bought a house and my binder saved us during the transition but it doesn’t work as well now so I get to recreate it and its not nearly as fun!
iselaespana
Hi Monica,
Nice to hear I’m not the only one!
Patti C.
I’m not sure how to go about printing the pages. My computer is so riddled with malware, this is all I have to work off. Any suggestions? I looked at many printables before decided yours best matched my needs.
iselaespana
Hi Patti,
Thank you so much for your interest, I am sure you will love them. Please take a look at my Faq’s page as it will have most answers about printing and such there. http://sweetpapertrail.com/faqs/
andrea
Try mint.com, it links to all credit, loan, bank accounts etc, you create a budget by category then after a bit it learns what stores are for what, so you don’t have to update category except let’s say you purchased electronics at Walmart with your groceries, you can go in and split that transaction identifying amount for groceries and electronics. YOU CAN Track Debt Payoffs AND Saving Goals As Well As retirement etc. I love it.
iselaespana
Hi Andrea,
Yes Mint is great for those who are interested in doing their finances online, I have tried it before. With all of the credit fraud and hacking going on all over the internet, I thought I would just lesson the probability of getting my identity stolen by having everything on paper instead. I have recently included a non-filled category page so you can fill in your own if anything changes monthly, so this works great and I have gotten a ton of positive feedback.
Thanks for your input!!
Josselyn
I like to take out money at the start of the week to cover our flexible expenses (gas, food, spending). I give my husband amounts for each with a sticky note that has the amount written for each category. He knows how much he has for gas, for food/lunch, and for spending. It works well because we only use our debit card for larger purchases or to pay bills online.
Neither of us like carrying around envelopes so just having the amount folded with a stick note helps us! (It’s easy and less awkward to just take the sticky note off when we’re at the register)