Best Budget Planners & Notebooks Reviewed
Getting organized and sticking to a budget isn’t the easiest thing to do. However, using the best budget planners can make the job easier.
You’ve probably tried to manage your finances, save for a vacation or wanted to keep track of your spending then eventually found yourself overwhelmed with the whole process.
Budgeting is essential but isn’t always quite easy to do. Using the right tools can make the job easier and more productive.
Instead of using loose sheets of paper, having a budgeting notebook makes it easier to keep track fo everything.
In this article, I’ll introduce 7 of the best budget planners and organizers on the market and help you take control of your finances.
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- Best Budget Planners & Notebooks Reviewed
- 1. Clever Fox Budget Planner
- 2. Clever Fox Budget Book
- 3. Erin Condren Petite Financial Planner
- 4. GoGirl Budget Planner
- 5. Limitless Mindset Budget Planner
- 6. Boxclever Press Budget Planner
- 7. Mead OrganizHer Expense Tracker
- Budget Planner Review Wrap Up
- Financially Organize Your Life With These Notebook Budget Planners
1. Clever Fox Budget Planner
Pros
Cons
Features & Thoughts
This is an excellent budget planner to save money as it helps you keep track of your monthly spending. The Clever Fox Budget Planner allows you to set and achieve financial goals while keeping track of your income, spending, debt, payments, bills, and overall cash flow.
By keeping track of all your financial details in one place, you’ll never miss a bill because of the reminders that will help you gain financial stability. The expenses are divided into categories for easy review at the end of the month.
If you’re looking for a budget planner with stickers, you should look no further. It features a high-quality leatherette hardcover and a band that stays in excellent shape, in addition to 86 colorful stickers.
There’s a pen holder and a pocket for all due bills and receipts for easy monthly review.
The thick no-bleed 120gsm paper comes in the A5 size so you can record all your financial information. There are examples that help you get started and a bookmark for fast access.
Using this planner, you can highlight areas for improvement so you can manage your finances better. It comes in several colors to suit all tastes.
Some users might find this planner a bit small as it measures 5.8” X 8.3”. This is true, especially if you have big handwriting. Moreover, the pages don’t lay completely flat which might present a problem while you’re writing.
Related: Clever Fox Budget Planner vs Budget Book Review
2. Clever Fox Budget Book
Pros
Cons
Features & Thoughts
Personal finance and budget planning are made easy thanks to this accessible and affordable Clever Fox budget book. You can make a monthly spending plan before the month starts so you can stay ahead and know everything about your spending style.
The size is smaller than A5 measuring 5.3” X 7.7” so you can carry your planner wherever you go. However, some people might need a bigger size if they like to write a lot of details.
Using the pages dedicated for each month, you’ll be able to make short and long-term financial goals to identify your bad spending habits. You can add a category for all your expenses and highlight information using the included 79 stickers.
This is a good budget planner to get out of debt because you can sort out your income, bills, expenses, and debts. Every month has pages for tracking expenses, ideas, and notes to help you manage your finances.
There are 2 pages for an annual summary. Additionally, there’s a special pocket so you can keep your bills and receipts for review and easy access.
This budget planner is made of animal-friendly PU leather and features a bookmark for easy access. It features pearl white 120gsm no-bleed paper, a pen holder, and an elastic band. There are several colors available.
Unlike the original version above, the Clever Fox Budget Book doesn’t have the categories preset. This gives you more freedom to write your own expenses, although some people prefer the organization. It doesn’t have a calendar to help you know when bills are due.
3. Erin Condren Petite Financial Planner
Pros
Cons
Features & Thoughts
With an inspirational quote and refreshing colorful cover, this is the best budget planner for beginners as it helps you start controlling your bad spending habits and have more control over your life.
Start planning for 12 months, with the bill-tracking spreadsheets. There are 80 pages on this planner, in addition to a pocket for your bills and receipts.
Featuring checklists, you can keep an eye on all your expenditures and income so it’s an excellent choice for someone who runs a small business.
The thick paper will stand the use of fountain pen ink. It’s slightly bigger than other planners measuring 5.7” X 8.25”. However, this planner is still small enough for you to carry in your purse or backpack.
This is a fun budget planner so it’s good for first-timers. It features a sheet of money related stickers for highlighting.
Everything about the Erin Condren Petite Financial Planner is fun and stylish. However, it isn’t very well-made, unlike other models. You should be careful while holding and using it because it’s prone to coming loose. There’s no monthly calendar which would be extremely helpful.
4. GoGirl Budget Planner
Pros
Cons
Features & Thoughts
This affordable budget organizer is the best budget planner for college students as it’s less expensive than other models. It helps you keep track of all your spending, expenses, and bills so you’re never out of track.
If you suffer from financial problems, you can use the GoGirl Budget Planner to set financial goals by identifying all upcoming payments, debts, bills due, savings, and cash flow.
You can have a reminder of all upcoming purchases so you can plan everything in advance. Every expense category is easily set even before the month starts.
Moreover, you can track daily spending habits so you can find areas for improvement. This planner comes undated so you can customize it the way you want.
You can start using it at any time of the year and it comes with 91 stickers. There are several examples that will help you get started.
This is a compact planner that measures 5.3” X 7.7” so it’s easy to carry in your purse. The cover is made of PU vegan leather and features an elastic band and a pen holder.
There’s an accordion pocket to keep all your bills organized. The thick pearl white 120gsm paper feels smooth.
With the 2 front pages, you’ll be able to set your financial goals and the strategy to achieve them. However, there’s no monthly calendar or section for recurring expenses.
It has the same number of sections for saving and expenses, so you’ll probably run out of space fast.
5. Limitless Mindset Budget Planner
Pros
Cons
Features & Thoughts
This is a bigger comprehensive planner which is the best budget planner for couples and families. It features a durable faux leather cover and measures 6” X 9” so you can write all the details about your income and expenses.
If you’re looking for an excellent budget planner with cash envelopes, then the Limitless Mindset Budget Planner is the one to pick. It features 3 envelopes so you can get ready for all your due bills.
Moreover, there are 2 sets of stickers to organize your finances and a custom-made pen to help you write down all the details.
80gsm paper is practical enough to record your financial details. There are 2 pockets; one at the front and another one at the back, where you can keep receipts, bills, and money for an emergency.
The pen holder secures the pen until it’s needed so you and your partner can record all the details. This is a good choice for someone who runs a business.
Inside the organizer, you’ll find worksheets to record your spending, bills, income, debts, and expenses. This is an undated organizer than goes 2 years ahead, so you and your partner can use if you’re saving for a wedding or a new house.
Some people might find that the paper is too thin. Moreover, there are no tips that can help you if you’re not sure about the best way to use the planner and the envelopes.
6. Boxclever Press Budget Planner
Pros
Cons
Features & Thoughts
The Boxclever Press Budget Planner is the best budget planner to get out of debt as it features a total of 13 pockets to keep all your receipts, bills, and money. It features spacious weekly sections and big spaces for daily entry.
You can track your income, bills, debts, receipts, and recurring expenses to identify the pattern of your spending so you can take action when needed.
There’s a satin ribbon page marker for easy access. It complements the overall look of the high-quality budget planner.
This budget planner has a special section to track your holiday spending so it’s a good choice for someone saving for Christmas and birthdays.
With an elegant matte cover, you can use this planner in the office or at home. It has several sections so you can easily write all the details of your spending thanks to its big size.
It measures 6” X 9 so it’s suitable for people who like to record the details of their spending and savings.
It’s easy to keep track of everything thanks to the everyday spending tracker. Although it lacks a calendar, some people prefer this as they can customize it according to their needs.
The annual sheet is already filled and has a few spaces that you can customize which might be a bit limiting.
7. Mead OrganizHer Expense Tracker
Pros
Cons
Features & Thoughts
If you’re looking for a big budget planner to record all the details of your spending, then you should consider the Mead OrganizHer Expense Tracker.
This planner features a 0.5mm poly cover to keep it in excellent condition. It’s also one of the biggest budget planners measuring 8.5” X 11” providing enough space to help you track your spending.
Using this comprehensive expense tracker, you can monitor your expenses as it features 12 monthly pockets to keep all your bills and receipts in one place.
Moreover, there are two clear folders where you keep all the other invoices and letters so you can keep tracking your savings and upcoming expenses.
You have a spacious room to write with checklists, a calendar, budget pages, and a plastic sheet protector. Three Tech Lock poly rings keep this planner in excellent shape and help the pages lay flat for more convenience.
However, some of the pages might easily slip off, so you should be careful while using it.
This is a big planner so it won’t fit easily into a small purse. You might run out of the pages, but you can easily add more thanks to their punctured designed.
Budget Planner Review Wrap Up
There isn’t a single budget planner that works for all people and all purposes. Your budget planner helps you realize your financial goals so it should be customized to suit your needs.
Every product on my list qualifies as one of the best budget planners for people who want to have more control over their finances. Browse the features of my top picks and you’ll definitely find the right one for you.
I’d love to know in the comments which budget planner is best for you.
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Budgeting & Debt Payoff Expert
Steffa is the founder behind Money Tamer. After paying off over $80,000 in debt through budgeting, she now teaches families how to get their own finances in order. Steffa’s background in operant conditioning and behavioral husbandry has given her an understanding of motivation and motivators. She uses this training to help people understand the reasons “why” behind their money behaviors and how to successfully change them. You can learn more about her here.
Pin For Later:
Hi, we really do need a planner but want one that’s just going to be perfect for us so we know where our money is going each and every month that comes and goes.
Hi Diane,
I recommend the Clever Fox Budget Planner as a great all-around budgeting planner. It’s what I have currently and love. All the pages basically walk you through everything.
Hope that helps,
Steffa