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How to use the Budget Planner 2026 — complete beginner's guide

A budget planner only works if you know how to fill it in correctly. This guide walks through the Budget Planner 2026 step by step — from annual overview to monthly sheet.

Step 1: Start with the Annual Overview sheet

The first tab gives you a bird's-eye view of your entire year. Enter your monthly net income in the blue cells — that's the only thing you need for this tab. Everything else calculates automatically: annual income, average month and year-to-date totals.

Pro tip: If your income varies (freelancers, commission-based work), enter your minimum expected income. It's better to be pleasantly surprised than to over-budget.

Step 2: Fill in your fixed expenses

Fixed expenses are costs that stay the same every month: rent or mortgage, insurance, subscriptions and loan repayments. Enter these in the fixed expenses section. The template has 12 preset categories — rename them to match your situation.

Step 3: Budget your variable expenses

Variable expenses are costs that change month to month: groceries, going out, clothing and fuel. This is where most people struggle — and where the Budget Planner 2026 really helps. Enter what you plan to spend in the Budget column, then fill in actual spending at the end of each month.

The Budgeted vs Actual column calculates the difference automatically. Red means you overspent; green means you came in under budget.

Step 4: Check your monthly surplus

After filling in income and expenses, the monthly surplus (or deficit) appears at the bottom. This is the amount left over for saving or investing. Use this number to set a realistic savings goal each month.

What is your FIRE number? How to calculate when you can stop working

FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early. But what does it actually mean, and how do you calculate your personal FIRE number? Here's everything you need to know.

What is the 4% rule?

The 4% rule is the foundation of FIRE planning. Research shows that if you withdraw 4% of your investment portfolio per year, your money will last at least 30 years — even accounting for market downturns. This means your FIRE number is simply: annual expenses × 25.

The 4 types of FIRE — which fits you?

Lean FIRE: Living on a minimal budget (€1,500–€2,000/month). Requires the smallest portfolio but demands a frugal lifestyle. FIRE number: around €450,000–€600,000.

Regular FIRE: The classic — living comfortably but not extravagantly (€2,500–€3,500/month). FIRE number: €750,000–€1,050,000.

Fat FIRE: Maintaining a high standard of living (€5,000+/month). Requires a larger portfolio but gives maximum freedom. FIRE number: €1,500,000+.

Coast FIRE: You've saved enough that compound interest will grow it to your FIRE number by retirement age — you just need to cover current expenses from work. Often achievable in your 30s.

Calculate your own FIRE number

Use our FIRE Planner 2026 to calculate your personal FIRE number, FIRE age and 40-year wealth projection. Simply enter your current savings, monthly investment amount and expected return — the template does the rest.

How much should you charge as a freelancer? The complete rate calculation

Setting your hourly rate is one of the hardest decisions when starting as a freelancer. Too low and you earn too little after tax — too high and you lose clients. Here's how to calculate it correctly.

Start with your desired net income

Before calculating your rate, decide what you want to earn per month after tax. Be realistic — include all personal expenses: rent, food, insurance, savings, and a buffer for lean months. Most freelancers forget to include pension savings and sick days.

The complete formula

The 70% billable factor is crucial — most freelancers only bill 60–75% of their working hours. The rest goes to admin, sales, training and non-billable projects. If you bill 70% of 220 working days × 7 hours, that's 1,078 billable hours per year.