Start tracking for free
Download the blank CSV and open it in Excel, Numbers, or a spreadsheet app. It is a manual expense log: no registration, bank connection, subscription, or automatic calculations. Your entries stay in the copy you choose to save.
Use one currency per sheet. The expense log records date, item, category, amount, planned or impulse, the situation, and a note for your next review. The monthly worksheet has separate columns for your plan and your actual amounts. Enter totals yourself or add your own spreadsheet formulas.
- Record income separately. Start with the money you actually receive, not a hoped-for salary or gross pay.
- Log each expense once. Add cash and card purchases. Transfers between your own accounts are not new spending; avoid counting both a card purchase and its repayment as the same expense twice.
- Tag the moment. Was this purchase already planned, or did the decision happen at the point of buying? Either answer is useful.
- Review at the end of the week. Add each category, compare with your plan, and choose one adjustment. Keep tracking for a full month to include recurring bills.
What a daily expense log can show
| Purchase | Amount | Decision | Useful observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus fare | 60 | Planned | Part of the usual commute. |
| Lunch delivery | 180 | Impulse | A meeting ran late; no lunch was ready. |
| A book | 320 | Planned | On the reading list before today. |
The total is 560 baht. The 180-baht impulse entry does not prove the lunch was wasteful. The useful question is whether preparing for late meetings would make the next decision easier. Categories explain where the money went; the decision tag helps explore how it happened.
What is free in MindSpend?
MindSpend’s current feature guide describes a free core tier and an optional Sati+ plan. The free core includes manual recording, planned-versus-impulse reflection, and the Mind companion. The published limits are 2 wallets plus 2 cards, the latest 3 months of history, 8 categories, and the classic theme.
Sati+ adds convenience features such as bulk bank-file import, more wallets, and more themes. A paid-plan trial is separate from the free core tier. Check the plan details for current terms. The downloadable worksheets on this page are independently free and ready to use now.
MindSpend is presented here as an iPhone app. The CSV worksheets can be used on any device with a compatible spreadsheet app. A worksheet does not sync with the app, scan receipts, or connect to a bank.
Choose the tracker that fits your routine
If you want a simple record with no app setup, start with a spreadsheet. If you want a repeatable phone-based routine and a view of planned and impulse decisions, explore MindSpend. If automatic bank feeds or household sharing are essential, verify those specific capabilities before choosing any tracker.
The most useful comparison is the task you need to finish: capture an expense quickly, reconcile it with statements, or discuss a household plan. A longer feature list does not tell you whether you will still record expenses next week.
Free budget tracker questions
Can I track a budget without linking a bank account?
Yes. Use the CSV with manual entries. Reconcile totals with receipts and statements so missing transactions do not distort the picture.
Is this a free trial?
The two CSV downloads have no trial or payment requirement. MindSpend’s free core and optional Sati+ trial are separate; the plan section explains the difference.
How is a budget different from an expense tracker?
A budget is your plan for money before it is used. An expense tracker records what happened. Comparing the two shows which assumptions to change next month.
Can tracking alone stop overspending?
A record makes patterns visible. Changing an outcome also requires a decision you can repeat and enough income to meet essential costs. Start with the spending habits guide.
Sources and editorial note
- CFPB — Your Money, Your Goals: spending tracker, bill calendar, cash-flow budget
- ธนาคารแห่งประเทศไทย — แผนใช้เงิน
These sources provide general background on tracking, planning, and financial well-being. The examples and reflection exercises above are original illustrations from MindSpend, not evidence of app effectiveness or an endorsement by these organisations.
General education; personal circumstances can change the right decision.