Free Template
Free student budget template
A student budget just needs to keep a tight, mostly-cash-and-UPI budget honest. Skip the complexity — a few categories and a running total do the job.
Here's a lightweight layout for student life.
Free · No ads · Made in India · Android (iOS coming soon)
Columns to include
A good tracker only needs a few columns. Add these as headers in Excel or Google Sheets:
- Date
- What (merchant)
- Category
- Cash / UPI
- Amount (₹)
Suggested categories
Use a consistent set of categories so your totals mean something. A practical starting set:
- Food & canteen
- Delivery
- Travel
- Mobile / data
- Subscriptions (split)
- Books & supplies
- Fun
- Other
How to use it
Log each spend on its own row as it happens, pick a category from your list, and total each category at month-end with a SUMIF formula. Keep one sheet per month, or add a Month column and filter.
The catch with spreadsheets is discipline — they only work if you remember to open them.
When you outgrow the spreadsheet
Between classes, a spreadsheet won't get opened. Balance lives on your phone, is free with no ads, and captures UPI spends by scanning the payment screenshot — a much better fit for a student day.
Frequently asked questions
How should a student budget their money?
Track cash and UPI spends in a few simple categories, keep a running total, and watch the biggest one (often food or delivery). Balance does this free on your phone.
Is Balance really free?
Yes. Balance is free to use with no ads and no mandatory subscription. Core expense tracking, categories, analytics, receipt scanning and CSV export are all included at no cost.
Keep exploring
Start understanding your money with Balance.
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