If you’re looking for the best way to manage your finances and stay on track with your money goals, a budget planner is the solution for you! A budget planner can help you keep track of your income and expenses, create a savings plan, and more. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what a budget planner is, why you should have one, and how it can help you reach your financial goals. We’ll also provide a list of the best budget planners available in 2022, so you can find the perfect option for your needs!
What Is A Budget Planner?
A budget planner is an essential personal finance tool for anyone who wants to get their money in order. It usually comes in the form of a book or binder, but you can also find digital budget planners these days A budget planner will help you track your income and expenses each month, so you can see where your money is going and make adjustments to ensure that you are living within your means. It’s a great way to stay on top of your finances.
Why You Need A Budget Planner
There are many reasons why you should use a budget planner. First, it is one of the best ways to ensure you keep track of your income and expenses so that you can see where your money is going each month. This information is essential in making sure that you are living within your means and not overspending.
Second, a budget planner can also help you to set financial goals and make a plan to reach them. Whether you want to save up for a down payment on a house or simply get out of debt, a budget planner can help you to achieve your financial goals.
Finally, a budget planner can help you to set aside money for specific purposes, such as an emergency fund or retirement savings. By doing so, you can avoid the temptation to spend money on non-essential items. Ultimately, a budget planner can help you to take control of your finances and manage your money better.
Features To Look For In The Best Budget Planner 2022
There are a few features to look for when choosing a good budgeting planner for you. We’ve compiled some of the key features you’ll find in the best budgeting planners below:
First, it should be easy to use and understand. If you choose a budget planner that is too confusing or difficult to use, you’re likely to give up on it quickly.
Second, it should be versatile and allow you to track your income and expenses in multiple ways. This way, you can tailor the budget planner to your specific needs.
Third, it should help you set up a savings plan. This feature is essential if you want to reach your financial goals.
Fourth, it should be flexible enough to adjust as your needs change. Life is always changing, and your budget should be able to change with you.
Fifth, it should be easily portable or accessible on all of your devices if you choose a digital budget planner. If you don’t have your planner with you or can’t access it easily, you’re more likely to give up on tracking your cash flow and debt payments and get off track.
Lastly, it should be affordable. You don’t want to spend more on a budget planner than you need to. There are plenty of great options available on the market today that won’t break the bank and will help you track your spending and move your finances in the right direction.
With these features in mind, you can find a budget planner that will work best for you and help you stay on track with your budgeting journey.
The 14 Best Budget Planners Of 2022
We’ve put together a list of our top picks for the best budget planner 2022. These budget planners have been selected based on their features, ease of use, and affordability. To learn more about the different options, keep reading below:
Best Budget Planner Books
Clever Fox Budget Planner Pro
The Clever Fox Budget Planner Pro is a great option for those who want a comprehensive but easy-to-use and understand budget planner. This budget planner is an undated monthly planner, which makes it more flexible and means you can pick one up and get started at any time.
It comes with pages to track your income and expenses, as well as a savings plan, pages for Christmas budgeting, and an annual summary. While it has everything that most people would need from a good budget planner, it’s also flexible enough to adjust as your needs change.
The Clever Fox Budget book comes in a range of attractive colors, and it’s made from high-quality materials. It’s also very affordable, making it a great option for those on a tight budget.
Pros
- Comprehensive but easy to use
- Undated monthly pages
- Attractive and well-made with a range of colors available
Cons
- Doesn’t lay completely flat
- Some users may need more space for expense tracking
The Happy Planner
The Happy Planner is a great option for budgeting when paired with some of the available budgeting products. Some great budgeting options include the Budget Extension Pack and Expense Tracker Sheets.
The Happy Planner is a well-made planner with a range of fun and trendy designs to choose from. It is extremely customizable, with many different add-ons, accessories, and sticker books available.
You can use The Happy Planner for budgeting, goal setting, tracking your bills, and much more. While it is more expensive than some other budget planners on the market, its flexibility and customization options make it worth the price tag.
Pros
- Extremely customizable
- Can be used for budgeting, goal setting, and tracking expenses
- Well-made with fun and trendy designs and lots of accessories
Cons
- More expensive than some other budget planners
- May be too much for those who only want a simple budget planner
Erin Condren Coiled A5 Budget Planner
The Erin Condren coiled A5 budget planner is a great option for those who want a simple but effective budget planner. This budget planner is undated, so you can start using it at any time. It comes with a saving tracker spread, 72 pages of month-at-a-glance with a spending summary, and 4 pages of debt tracking.
This budget planner is made from high-quality materials and comes in a range of fun and trendy designs. It’s also quite affordable for the quality, making it a great option for those on a tight budget.
Pros
- Simple but effective
- Undated pages
- High-quality materials and fun designs
Cons
- Some users may need more space for expense tracking
- May be too small for those who want a comprehensive budget planner
Erin Condren Petite Planner Budget Book
The Erin Condren budget planner book is a great option for those who want a simple and compact size budget planner. This budget planner is undated, so you can start using it at any time. It comes with a saving tracker spread, 72 pages of month-at-a-glance with a spending summary, 4 pages of debt tracker, and several sheets of stickers to decorate the planner.
At 5.7″ x 8.25″, this budget planner is even smaller than the Erin Condren coiled A5 budget planner, which can be the perfect size if you’re always on the go but might not meet your needs if you’re looking for a more comprehensive budget tracking option.
Pros
- Small and compact
- Undated pages
- High-quality materials and fun designs
Cons
- Some users may need more space for expense tracking
- May be too small for those who want a comprehensive budget planner
Stress Less, Spend Less Budget Planner
The Stress Less, Spend Less budget planner is a great option for those who want to focus on reducing their stress around money. This budget planner comes with a range of features to help you do just that, including goal setting pages, debt and savings tracker pages, expense tracking pages, and more.
This budget planner is undated so you can start budgeting anytime and it has ample space to write notes and track all of your budgeting needs. It’s also a great choice if you’re looking for a more comprehensive budgeting option as it includes both weekly and monthly planning grids.
The spiral binding means that it will lay flat, making it easy to use, and it comes with two sticker sheets with over 250 organizational and inspirational stickers to make budgeting more fun.
Pros
- Range of features to help reduce stress around money
- Spiral binding lays flat for easy use
- Comes with over 250 stickers
- One of the cheapest planners on the list
Cons
- At 6″ x 8″, this planner is on the small side
Money Planner By Passionate Penny Pincher
The Money Planner by Passionate Penny Pincher is a great option for those who are laser-focused on saving money and reaching their financial goals. This budget planner is arguably the most comprehensive option on this list and comes with features like a debt tracker, savings tracker, expense tracking pages, and more. It also comes with cash budget envelopes, a selection of stickers, and annual and monthly expense worksheets.
In addition to the planner itself, the Money Planner comes with the following extra bonus content, making it a great value option:
- 2022 Money Planner PDF (January 2022 Start): The layout used in the printed Money Planner.
- Budgeting Workshop: A live workshop was held in February 2022, with a replay available to watch on your own schedule.
- Facebook Community: Membership to a dedicated Facebook group for all Money Planner users.
Pros
- Most comprehensive option on the list
- Comes with a debt tracker, savings tracker, expense tracking pages, and more
- Also comes with cash budget envelopes, a selection of stickers, and annual and monthly expense worksheets
- Bonus content includes a 2022 Money Planner PDF, Budgeting Workshop, and access to a Facebook Community
Cons
- One of the more expensive options on the list
Best Budget Planner Binders
SOUL MAMA Budget Binder With Zipper Envelopes
The SOUL MAMA budget binder with zipper envelopes is a great choice for those who want a simple planner that’s cash-friendly. This binder uses the cash envelope budgeting system and comes with a range of zippered cash envelopes plus an expense tracking sheet.
Since it’s focused on cash envelopes, it’s not as comprehensive as some of the other options when it comes to different tracking sheets and planner pages. However, if you follow the cash envelope method, it could be perfect for you.
Pros
- Cash envelope budgeting system
- Comes with zippered cash envelopes and an expense tracking sheet
- A cheap and simple way to budget
Cons
- Not as comprehensive as some other options when it comes to different tracking sheets and planner pages
- Not suitable if you don’t use the cash envelope system to keep track of your spending
Erin Condren A5 Ring Agenda Budget Bundle
The A5 Ring Agenda Life Planner by Erin Condren is a customizable planner and folio. When paired with the Budget Bundle, this binder is a great budget planner. The Budget Bundle includes budget planning A5 ring agenda inserts, lined notes pages, a 6-pack of gem dual-tip dual-ink markers and pen holder, and an A5 ring agenda budget tracker dashboard.
This binder is great for those who want a customizable and comprehensive budgeting option. The inserts included in the Budget Bundle are undated so you can start using them at any time and they’re also easy to remove if you want to change things up.
The binder itself is high quality with a gold coil and it’s also expandable so you can add more pages if needed.
Pros
- Customizable and comprehensive budgeting option
- Includes a range of budget planning pages and inserts
- Binder is high quality and expandable
Cons
- One of the more expensive options on the list
Best Digital Budget Planners
Digital Budget Planner By Boss Personal Planner
The Boss Personal Planner Digital Budget Planner is a great option for those who want the convenience of a digital budget planner. This budget planner comes with the following templates:
- Goals
- Monthly budget worksheet
- Transaction activity
- Debt repayment tracker
- Savings tracker
- Wishlist planner
- Credit tracker
- Yearly summary
- Notes
One of the best things about this digital budget planner is that it’s easy to use and you can access it from anywhere. It’s also great for those who want to be able to share their budget with others, as it’s easy to export and share your budget as a PDF.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Accessible from anywhere
- Can export and share your budget as a PDF
Cons
- Not suitable for those that prefer a physical budget planner
Digital Budget Planner By GraceMadelineDesign
The Digital Budget Planner by GraceMadelineDesign is another great option for those who want the convenience of online budget planners. This budget planner comes with the following templates and features:
- Saving challenges
- Yearly savings plan
- A daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly expense breakdown
- Savings thermometers
- Debt payoff jars
- Money-saving tips
- Budget quotes coloring sheets
- Hyperlinks and index page to help you navigate around the planner
This budget planner is great for those who want a comprehensive and easy-to-use digital budget planner. The range of templates and features means that you can track all aspects of your finances and budget, and the hyperlinks and index page make it easy to navigate around the planner.
Pros
- Comprehensive and easy-to-use
- A range of templates and features
- Hyperlinks and index page make it easy to navigate around the planner
Cons
- May be overwhelming for some users
Other Great Options
Bullet Journal
The Bullet Journal method is a great way to budget and track your finances. This system is flexible and can be customized to fit your needs. You can use a Bullet Journal to track your spending, create a budget, make financial goals, and more.
To get started with a bullet journal, all you need is a notebook with dotted lines. We love this large dotted notebook by Ottergami. It’s great quality and comes in a range of different colors, making it a top choice to track your financial journey.
Pros
- Flexible and customizable
- Can be used to track spending, budget, financial goals, and more
Cons
- Takes some time to set up and can be overwhelming for some users
Mint
Mint is a free online budgeting tool that can be used to track your spending, create a budget, and more. Mint is easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere.
Mint also offers a range of features, such as the ability to track your credit score, create savings goals, and get personalized tips to help you save money.
Pros
- Free and easy to use
- Can be accessed from anywhere
- Range of features to help keep track of your budget
Cons
- Some users have found that Mint doesn’t always accurately track spending
YNAB (You Need A Budget)
YNAB is a comprehensive budgeting tool that can be used to track your spending, create a budget, and more. YNAB is great for those who want a more hands-on approach to budgeting, as it offers features such as the ability to create custom categories, set spending limits, and track your progress.
YNAB also offers a free trial so you can try before you buy.
Pros
- More hands-on approach to budgeting
- Free trial available
- One of the most comprehensiveand best budgeting apps
Cons
- Can be overwhelming for some users
- May be difficult to stick to a budget if you don’t have the discipline
Zero-Based Budgeting Template By TheMinimalistPeach
Zero-based budgeting is a great way to take control of your finances. This budgeting method involves assigning every dollar a job, so that your income minus your expenses equals zero.
This Zero-Based Budgeting Template by TheMinimalistPeach is a great way to get started with zero-based budgeting. This template allows you to track your income, expenses, and debts. It includes:
- Instructions on how to access the spreadsheet and how to use it
- A budget dashboard to track everything
- An expenses tracker
- Fun and informational charts that automatically sync on your dashboard such as your income breakdown, bills breakdown, and variable expenses breakdown
- A yearly tracker to see where your money went for the year
Pros
- Hands-on approach to budgeting
- Allows you to track income, expenses, and debts
- Includes fun and informational charts
Cons
- May be overwhelming for some users
- Focuses on zero-based budgeting, so only suitable if you use this method
Final Thoughts
Budgeting is a great way to take control of your finances and meet your money goals. A budget planner can help you track your spending, create a budget, and set you up for financial success. When choosing a budget planner, look for one that is comprehensive and easy to use, with features that suit your needs.
We hope that this list of the 14 best budget planners for 2022 has helped you find the perfect option for you.
If you’re looking for more great ways to save money, we recommend checking out the following posts for some great hints and tips:
- How To Create A Grocery List For 2 On A Budget
- How To Live On A Small Budget: 51 Tips And Tricks To Live Big For Less
- How To Save Money Without Feeling Deprived
- 7 Frugal Date Night Ideas That Don’t Involve Netflix
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is a budget planner?
A: A budget planner is a tool that can be used to track your spending, create a budget, and more.
Q: Do I need a budget planner?
A: That depends on your needs. A budget planner can be a helpful tool if you want to take control of your finances and meet your money goals.
Q: How do I choose a budget planner?
A: When choosing a budget planner, look for one that is comprehensive and easy to use, with features that suit your needs.
Q: What are some features to look for in a budget planner?
A: Some features to look for in a budget planner include the ability to track your spending, create a budget, and set financial goals.
Q: What is the best budget planner?
A: The best planner for you will depend on your specific needs. However, some of the best budget planners include Mint, YNAB, and the Zero-Based Budgeting Template by TheMinimalistPeach.
Q: Do budget planners really work?
A: Budget planners can be a helpful tool if you want to take control of your finances and meet your money goals. However, they will only work if you use them correctly and stick to your budget.