Build a Simple Dashboard-Style View of Your Finances

By · Updated: June 22, 2021 · · Our content and reviews are independent. We may earn money when you click on links to our partners.

Do you need help managing your finances and getting organized? Take a look at PT's dashboard view of his finances. It's a quick easy way to keep track of everything going on with income, bills, outstanding debt, and all online accounts

Last week I took the one-step challenge to organize my finances.

To meet the challenge, I decided to build a one-sheet, dashboard-style view of our finances. I determined it should have our personal income statement and balance sheet, as well as the account IDs and passwords associated with those accounts.

The dashboard will also provide any details about any automatic transfers or payments that I have in place. Lastly, at the bottom of the page I’d place our main financial goals. Here’s what it looks like:

one-sheet-image

This “dashboard” will allow me to see a quick view of our net worth, budget, log-in credentials for each account, and goals we’re striving for. Not only will it help me manage my finances better, it will provide a cheat sheet for Mrs. PT in the event something were to happen to me.

It’s a good idea to print out a copy and throw it in the safe.

My One Step is The First Step

Getting the big picture of your finances in front of you like this is the first step anyone should take in organizing their finances. Just like in my 10 Things series, where my first step is to “track your regular monthly expenses”. You don’t have to have your financial act together to complete this exercise. This could be your first step. Knowing where you stand is a good starting point for turning things around.

Build Your Own Financial Dashboard

While I’m not going to share my exact dashboard, I’ve built a template for you to use. It’s nothing fancy. Still, feel free to grab it, fill it with your own information, then stash it somewhere safe and secure. Share the template with your friends too. The login credential area is shaded grey so it’s a bit harder to read for someone standing over your shoulder.

one-sheet-image

Download Copy of Financial Dashboard (.xls)

Download Copy of Financial Dashboard (.ods)

Of course, life changes all the time, so your financial statements will only be accurate for a short time. Consider adding the dashboard to your jump/flash drive or your Google Documents account so you can periodically update them.

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions on editing your dashboard.

Avatar About Philip Taylor, CPA

Philip Taylor, aka "PT", is a CPA, blogger, podcaster, husband, and father of three. PT is also the founder and CEO of the personal finance industry conference and trade show, FinCon.

He created Part-Time Money® back in 2007 to share his advice on money, hold himself accountable (while paying off over $75k in debt), and to meet others passionate about moving toward financial independence.

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