Do you want this to be the year that you finally take control of your money and achieve your goals? In this blog post, I am breaking down the 5+ best budget planners that will help you do exactly that!
Sticking to a set budget can be challenging. But, if you are willing to use a budget planner consistently, you will start to notice that you are spending less, saving more, achieving your money goals, and are more knowledgeable than ever about your money.
There are a lot of different types of planners available. How do you know which one will help you the most?
In this blog post, I am sharing our top picks and their features so that you can decide which will work best for you this year.
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The Best Budget Planners You Need This Year:
1. Clever Fox Budget Planner & Monthly Bill Organizer
One of the best budget planners available is from Clever Fox. They have sold thousands of them and are highly rated.
This planner comes with a ton of amazing features and great layouts, but one of our favorite features is the monthly pockets. These make it easy to store your monthly bills, receipts, and so on. It also comes in a wide variety of colors that you can choose from.
This has been designed with durability in mind, so you can take it on the go with you anywhere without having to worry about damaging it. However, it is a bit larger in size when compared to a notebook option. If size is important to you, then I would recommend looking at the next option on the list!
| Included Layouts | Available Colors | Features |
| Goals Monthly Budget Monthly Calendar Expense Trackers Debt Trackers Savings Trackers Regular Bill Tracker Christmas Budget Additional Note Pages | Black Dark Blue Dark Green Dark Teal Lavender Mint Green Purple Rose Gold Turquoise | 12 Months Undated Twin Loop Bound 120 gsm Paper Budget Stickers Monthly Pockets |
2. Clever Fox Budget Planner Notebook
If you don’t like to write in spiral-bound notebooks, then you might prefer this option. It comes with very similar page layouts, all of which are designed to help you manage your money. And it comes in over 20 different colors, so you can choose the one that suits your style.
A notebook design is smaller and sleeky, making it an ideal choice if you find yourself on the go a lot. It will fit into your purse or backpack much easier than a spiral-bound notebook, like the one above.
However, the notebook doesn’t come with the monthly pockets that are standard in the previous option. It only has one accordion-style pocket in the back. So, if having additional storage for receipts and the like is important to you, then the first option is perhaps a better choice.
| Included Layouts | Available Colors | Features |
| Goals Monthly Budget Monthly Calendar Expense Trackers Debt Trackers Savings Trackers Christmas Budget Yearly Review Additional Note Pages | Aquamarine Black Brown Dark Blue Dark Grey Dark Green Emerald Gold Green +15 More | 12 Months Undated 120 gsm Paper Budget Stickers Accordion Pocket In The Back Elastic Closure 3 Bookmarks Pen Holder |
3. Budgetizer Budget Planner & Monthly Bill Organizer
While this planner only comes in one style, it packs a big punch in so many other ways. Not only are the layouts really useful, but it also comes with cash envelopes which are perfect for anyone who likes the cash envelope budgeting system.
It is also highly rated on Amazon and is a perfect option for anyone looking for a budget planner this is both well-made and, at the same, extremely cost-effective.
Another feature that is really nice about this notebook is that it comes with an elastic closure, something the Clever Fox option doesn’t come with. This will help keep your book closed which can help to avoid wrinkling or tearing the paper when it’s stored in your bag or backpack.
| Included Layouts | Available Colors | Features |
| Goals Monthly Budgets Monthly Calendars Monthly Expense Trackers Monthly Income Trackers Holiday Budgeting Page Christmas Budget Additional Note Pages | Blue Only | 12 Months Undated Twin Loop Bound 3 Cash Envelopes Receipt & Bill Pockets Elastic Closure Bookmark |
4. Legend Budget Planner
If you want an option that is stylistically different from all the others on this list without sacrificing functionality, then look no further. This budget notebook comes with a cover unique design which really sets it apart from the other options.
It also comes in a wide variety of colors so you can choose one that suits your personal style. In this chart below, you will see which colors come with the design debased into the cover and which colors have the gold foil design instead.
Don’t be fooled by the design. This budget planner isn’t a case of style over substance. In addition to the unique covers and vibrate layout, this is also a very practical budgeting tool. The notebook comes with a lot of helpful page layouts that will help you get your money organized. It also comes with an accordion pocket in the back, and a pen loop to make sure that you always have a writing utensil at hand.
| Included Layouts | Available Colors | Features |
| Life Financial Plan Goals Monthly Budget Monthly Calendars Expense Tracker Monthly Budget Review Savings Trackers Debt Trackers Christmas Budgeting Additional Note Pages | Black – Debossed Dark Green – Debossed Hot Pink – Gold Foil Mint Green – Debossed Mystic Blue – Debossed Periwinkle – Gold Foil Purple – Debossed Rose Gold – Debossed Rose Gold – Gold Foil Seashell – Gold Foil Turquoise – Gold Foil Viridian Green – Gold Foil | 12-Months Undated 120 gsm Paper Budget Stickers Accordion Pocket In The Back Elastic Closure 3 Bookmarks Pen Holder |
5. Erin Condren Budget Planner
Erin Condren planners are very well-known in the planning community. So, when you are looking for the best budget planners, it only makes sense to look at their collection.
The budget book is a planner that they’ve had in their lineup for a few years now, and for good reason. People who use them absolutely love them!
One neat thing about this option is that it has a few truly unique layouts that you won’t find in any of the other options on this list. For example, the special occasion budget tracker could come in handy if you are planning a party, working on a big project, or working out the details for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.
This option does only come in one style, unfortunately. That being said, the layouts are very minimalist with a ton of white space. That means you can put your personal touch on this planner by decorating the margins any way you like to help you to stay organized and inspired.
| Included Layouts | Available Colors | Features |
| Year At A Glance Goals Monthly Calendars Monthly Budget Expense Tracker Monthly Overview Special Occasion Budget Tracker Savings Tracker Debt Tracker Additional Note Pages | Rainbow Style Only | 12 Months Undated Twin Loop Bound Budget Stickers Gold Foil Details Customizable Tabs |
6. The Budget Book
And last, but definitely not least, we’ve got the budget book, a highly rated and affordable option for your money organization needs. Even though it is the most budget-friendly option on this list, this planner doesn’t scrimp on the features. This makes one of the best overall budget planners on the market.
You get all of the page layouts you will need to organize your money. And, don’t be fooled by the price. This book is made to last! It’s incredibly durable, has a lot of the same features as some of the other options included in the list, and is a fraction of the price.
The only negative for this option is the lack of design options. However, if you’re looking for value and having a lot of design choices isn’t high on your priority list, then this could be the perfect budget planner for you!
| Included Layouts | Available Colors | Features |
| Goals Monthly Budget Monthly Calendar Expense Trackers Debt Trackers Savings Trackers Christmas Budget Yearly Review Additional Note Pages | Green Orange | 12 Months Undated Twin Loop Binding Budget Stickers Elastic Closure Inner Pocket |
Things To Consider When Buying A Budget Planner
As you may have noticed, many of the planners from this list have similar features and pages. However, some of them have some important differences that you should consider when deciding which one you want to use.
- Style – The two most common styles are spiral-bound and notebook style. When deciding which one you want to buy, you should consider which style you prefer.
If you don’t care about this, then you can skip it. However, if you strongly dislike writing in notebooks with coils on the side, then you should forego this style option when choosing your planner.
- Quality – While finding low-cost options is a good objective, you don’t want to ignore quality altogether. A poor-quality planner can fall apart quickly, especially if you’re tossing it in a bag on a regular basis. On top of that, thin pages can be problematic. Not only is there an increased risk of tearing or wrinkling, but you also run the risk of ink bleeding through several pages, making notes hard to read.
- Your Personal Goals – Do you have specific money goals this year that you want to achieve? Then you should choose a planner that will support those goals.
For example, let’s say you have a goal this year to pay off your debt. Then I would highly recommend choosing a planner that has dedicated debt tracker pages. Or if you have a goal to increase your income, then look for a planner that has income deep-dive layouts.
- Features – Some of the planners shared in this blog post had some unique features. For example, the Budgetizer planner included cash envelopes that you can use for the cash envelope budgeting system. If any of these features are extremely important to you, then you should factor that in when choosing your planner for the year.
What Are The Best Budget Planners Overall?
It’s important to remember that budgeting is a very personal thing. So, what works well for one person may not work as well for another.Therefore, there is no one best planner overall. It’s about which one will work best for you, your goals, and your unique situation.
Every option included in this list can be considered, in a sense, “the best budget planner.” A budget planner is a tool. Some tools are better for some jobs than others, so it’s important to take some time to figure out exactly what you want to achieve and find the budget planner that’s best suited for the job.
I hope that this blog post has helped you to find the best budget planners for your goals this year. Remember, when used consistently, the right planner can be a powerful tool to help you get organized and take control of your money!
Read Next:
Easy 4-Step Plan to Budget on an Unpredictable Income
How To Save $5000 In 3 Months: The Ultimate Checklist
How To Live Below Your Means: The Secret To Long-Term Wealth
