Plans, Plot Twists & Paychecks — The Paycheck Dashboard

Budgeting does not have to feel like another full-time job.

Plans, Plot Twists & Paychecks was created for real-life money management — the bills you know are coming, the goals you’re trying to reach, and the random stuff that shows up anyway.

This downloadable Excel dashboard helps you plan one paycheck at a time while still giving you a bigger-picture view of your money.

Set up your pay schedule, add your regular bills, track debt and savings, plan each check, and keep a running history so you can actually look back and see what’s been happening over time.

And because knowing what’s left is not the same as knowing what’s available, the dashboard includes a Safe to Spend calculation to help you see what is left after your planned commitments.

What’s inside

• Weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly pay setup
• Bills and recurring expense tracker
• Debt tracker with remaining-payment estimates
• Savings + sinking fund tracker
• Paycheck-by-paycheck planner
• Funding Ahead section for expenses that are not due yet
• Plans, Plot Twists + Breathing Room sections
• Safe to Spend calculation
• Paycheck History with space for up to 260 saved paychecks
• Monthly, quarterly + yearly Money Review
• Past-paycheck lookup
• Spending and Safe to Spend charts

What you’ll receive
One protected Microsoft Excel workbook (.xlsx).

The areas you need to use are left editable, while the formulas and behind-the-scenes calculations are protected so you don’t accidentally send the whole dashboard into chaos.

How it works
Start on the Start Here page and enter your pay schedule, income, bills, debts, and savings goals. Then use the Paycheck Planner each time you get paid.

When you’re finished planning a check, save the snapshot to Paycheck History using Paste Values Only. Your saved paychecks feed the Money Review so you can compare months, quarters, years, and past checks.

Compatibility
Designed for Microsoft Excel.

Microsoft 365 or Excel 2021+ is recommended for full functionality.

This workbook is not designed for Google Sheets. While Google Sheets may open the file, some formulas, tables, dropdowns, charts, and protected features may not work correctly after conversion.

Please note
This is a digital download. No physical item will be shipped.

Because digital files are delivered electronically, purchases are generally non-refundable after download, subject to the shop’s posted refund policy and applicable law. If there is a problem with the file itself, customers should contact Pretty Shades of You for help.

This dashboard is a planning and organization tool and is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice.