Free Budget Tracker Google Sheets Philippines: How I Finally Took Control of My Money

Free Budget Tracker Google Sheets Philippines

If there is one thing I wish I learned earlier, it is how to properly track my money. When I was still working in a bank, I was the old school, pen-and-paper type of budgeter (apps and google sheets weren’t a thing yet) even if my salary wasn’t that huge. I tracked every peso and made sure I had kept my savings untouched until the next payday came. Although I am thankful I started budgeting early, I actually had a hard time tracking knowing if my savings consistently reached 20% of my salary or if I was underbudgeting my expenses.

That challenge is exactly why I decided to create a simple and practical budget tracker or something that clearly shows where your money goes, how much you are really saving, and whether your budget is actually working for you.

In this article, I will share:

• Link to my free budget tracker that you can use
• Why budgeting never worked for me before
• How a simple “Budget Tracker Google Sheets Philippines” template changed my relationship with money
• Real budgeting mistakes I personally made
• How you can start using a free budget tracker even if you feel “magastos” or “hindi magaling sa numbers”

Why I Started Looking for a Free Budget Tracker

I remember one month when I checked my budgeting notebook and asked myself, “Saan napunta ang sweldo ko?”

I knew I had expenses but I just couldn’t remember what specific purchases I made because I didn’t jot them down. I knew I needed to record all my fixed expenses and variable expenses to see where was I spending more that depleted my savings.

Another time, I made a mistake while recording my expenses which meant I also had to adjust my savings and investment amounts. That single error created a domino effect where one small change led to multiple revisions. This made it stressful and time-consuming to update every category correctly.

I tried budgeting apps before, but most of them had problems:

• Too complicated
• Too many categories
• Paid features
• Not customized for Philippine expenses
• No PHP currency

That was when I realized I needed something simple, flexible, and customizable. That is how I created a “free budget tracker Google Sheets Philippines” template.

Why Google Sheets Works So Well for Budgeting

At first, I underestimated Google Sheets. Para lang siyang excel spreadsheet, right? But then I remembered how my college professor taught us the tips and tricks in using MS Excel. I then learned though Youtube how to make pie graphs and lines that are pleasing to the eyes and that can make budgeting more exciting to use.

Now that I have created one, I understand why a lot of Filipinos prefer using one.

Here is why I personally love using Google Sheets for my budget tracker:

1. It Is Free (No Hidden Charges)

You know how Filipinos love the word “free”. Walang subscription, walang trial period, at walang biglang “upgrade to premium.” As someone who teaches financial literacy, I strongly believe budgeting should not cost money.

2. Accessible Anytime, Anywhere

I use my budget tracker on my laptop, my phone, even when I’m outside or waiting in line. As long as I have internet, I can update my expenses. This is very realistic for our lifestyle.

3. You Control the Categories

I used a couple of apps that are fine but have a lot of drawbacks and will force you to follow their structure. Google Sheets lets you:

• Rename categories and add Filipino-specific expenses (palengke, pamasahe, baon ng anak, Mid Year Pasalamat, Year-end Pasalamat, etc.)
• Adjust anytime without breaking the system

This flexibility makes budgeting finally feel personal and unrestrictive.

My Real Budgeting Mistakes Before Using a Tracker

Before creating my “Free Budget Tracker Google Sheets Philippines” template, I made a lot of mistakes. I am sharing them because you might be doing the same.

Mistake #1: Budgeting in My Head

I used to say, “Alam ko naman gastos ko.” The truth is, knowing is very different from seeing. What I don’t jot down will be easily forgotten. When I finally listed everything down, I was shocked that my small daily expenses like the quick trips to 7-11 convenience store and the few pesos spent at the sari-sari store added up fast. I also noticed that the subscriptions I forgot about were still active.

Mistake #2: Only Tracking Big Amounts

I usually tracked:

• Insurance
• Tuition
• Taxes and fees for my businesses

But I ignored:

• Coffee
• Snacks
• Delivery fees
• Random convenience store runs

Those small expenses were actually the reason I was always short. My “free budget tracker Google Sheets Philippines” template helped me see the full picture.

Mistake #3: Feeling Guilty Instead of Curious

Every time I overspent, I felt bad. But when I saw that I had saved enough, allotted a portion to my investments, and have paid my recurring expenses like insurance and my child’s tuition, I gave in to a little treat as a reward for keeping up with my financial responsibilities as a mom and wife.

Remember that budgeting is not about guilt. It is about awareness. Once I shifted my mindset from judging to observing, budgeting became lighter and more empowering (when you see your assets go up and your liabilities dwindling) to the point that I always wanted to check my progress!

Check out the budget tracker here: Free Budget Tracker Google Sheets Philippines. Best viewed on a laptop or PC.

Free Budget Tracker Google Sheets Philippines

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll be using:

1. Net worth Tracker
2. Debt tracker
3. Budget Trackers from Jan to Dec with the following subcategories:
   • Income Summary
   • Savings
   • Expenses
   • Investments
   • Emergency Fund summary
   • Debt Payment

• You might like: How to Prepare an Income Statement Philippines (w/ Example)

Budgeting Is Not About Being Kuripot

Budgeting does not mean you stop enjoying life. In fact, because I budget:

• I can enjoy guilt-free spending
• I plan my “luho” instead of feeling bad after
• I say yes to things that truly matter to me

Budgeting helped me align my money with my values and not restrict myself.

Why I Share This Free Budget Tracker

I created and share my free budget tracker Google Sheets Philippines because I know how overwhelming money can feel.

This tracker is not about being strict, nor perfect nor being rich overnight. I just feel that more and more people need to know that budgeting helps you gain control of your life and can help bring back your confidence.

If budgeting never worked for you before, maybe it was not you. Maybe you just didn’t have the right tool. So I hope you turn over a new leaf and try out this free budget tracker. Who knows? This might be the starting point you have been waiting for.

Check out the budget tracker here: Free Budget Tracker Google Sheets Philippines. Best viewed on a laptop or PC.

Free Budget Tracker Google Sheets Philippines: How I Finally Took Control of My Money

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