Money Detective

Fortnightly Budget Plus

Plan what you want to spend each fortnight, then see how your real spending compared. Set savings goals and see it all on one dashboard.

Built for Microsoft Excel · AUD format · No bank login required
Fortnightly Budget Plus dashboard open on a laptop, showing money left each fortnight and budget by category
Built for Microsoft Excel Australian dollar format No bank connection required Instant digital access
The problem

A budget only helps if you can see whether you stuck to it.

The plan and the reality never meet

You set a budget, then spend the fortnight guessing whether you're on track.

Bills come on different cycles

Weekly groceries, monthly phone, quarterly power. Turning it all into one fortnightly number is fiddly.

Savings goals stay vague

"Save for Christmas" is hard to act on without knowing how much to put aside each pay.

How it works

Four steps. Yellow boxes only.

1

Fill in your budget

Your pay, your rent, and what you want to spend on each category. Pick how often each one is paid.

2

Add your goals

Saving for something? Type the goal, the amount and the date on the Savings Goals tab.

3

Add what you spent

Type it into Budget vs Actual, or import your bank transactions.

4

Check the dashboard

See what's left each fortnight and where your money went.

What you get

A bigger, more detailed view of your money.

Inside the spreadsheet

  • Budget for over 20 everyday categories, from groceries to council rates
  • Weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or yearly costs converted for you
  • Budget vs Actual with the difference, % used and a status for each category
  • A list of the categories furthest above plan, largest first
  • Savings goals with a per-week amount and time left
  • Dashboard showing money left each fortnight and money coming in
  • Optional bank transaction import with editable category rules
  • Everything except the yellow boxes is locked, so formulas stay safe

This isn't for you if you want:

  • A live bank-syncing app
  • Planning for bills due before your next payday (see the Payday Buffer Planner)
  • Personalised financial advice
Pricing

One simple price. No subscription.

Fortnightly Budget Plus

$12.95
one-time price
  • Excel spreadsheet
  • Budget, Savings Goals, Budget vs Actual and Dashboard tabs
  • Optional bank transaction import
  • Step-by-step Start Here tab

After payment, you'll receive immediate access to the downloadable file.
By completing this purchase, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
FAQ

Questions before you buy

How is this different from the free budget?

The free budget covers planned vs actual for one pay. Budget Plus adds savings goals with a weekly target, costs that can be weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly, a view you can switch to any period, and your biggest overspends ranked.

Does it work in Google Sheets?

It's built for Microsoft Excel, and we recommend using it there.

Do I have to import my bank transactions?

No. Importing is optional. You can type your actual spending straight into the Budget vs Actual tab.

Does it connect to my bank?

No. Nothing connects to your accounts. Your data stays in your own file.

Is this financial advice?

No. This is an educational budgeting tool, not personalised financial advice.

What happens after I purchase?

You get immediate access to the downloadable file. The Start Here tab walks you through setup.

Make a plan. Then see how it went.

One spreadsheet for your fortnightly budget, actual spending and savings goals.

Get Budget Plus →