The Easiest Way to Start Budgeting: 3 Tools You Can Use in Under 10 Minutes

“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” – Dave Ramsey

Americans who track their spending save more than twice as much as those who don’t.
Yet, most people never start budgeting at all.

Related Article: STRATEGIES FOR FIXED INCOME SENIORS IN AN INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT

Why?

Because budgeting feels hard. Overwhelming. Complicated. Maybe even boring.

But here's the truth: budgeting doesn’t need to take hours, involve spreadsheets that rival NASA's, or require a finance degree.
In fact, you can get started in the next 10 minutes—literally.

I’m not going to throw you a giant list of 17 apps and hope you pick one. That’s just more decision fatigue. Instead, I’ll show you the 3 best tools that get you budgeting fast—even if you hate math, don’t know where your money goes, or have zero free time.

Let’s skip the fluff and get straight to what works.

Tool #1: EveryDollar – Best for Total Beginners Who Want Zero Math

What it is:

EveryDollar is a free budgeting app (with an optional paid version) built for people who just want simplicity. It’s based on the zero-based budgeting method—meaning every dollar gets assigned a job.

Why it works:

The user interface is clean. There’s no learning curve. You can literally set up your first budget in less time than it takes to reheat leftovers.

How to Use It in Under 10 Minutes:

1. Create a free account at everydollar.com.
2. Input your monthly income (net pay).
3. The app walks you through spending categories like rent, food, gas, and fun money.
4. Assign estimated amounts to each.
5. Boom. You have a basic budget.
   
   

What Makes It Powerful:

• Pre-filled categories eliminate decision fatigue.
• Adjusting numbers is drag-and-drop simple.
• Mobile app makes it easy to track on the go.
• Great for budgeting with a partner—just share login info.
  
  

Best For:

• People who want a no-frills setup
• Anyone who hates spreadsheets
• Beginners who want step-by-step guidance
  
  

Pro tip: The free version requires you to enter transactions manually, which can be a good thing—because you actually see what you’re spending.

 

Tool #2: Google Sheets Budget Template – Best for Spreadsheet Lovers Who Want Control

What it is:

A free downloadable budget spreadsheet you can use and customize in Google Sheets (or Excel).

Why it works:

Spreadsheets get a bad rap. But if you're even mildly spreadsheet-curious, this tool gives you full visibility into your money—no logins, no syncing issues, and no surprise app fees.

Google even provides a built-in template in the Sheets Template Gallery called “Monthly Budget.”

How to Use It in Under 10 Minutes:

1. Go to Google Sheets.
2. Click “Template Gallery” and select “Monthly Budget.”
3. Plug in your starting balance and income at the top.
4. Fill in a few key spending categories: housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, etc.
5. Start tracking expenses as they happen.
   
   

What Makes It Powerful:

• Built-in charts show spending trends in real time.
• You can add or delete rows depending on your lifestyle.
• Shareable with a spouse, roommate, or accountability partner.
• It’s private—nothing syncs to the cloud unless you want it to.
  
  

Best For:

• People who want to customize everything
• Those who prefer not to link bank accounts to apps
• Anyone with unique income/spending situations (freelancers, retirees, gig workers)
  
  

Pro tip: Make a copy of the sheet and customize it with your own categories like “Pet Food” or “Weekend Getaways.” Color-code it. Make it yours.

 

Tool #3: Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) – Best for People Who Hate Tracking

What it is:

Rocket Money connects to your bank accounts and automates the boring stuff. It tracks your spending, flags subscriptions, and shows you where your money is actually going—without you lifting a finger.

Why it works:

The hardest part of budgeting is consistency. Rocket Money removes that burden by doing the work behind the scenes.

How to Use It in Under 10 Minutes:

1. Download the app or visit rocketmoney.com.
2. Connect your checking, savings, and credit card accounts (secure encryption).
3. The app pulls your transactions and categorizes them instantly.
4. Within minutes, you’ll see spending insights, budgets, and recurring subscriptions.
   
   

What Makes It Powerful:

• Identifies and cancels unused subscriptions for you.
• Smart alerts warn you when bills go up or you’re about to overspend.
• Gives you a real-time snapshot of where your money’s going.
• Offers bill negotiation services if you want to lower things like internet bills.
  
  

Best For:

• People who want a set-it-and-forget-it budget
• Busy professionals or families with no time to track spending
• Anyone who feels like their money just “disappears”
  
  

Pro tip: Use the free version to get started. The premium version includes bill negotiation and automatic savings—but the basic plan gives you plenty of insight for free.

 

Budgeting Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

You don’t need a financial advisor. You don’t need a 12-tab spreadsheet with pivot tables. You don’t even need more than 10 minutes.

What you do need is momentum.

And that starts with picking one tool—just one—and using it today. Not tomorrow. Not after your next paycheck. Today.

Here’s the quick recap:

Tool	Best For	Setup Time
EveryDollar	Total beginners who want simplicity	~5 minutes
Google Sheets	Spreadsheet lovers & DIYers	~10 minutes
Rocket Money	People who want automation	~6 minutes

 

Pick the one that feels easiest to you—and commit to using it for 7 days. Track your spending. Make tiny adjustments. Build awareness.

That’s it. No guilt. No perfection. Just clarity.

You don’t have to be perfect with money to start winning with it. You just have to begin.