# A monthly budget calculator in plain text

Written 23 October 2026 by Ratio. Every example was run through Ratio that day.

A budget doesn't need a spreadsheet with formulas in hidden cells. Write your income, list what goes out, and tag the lines you want to group. Ratio adds it up as you type, and you can see each answer next to its line.

## A month, line by line

| # October | |
| --- | --- |
| income = 3200 | 3,200 |
| | |
| Rent 1100 #home | 1,100 |
| Utilities 140 #home | 140 |
| Internet 35 #home | 35 |
| Groceries 420 #food | 420 |
| Eating out 160 #food | 160 |
| Transport 90 | 90 |
| Gym 40 | 40 |
| Streaming 25 | 25 |
| spent = sum | 2,010 |
| left = income - spent | 1,190 |
| spent as % of income | 62.81% |

`sum` adds up the block above it, which ends at the blank line, so income isn't counted as spending. The words before `=` are names you choose. Change the rent and every line below follows.

## Group spending with tags

A `#` word on a line tags it. `sum #food` adds up only those lines, wherever they are in the sheet.

| income = 3200 | 3,200 |
| --- | --- |
| Groceries 420 #food | 420 |
| Eating out 160 #food | 160 |
| Rent 1100 #home | 1,100 |
| sum #food | 580 |
| sum #food as % of income | 18.12% |

Write `pie` under a block to draw its lines as a pie chart in the sheet.

## Yearly bills and savings goals

Turn a yearly bill into a monthly one, set aside part of what's left, and see how long a goal takes.

| yearly insurance = 540 | 540 |
| --- | --- |
| yearly insurance / 12 | 45 |
| left = 1190 | 1,190 |
| savings = left * 50% | 595 |
| savings * 12 | 7,140 |
| goal = 6000 | 6,000 |
| goal / savings | 10.08 |

At €595 a month, a €6,000 goal takes just over ten months.

## Shared costs at home

Living with someone? Put `@names` after the costs you share and Ratio shows each person's part. More in the [bill splitting calculator](https://useratio.app/bill-splitting-calculator).

| Rent 1500 @Ana @Ion | 1,500 |
| --- | --- |
| Utilities 180 @Ana @Ion | 180 |
| Internet 30 @Ion | 30 |
| split | Ana 840 · Ion 870 |

Income in one currency and subscriptions in another? Write each in its own currency, like `Netflix 15 usd`, and `sum` converts them at live rates. More on that in the [currency converter](https://useratio.app/currency-converter) guide, and on loans in the [loan calculator](https://useratio.app/loan-calculator).

[Try Ratio free for 7 days](https://useratio.app/download) · $14.99 once, on Mac, Windows and Linux

## Questions

**Can Ratio connect to my bank?** No. Ratio is a calculator on your own computer: you type the numbers, and nothing leaves your machine. It suits a budget you plan, not one you import.

**How do I add up only some lines?** Tag them with a `#` word, like `Groceries 420 #food`, then write `sum #food`. Tagged lines are added up wherever they are in the sheet.

**Can I use different currencies in one budget?** Yes. Write each amount in its own currency. `sum` converts them at live rates for 160+ currencies, refreshed while you're online.

**Can I see my budget as a chart?** Yes. Write `pie` under a block to draw its lines as a pie chart, or `bar` for a bar chart.

**Is Ratio better than a spreadsheet for a budget?** For a personal budget you change often, it's quicker: every formula is visible on its line, and names replace cell references. For years of data or many people editing, a spreadsheet still fits better. See [Ratio vs a spreadsheet](https://useratio.app/ratio-vs-spreadsheet).

Source: https://useratio.app/budget-calculator