Irregular Income Budget Template for Excel
A budget spreadsheet built for freelancers, contractors, and anyone with variable income. Uses baseline budgeting to smooth the feast-or-famine cycle. Never stress about uneven paychecks again.
- Income Averaging & Baseline Calculator
- Priority-Based Expense Allocation
- Buffer Fund & Emergency Savings Tracker
- Tax Reserve Set-Aside Calculator
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- 100% Offline · Works in Excel or LibreOffice
Freelance Budget · June 2026
$3,800
6-Month Income History
$4,600
2.2 months
$2,880
30% set aside
+$600
→ to buffer
Built for Uneven Paychecks
Standard budgets assume you earn the same every month. This one doesn't. Whether you're a freelancer, contractor, or commission-based worker, this template adapts to your reality.
Baseline Budgeting
Budget based on your lowest income month, not your average. You'll always cover essentials. Anything above baseline goes to your buffer fund. No more panic during slow months.
Priority-Based Spending
Rank expenses from essential to optional. In lean months, fund from top to bottom and stop when you run out. In good months, fund everything and save the rest. Simple and stress-free.
Built-in Tax Reserve
Automatically sets aside 25-30% of every payment for taxes. Tracks your running tax liability so quarterly payments are covered. No nasty surprises at tax time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about budgeting with irregular income.
How do you budget with irregular income?
Use the baseline method: calculate your average monthly income over the past 6-12 months, then budget based on your lowest earning month. When you earn more than baseline, put the surplus into a buffer account. When you earn less, draw from the buffer. This smooths the feast-or-famine cycle.
What is the best budget method for freelancers?
The priority-based method works best. List all expenses by priority: essentials first (rent, utilities, food, insurance), then important (debt repayment, savings), then nice-to-have. In low-income months, fund from the top down. This ensures critical bills are always covered regardless of income.
How much should freelancers save as an emergency buffer?
Freelancers should aim for 3-6 months of essential expenses as a cash buffer, plus set aside 25-30% of each payment for taxes. Our template includes both a tax reserve tracker and an emergency fund calculator to help you build this safety net.
How do I handle taxes as a freelancer in my budget?
Set aside 25-30% of every payment you receive into a separate tax reserve. Our template automatically calculates the tax set-aside from each income entry and tracks your running tax liability so you're never caught off guard by quarterly or annual tax bills.
Can commission-based workers use this template?
Absolutely. Whether you're on 100% commission, base-plus-commission, or seasonal work, the baseline budgeting method adapts to any income pattern. Enter your base pay (if any) as guaranteed income and treat commissions as variable income that flows to your buffer.
What if I have both regular and irregular income?
Perfect use case. Enter your steady income (e.g., part-time salary) as guaranteed, and track freelance or side-hustle income separately. Budget essentials from guaranteed income and use variable income to accelerate savings, invest, or fund wants.
More Templates
Other free tools to manage your finances.
Want an App Instead?
Try PopaDex for automatic bank syncing and budgeting. Or stick with the free Excel template — both work.
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