A Christmas gift budget spreadsheet lists each person, a planned amount, what you already bought and what is still left to spend. You can start with a free leftover-budget calculator in your browser, or use a €5 reusable planner file if you also want a gift list, card list, menu and a 6-week countdown. Neither needs an account.
This page compares the two options on this site, as they stood on 14 November 2026. It is not a review of other templates, and it does not claim that a spreadsheet will keep you on budget by itself.
What should a gift budget spreadsheet contain?
At minimum: the recipient, a planned amount, the actual cost, a status (idea, bought, arrived, wrapped) and a remaining total. A leftover figure only tells you whether the overall budget still fits; a per-person list stops one gift from quietly eating someone else's share.
Free calculator or €5 planner?
| What you get | Free calculator | Christmas Planner (€5) |
|---|---|---|
| Leftover gift budget | Yes, in the browser | Yes, in the spreadsheet |
| Per-person gift list | No | Yes, up to 150 people |
| Card list, menu, 6-week countdown | No | Yes, plus a dashboard |
| Account or sign-up | No | No |
| Where it runs | This website, numbers stay in your browser | Excel 2019+, Google Sheets (Import) or LibreOffice |
| Price | Free | €5, one-time download, reusable each year |
Open the free calculator See the €5 planner
Who each option is for
Use the free calculator if you only need to know what is left after gifts already bought. Use the Christmas Planner if you also want to track people, cards, meals and the weeks before the day, and keep the file on your own computer or Google Drive.
If you already budget by payday rather than by month, the Budget by Paycheck spreadsheet (€9) covers that; it is a different job from a Christmas gift list.
About this page
Written by PIT Toolkit on 14 November 2026. We sell the planner and host the calculator, so this is a product comparison, not an independent test. Questions: info@thoughtsinaction.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Christmas gift budget spreadsheet?
A list of each person, a planned amount, what you already bought and what is still left. Some files also track cards, meals and a countdown to the day itself.
Is there a free way to start?
Yes. The Christmas Gift Budget Calculator on this site shows leftover budget in your browser. No account, and the numbers stay on your device.
What does the €5 planner add?
A reusable spreadsheet with a gift tracker (up to 150 people), holiday budget, card list, hosting and menu planner, a 6-week countdown and a dashboard. It opens in Excel, Google Sheets (via Import) and LibreOffice.
Do I need an account to buy or use these?
No. The calculator is free without sign-up. The planner is a one-time €5 download after Stripe payment; there is no subscription.
Will this stop me overspending?
It shows planned versus spent amounts so you can see a shortfall early. It does not connect to your bank and it cannot guarantee that you stay on budget.