Income and inflows
- List take-home pay, benefits, and recurring reimbursements
- Note pay dates to align weekly or biweekly buckets
- Set aside a mini buffer for timing gaps
Downloads
Zero-based budget template
Assign every dollar a job, track progress weekly, and keep your debt plan on track.
Needs and commitments
- Rent or mortgage, utilities, and insurance
- Minimum debt payments and required sinking funds
- Transportation and childcare essentials
Wants and variable spend
- Groceries, dining, and personal care
- Subscriptions and entertainment
- Flexible buffer for unexpected expenses
Debt payoff and savings
- Extra payment target for your focus debt
- Emergency fund and short-term goals
- Monthly payoff milestone to track momentum
Check-in cadence
A zero-based plan works best when you revisit it at least twice per pay period.
Start of pay period
- Assign every dollar in the budget template
- Transfer extra debt payment to the payoff bucket
- Schedule upcoming bills and reminders
Mid-cycle review
- Compare planned vs. actual spending
- Reallocate any surplus or shortfall
- Confirm next transfer date
End of cycle
- Log wins, challenges, and changes
- Update next cycle’s targets
- Celebrate progress with a small reward
Pair it with PYB UPDATES
Use the template alongside the weekly PYB UPDATES email to stay consistent and spot what to tweak next.
Get weekly updates
Get check-ins and zero-based budget prompts by email.
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