10 Single Mom Budget Template Examples

Sound personal finance practices are a benefit no matter who you are or what stage of life you're in. But, if you're a single mom, creating a budget is especially critical to your financial success. If you're going from a situation where you weren't working, or your ex-husband was the breadwinner, budgeting is going to be key for thriving in your new life. I know how it feels to go from two incomes down to one, to have to seriously readjust your lifestyle after heartbreak. How “at capacity” it feels to be weathering a divorce, or how exhausting it can be to worry about your kids when you can barely care for yourself, which is why I'm creating this post with single mom budget template ideas from other great bloggers around the internets.

I felt it important to find budget templates for single mothers because so many budgeting examples I found were dedicated toward families with two parents, and two incomes. And I broke it down by budget methodology so anyone who lands here can find a budget that suits their lifestyle and the way they like to handle their money. Let's dig in!

Zero Based Budget Templates

1. Frugal Fanatic Monthly Budget Printable Template

Looking for an easy-to-follow free printable budget worksheet? This monthly budget tracker by Frugal Fanatic is super easy to complete and perfect for single moms.

It eliminates all of the fluff that some other budget templates have and really cuts to the chase so you don't have to spend all day on your budget.

3. Live Save Spend Repeat by Kim Anderson

Another great budget template set for single moms is Kim Anderson's Live Save Spend Repeat. She offers a total of six different worksheets that have different goals whether you're looking to pay off debt, start budgeting for the first time, or reach a financial milestone or goal you've been dying to achieve.

4. Frugal Mom(eh!) Printable Monthly Budget Planner (Envelope Budgeting)

This free printable budget planner by Frugal Mom(eh!) is a simple, straightforward, and clean budgeting template that works well for any single mom looking to get started budgeting. What I like most about this budget planner is that you don't have to be a finance expert to figure it out.

This budget template relies on the envelope system of budgeting (Where you pull cash out, use only cash, and allocate it into envelopes that you use throughout the month). which some people may prefer. (While not the same thing, I also have an envelope savings challenge if personal finance with stationery items is your jam 😉 )

5. Money Management Essentials by Pinch a Little Save a Lot

If you're looking for a more advanced free budget template, this one by Pinch a Little Save a Lot strikes a perfect balance of keeping your monthly spending in check while also offering other worksheets to track your net worth and more.

6. Paycheck Budgeting Printable

I love the look of this free printable budget worksheet by Wendaful Planning. This is certainly on the simpler side of things, which some moms might enjoy, especially in the immediate aftermath of becoming a single parent.

You can write down each of your expenses that come out after every paycheck to keep track of your money in a simple and easy format.

7. My Frugal Home Printable Monthly Budget Template

Have more complicated finances? This free printable budget template by My Frugal Home has tons of different categories for your expenses. While this budget worksheet might be too complex for some, if you have tons of variable expenses each month, there's a good chance you'll love this one.

8. Free Monthly Budget Binder

This free budget binder by SimplyStacie is another advanced free budget template and binder that's great for getting your finances back on track. Not only do you get the ability to track expenses through a detailed account tracker, but you'll also have the ability to track when bills are due and keep tabs on your debt pay-down progress.

If you're looking for not only a free budget worksheet but also the ability to keep track of your entire financial picture, this is the perfect binder for you!

50/30/20 Single Mom Budget Template Ideas

1. Just a Girl and Her Blog Budget Binder

If you're looking for a more advanced single mom budget template that's still extremely well organized, consider Abby's budget binder.

The first thing you'll notice with this budget template is that it's much more than a simple budget tracker. You'll get a goal-setting page, a reoccurring expense tracker, a monthly expense tracker, and a weekly check-in guide to help you stay on track.

2. MeMoreMoney Free Budget Worksheets

Looking for a 50/30/20 budget worksheet that's great for single mothers? Check out this one by MeMoreMoney.

This allows you to easily allocate 50% of your income to living expenses, 30% to wants and lifestyle, and 20% towards your debt and savings goals. (See my breakdown of what the 50-30-20 budget is, here.)

Tips on Budgeting as a Single Mom

Getting your hands on a great budgeting tool, whether it's a printable, Excel spreadsheet, or budgeting app (I recommend Rocket Money for that), is just one part of the “single mom budgeting equation.” Next you're going to have to do the work and stay on top of your spending, which is why I've provided the tips below.

1. Track Your Progress

Whenever adjusting your finances, keeping tabs on your progress is so important. Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, your financial future isn't going to change drastically overnight, either. I recommend setting aside time each week to review your finances and see in which areas you've improved and where you fell short. (I used to do a four-minute financial check-in as part of my morning routine when I was super focused on getting out of debt. What you focus on expands!)

This means reviewing your bank and credit card statements to see where you stand.

2. Don't Give Up!

It can be difficult to save money as a single mom. But you likely already have the motivation and strength to see it through. There will be times when saving money is tough and you don't want to stick to your budget, but even when you feel this way – do your best to stick to it.

The key here is – try not to let one day turn into two days and so forth.

3. Find Ways to Boost Your Income

One of the easiest ways to get your budget back on track is by increasing your income. Making some extra money on the side and growing your monthly income can help you balance your budget so you can reach your financial goals.

There are tons of avenues and side hustles that you can try to make more money. (See my post on the best side hustles for single moms, here) Whether you want to make money online or you want to use your skills and expertise in freelancing, the options are endless.

Another option is finding a new job or asking for a raise at your current job. While either of these processes is not fun by any means, they can be a relatively easy way to get a 20% pay bump without having to complete any actual work.

4. Open a High Yield Savings Account

Who could say no to free money? That's exactly what a high-yield savings account is, free money.

With interest rates much higher than in previous years, some savings accounts are now offering interest rates over 4% with extremely limited, to virtually no risk.

Because your money is backed by the FDIC, you can deposit up to $250,000 in your savings account and have it fully backed by the Federal Reserve.

If you don't have a high-yield savings account yet, this is your chance. There are tons of great accounts out there that you can open with $100 or less I highly recommend. While you won't make a fortune from your savings, it's an easy way to pad your income each month without having to do any work.

5. Automate Your Finances

Automating your finances as much as possible is another great budgeting tip for single moms looking to reduce financial stress.

By having your credit cards set to pay automatically and having money transferred from your checking account to your savings each paycheck, you can limit the amount of work you need to do to keep your finances in order.

Not only does this make your job easier, but it can also help to prevent any financial mishaps like forgetting to make the minimum payment on a credit card or over-withdrawing funds from your checking account.

6. Find the Budgeting System that Works for You

Believe it or not, there are many different ways you can budget your money. But the best way is simply the one you can stick to.

Some people prefer a zero-based budget, while others might find that the 50/30/20 system works better for them. You could also use an envelope system.

Whenever starting a new budget, it's best to find the system that works for you. (That's why there are 10 single mom budgeting template examples above. You're meant to try a few and find out which one you like best.)

Give it a few months so you can work out the kinks, but if one system isn't working for you, give another method a try. You might be surprised at how well some systems work for you more than others.