Create a realistic monthly budget that helps you track spending, save money, and reach financial goals
I want to create a monthly budget that actually works for my life and financial situation. My monthly take-home income is approximately [MONTHLY_INCOME]. My household situation is [HOUSEHOLD:select:single living alone,single with roommates,couple no kids,family with kids,single parent,living with parents]. My fixed monthly expenses include: [FIXED_EXPENSES] (such as rent, car payment, insurance, subscriptions, etc.) My typical variable spending includes: [VARIABLE_SPENDING?] (such as groceries, gas, entertainment, dining out, etc.) My current debt situation: [DEBT?] (such as credit cards, student loans, car loan, etc.) My financial goals: [FINANCIAL_GOALS:select:build emergency fund,pay off debt,save for a big purchase,save for retirement,all of the above,just get spending under control]. My biggest budgeting challenge is [CHALLENGE:select:overspending in certain categories,irregular income,unexpected expenses,tracking spending,sticking to the budget,not knowing where money goes]. Create a realistic monthly budget for me using the [METHOD:select:50/30/20 rule,zero-based budgeting,envelope system,percentage-based budgeting,whatever works best]. Include all spending categories, realistic amounts based on my income, specific recommendations for where I can cut back, a plan for reaching my financial goals, and tips for actually sticking to this budget. Make it practical not aspirational.
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Get Early AccessYou know you should have a budget. You have probably tried before. The spreadsheet lasted two weeks before it became a guilt-inducing tab you avoid. The problem is not discipline. It is that most budgets are built on wishful thinking instead of your actual life.
It creates a monthly budget grounded in your real numbers. You enter your [MONTHLY_INCOME], fixed expenses, variable spending, debts, and financial goals. The AI builds a budget using the [METHOD] you prefer (50/30/20, zero-based, envelope, or percentage-based) and includes specific recommendations for where to cut back.
The budget is practical, not aspirational. If your expenses exceed your income, the AI says so and helps you prioritize. It includes a debt payment strategy, savings allocation toward your [FINANCIAL_GOALS], and tips for sticking to the plan when life gets messy. Every recommendation comes with a reason, so you understand the tradeoff you are making.
If you have debt that needs a dedicated payoff strategy, the Debt Payoff Planner creates a month-by-month repayment schedule. To find hidden money leaks in your current spending, try the Expense Auditor. Build your budget in the Dock Editor to track and adjust it each month.
Copy this template into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or the Dock Editor to get started.
Replace [MONTHLY_INCOME] with your actual take-home pay (after taxes). Choose [HOUSEHOLD] to reflect your living situation. A single person and a family with kids have very different expense profiles.
Fill in [FIXED_EXPENSES] with everything that does not change: rent, car payment, insurance, subscriptions. Add your typical variable spending in [VARIABLE_SPENDING?]: groceries, gas, dining out. Honesty here is more important than precision.
Choose [FINANCIAL_GOALS] and describe your biggest budgeting struggle in [CHALLENGE]. The AI tailors its recommendations to your specific situation. Someone who overspends on dining gets different advice than someone with irregular income.
Select [METHOD] or let the AI recommend one. The 50/30/20 rule is the simplest starting point. Zero-based budgeting gives you the most control. Review the budget, make adjustments for categories that feel unrealistic, and commit to following it for one month.
Get a clear framework when you have never tracked spending before. Set [CHALLENGE] to 'not knowing where money goes' and [METHOD] to '50/30/20 rule' for the simplest starting structure.
Build a shared budget that accounts for two incomes and combined expenses. List both incomes in [MONTHLY_INCOME] and all shared expenses to see the full picture of your joint financial life.
Balance debt payments with daily living costs. Set [FINANCIAL_GOALS] to 'pay off debt' and list your debts in [DEBT?]. The AI allocates extra payments while keeping your budget livable.
Budget around unpredictable paychecks. Set [CHALLENGE] to 'irregular income' and the AI builds a baseline budget around your lowest expected month, with guidelines for allocating surplus months.
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