One small step at a time

Let’s make your budget.

Start with what you know. We’ll help you with the next step.

Your numbers stay in this browser. MTA does not get a copy.

Everyone is welcome. You can use made-up numbers.

Start here

Open a saved budget · Bill reminders · Lecciones en español (PDF)

Have work saved at our previous address? Keep and reopen that worksheet →

Have a bill or bank file?

Start with your bills.

Add all your credit-card and other bills, one PDF at a time. Check each amount and date.

Review my bill PDFs →

This opens a separate helper in a new tab. It plans a date range, starting with cash available now. Its saved file reopens in that helper. To bring one checked payment into this plan, use the separate payment review below. Scan paper bills to PDF first. PDFs are read on your device. You can choose AI help after checking your figures.

Bring a checked payment into this monthly plan →

Have a checking or savings CSV? Review transactions (new tab) →

A bank CSV is a list of past transactions. Check it in that tool. Then return here to plan your month. Figures do not move between the tools on their own.

More options

Change the view, choose device saving, or try a money tool.

Plan a savings goal or loan payment

Try the mathematics

What changes across time?

Start with the fictional $1,200 goal at 0% over 12 months, or enter your own assumptions. Figures are calculated in this browser and are not sent to the Academy. Calculator inputs are not saved when you leave.

Choose a financial question

Future goal, starting from zero ($)

Use US dollars, like 1250.50 or $1,250.50. Up to two decimal places; the tool does not round your entry.

Payment and compounding interval

Nominal annual rate (%)

Annual rate basis

Number of months

All recurring payments occur at period-end; the first is one full period from today. The rate stays fixed. Savings goals start with zero already saved. For monthly calculations, choose the rate basis stated in your source. The tool divides a nominal annual rate by 12, or converts an effective annual rate to an equivalent monthly rate. Annual intervals use the entered annual rate directly. Taxes, fees, inflation and issuer-specific daily-interest rules are excluded.

Deposit needed each period · monthly

$100.00

Starting with nothing already saved, a $1,200.00 goal over 12 months gives an estimated deposit of $100.00 at the end of each month.

This example assumes no interest (0%).

12 monthly periods · rate per period 0% · factor 0.083333333

Rate basis: nominal annual. Monthly decimal rate = annual decimal rate ÷ 12.

Amounts are rounded for display. Actual saving or repayment schedules may need a final adjustment. This is an educational estimate, not a bank balance, guaranteed return or lender quote.

Only monthly goal deposits and loan repayments can be added. Each addition creates a new item; review any existing savings or debt row to avoid counting it twice. Annual results are not automatically divided by 12.

The calculator is still opening. You can add the estimate when it is ready.

Set aside for an upcoming cost

Make room for a cost due later.

Try an annual bill, a repair or another cost you choose. Subtract money already reserved for that same cost, then spread the rest over the deposits you can make before it is due. No interest is assumed.

Fictional example: a $600 cost, with $150 already set aside and 6 monthly deposits available, needs $75 per deposit. Count deposits you can actually make before the due date, including this month only if you can make one.

Upcoming cost details

What cost are you planning for?

Name the cost in 50 characters or fewer. Leave out account numbers and other private identifiers.

Expected full cost ($)

Enter the expected cost from 0 to 9999999.99. Use US dollars, like 1250.50 or $1,250.50, with up to two decimal places. Enter 0 when you know there is none.

Already set aside for this cost ($)

Enter the amount already set aside from 0 to 9999999.99. Use US dollars, like 1250.50 or $1,250.50, with up to two decimal places. Enter 0 when you know there is none.

Monthly deposits before it is due

Enter 1 to 1200 whole monthly deposits you can make before the cost is due. Check the actual due date.

Enter all four details to see an amount. Blank means unknown; enter 0 for no money already set aside.

This is money you plan to set aside, not a bill payment or a bank balance. Check whether your existing Savings or Irregular costs item already covers it. Count the amount once.

The budget is still opening.

This downloads a separate text note with the cost, money already set aside, deposit count and calculation. It is for reading and cannot be opened as a budget file. It does not add an item or move money. Keep the note somewhere private.

These helper details stay in this browser tab and are not included in a budget copy. They remain on screen if you open another budget; review them before adding anything to that plan. A budget copy keeps only the monthly item you add. Use Save this cost calculation to keep a separate reading copy. Keep your due-date notes separately. Figures are not sent to the Academy.

Open or save a budget file

Choose a few questions at a time or see everything at once. Both views use the same plan.

Make the missing pieces visible.

Opening the private budget before checking its entries…

Compare the statement’s account and dates with the monthly plan before using a figure. Check existing bill, debt and spending entries so a payment is counted once. Transfers between your own accounts are not new household income or spending. No figures move between these tools automatically. Use One next step to note which record or unresolved question you will check.

Your planPlan nameMy monthly planMonthChanging the month keeps the current name, items, amounts and next step. Save a file of the earlier month first if you need it. Review every amount for the new month. Device saving keeps one current budget; it does not keep a monthly history.Not entered

Monthly take-home income

Entered section totalNot entered2 amounts are still missing. This total is unfinished.

What you expect to receive after taxes and deductions. A credit limit is not income.

Use US dollars, like 1250.50 or $1,250.50. Up to two decimal places; the tool does not round your entry.

Pay varies or comes more than once a month?

Use the month shown in your plan. Check the pay dates you expect in that month and add the amounts after taxes and deductions. Enter each expected payment on its own income line, or enter their total on one line. Do not enter both.

Fictional example: four payments of $600 total $2,400; five total $3,000. Every two weeks and twice a month are different schedules. Check your own pay dates.

Leave an unknown amount blank. If you choose an estimate, name it as an estimate and use your next-step note for what needs checking. The tool does not predict or guarantee your pay.

A monthly total does not show when cash will be available. Check your actual balance, pay dates and bills due before payday separately.

Try the before-payday example (new tab)

This opens a separate page with made-up figures. It does not copy or change your budget.

Item 1Take-home payMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Item 2Other incomeMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Bills and commitments

Entered section totalNot entered5 amounts are still missing. This total is unfinished.

Housing, utilities, transport, insurance and debt payments.

Use US dollars, like 1250.50 or $1,250.50. Up to two decimal places; the tool does not round your entry.

Item 1HousingMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Item 2UtilitiesMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Item 3TransportationMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Item 4InsuranceMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Item 5Debt paymentsMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Everyday spending

Entered section totalNot entered2 amounts are still missing. This total is unfinished.

Food, household needs and other flexible spending.

Use US dollars, like 1250.50 or $1,250.50. Up to two decimal places; the tool does not round your entry.

Item 1GroceriesMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Item 2Household and personal needsMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Savings, irregular costs and giving

Entered section totalNot entered3 amounts are still missing. This total is unfinished.

Amounts you choose to set aside or give. Count each amount in one place only.

Use US dollars, like 1250.50 or $1,250.50. Up to two decimal places; the tool does not round your entry.

Item 1SavingsMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Item 2Irregular costsMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

Item 3GivingMonthly amount ($)Not enteredBack to entry review

The picture so far

Give each dollar a purpose.

Entered income: Not entered
Plan amounts entered: Not entered
Difference not ready: —

Start with the amounts you know. Leave an unknown amount blank. Enter 0 when you know there is none.

12 amounts are blank. Totals use entered numbers only; blanks may represent missing information.

See how these totals add up

Enter some amounts to see the calculation. Leave an unknown amount blank; enter 0 when you know there is none.

Check bills that do not come every month

Use the bill and debt review to check each payment amount, how often it is due, and its next due date against the bill or statement.

A fictional $120 yearly bill averages $10 a month. The full $120 may still be due at renewal; $10 is not the amount due then.

Before entering an amount here, check this plan’s month and whether a bill, debt or savings entry already covers it. Count each amount once.

Review bills and debts (new tab)

This opens a separate private worksheet. Figures are not copied automatically. Save each worksheet separately if you want to keep it.

One next stepNo next step enteredBack to entry review

Bill reminders

Pick a bill. Choose its due date and how many days before it you want a reminder. Use 0 for the day it is due.

Email and text: not available yet. Your email or text choice stays in this budget. It does not sign you up or send a message. You can use a calendar alert now.

HousingOff

Bill due dateRemind me byDays before due date

Off means no reminder is chosen. A due date and a whole number from 0 to 365 are needed for a calendar alert.

UtilitiesOff

Bill due dateRemind me byDays before due date

Off means no reminder is chosen. A due date and a whole number from 0 to 365 are needed for a calendar alert.

TransportationOff

Bill due dateRemind me byDays before due date

Off means no reminder is chosen. A due date and a whole number from 0 to 365 are needed for a calendar alert.

InsuranceOff

Bill due dateRemind me byDays before due date

Off means no reminder is chosen. A due date and a whole number from 0 to 365 are needed for a calendar alert.

Debt paymentsOff

Bill due dateRemind me byDays before due date

Off means no reminder is chosen. A due date and a whole number from 0 to 365 are needed for a calendar alert.

Each date is for one bill in this month. Check it again next month. Save a budget copy to keep these choices. No email address or phone number is collected here.

Manage message reminders (new tab)

Changing or removing a budget choice does not change a separate message reminder already set. Manage or cancel those on the message-reminder page.

How calendar alerts work

Choose a bill date, a reminder method and the days before it.
Save the calendar file. Open it in your calendar app and accept the event.
Check the alert date, time zone and notification settings in that app. Some calendars may ignore imported alerts.

The file has a general “Bill due” note. It leaves out bill names and amounts. A shared calendar may show the event to others. It does not send email or text messages.

Calendar entries are separate copies. Changing the budget, turning a choice off or removing a bill does not change an entry already imported into your calendar. Edit or delete that entry there. Importing again may create a duplicate. Keep your calendar app set up to send alerts; MTA cannot confirm that an alert reached you.

Keep or reopen your budget

Choose a previously saved monthly budget file

Bring a payment from the bill helper

Save a budget file in the separate bill helper, then choose it here. Review one payment at a time. The file is read in this browser. Your plan stays open until you choose to apply a payment.

Only the chosen payment goes into a monthly cost row. The helper’s cash, income and living-cost estimates do not fill other rows.

Choose a bill-helper budget file

Printing opens your browser’s print menu; choose a printer or Save as PDF if available. A printed copy is for reading. Choose Save a budget copy to reopen and edit this plan later. Keep both copies somewhere you control.

How to keep and reopen your work (opens in another tab)

Need a hand?

Ask Ed or a class leader to walk through the fictional example with you. You do not need to share your finances.

For class feedback, describe the tool and the step that was confusing. Leave out names, financial figures and worksheet files.

Choose class feedback (new tab)

Back to my work

Save a copy before switching apps. The link opens separately and sends no worksheet data. Choose the materials you used. Feedback is voluntary and cannot arrange a personal reply.

Want help with a savings goal or loan?

Plan for a cost later.

Open More options to try the savings and loan tools. You choose whether to add a result to this budget.

Explore the six functions of a dollar →

Let’s make your budget.

Start with your bills.

Keep your worksheet before leaving

What changes across time?

Make room for a cost due later.

Make the missing pieces visible.

Monthly take-home income

Bills and commitments

Everyday spending

Savings, irregular costs and giving

Bill reminders

Keep or reopen your budget

Your household plan

Need a hand?

Plan for a cost later.

A song of gratitude