Seasonal Spending Review

Who this is for

Look back at what the season really cost. Each category of spending has a line for what you planned and what actually went out, with the difference in money and as a percentage of the plan. A second table records what to change, so next year's budget starts from real numbers rather than last year's hopes.

Any household that set a Christmas, Eid, Diwali or other festive budget and wants to see how it went, and anyone who suspects the season costs more than they think.

What this helps you track

• What was planned for each area of festive spending
• What was actually spent once the statements are in
• The difference per line in money and as a share of the plan
• The biggest overspend and the biggest underspend
• The changes you mean to make next year

How to use it

1. Write the occasion, the year, who is reviewing and the date at the top.
2. Copy the planned figure for each category from your budget; leave it blank if you did not plan that line.
3. Add up the actual spending for each category from bank statements, receipts and card bills, and enter it.
4. The difference and percentage columns and the summary are worked out in the browser and the workbook; on paper, subtract across each line.
5. Write a note against the lines that moved most, then fill the lessons table with what to do differently.
6. Keep the sheet with next year's plan and start from the actual column.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser
• Excel / Google Sheets workbook

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The workbook uses plain formulas only — SUM, IF, COUNTIF and the like — so it opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets without anything breaking, and every calculated cell is grey so you can see which figures it worked out.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

When is the best time to fill this in?

Once the last card statement covering the season has arrived, usually some weeks after the event. Earlier than that and some spending will not have shown up yet.

What does a negative difference mean?

The difference is actual minus planned, so a positive figure is an overspend and a negative one means that line came in under what you planned.

Why is there a percentage as well as an amount?

A small line that doubled can matter as much as a large line that crept up. The percentage shows how far each line moved compared with its own plan.

Can I use it for occasions other than Christmas?

Yes. Write the occasion at the top and rename the categories; the arithmetic works the same for Eid, Diwali, a birthday season or a family wedding.