First Apartment Budget: A 7‑Category Starter Template

Starting a first apartment is exciting—and also a blur of deposits, keys, and “did we remember dish soap?” A simple budget helps you see the whole picture without getting stuck in tiny line items. Here’s a seven‑category starter template that keeps everything covered and easy to maintain.

The goal: clarity with minimum work. If you want to add amounts later, you can. But start with categories and quick notes. Think of this as a living checklist you’ll use for a few months, adjust, then keep.

Why seven categories?

• Covers all recurring costs and the everyday spending that creeps.
• Easy to split with roommates and track over time.
• Flexible for different cities, incomes, and living setups.

Mini‑promise: You can set this up in 20 minutes, then refine as you go.

The 7‑Category Starter Template (copy/paste)

Use this as your monthly structure. Add a short note where needed (provider name, due date, who pays).

• 1) Housing (Rent + Fixed Fees)

  • Rent, housing association fees, renter’s insurance (if any)
  • Note deposit status and move‑in costs separately for now
  • Tip: Set the due date as a recurring reminder

• 2) Utilities + Internet

  • Electricity, gas/heating, water, trash, internet, TV license if applicable
  • Mark which are monthly vs. bi‑monthly/quarterly
  • Add average amounts once a bill arrives

• 3) Groceries + Household Supplies

  • Food staples, toiletries, cleaning products, laundry
  • If sharing, agree what counts as “household” vs. personal treats
  • Consider a weekly cap to smooth the month

• 4) Transport

  • Public transit pass (e.g., a monthly pass around ~49 EUR in some cities), bike maintenance, occasional taxis, shared scooters
  • Note renewal date for any pass

• 5) Home Setup + Maintenance

  • One‑off items: cookware, bedding, lamps, tools, storage
  • Small fixes and seasonal items (light bulbs, batteries)
  • Use a short wish list to pace purchases

• 6) Eating Out + Social

  • Cafés, takeaways, drinks, cinema, small gifts
  • Decide if shared meals live here or under “Groceries” as a house expense

• 7) Buffer + Goals

  • Mini‑emergency fund, annual renewals (domain, gym, student card), travel savings
  • Keep this flexible; it’s your shock absorber

Keep this list somewhere you’ll actually see it—notes app, fridge printout, or your budgeting tool.

Mini‑experiments (try anytime)

Pick one or two. No schedule, no guilt.

1. The 20‑Minute Setup

• Write the seven categories as headers in your notes.
• Under each, add the names of bills or items you already know (e.g., “Rent: due 1st,” “Electricity: quarterly,” “Internet: 29 EUR/month”).
• Add one line: “How will we split this?” for anything shared.
• Set one recurring reminder for rent and one for the bill you’re most likely to forget.

2. Three‑Receipt Reality Check

• Choose any three recent purchases and assign them to the seven categories.
• If two or more land in “Eating Out + Social,” test a tiny swap (one more easy home meal this week).

3. One‑Shelf Grocery Rotation

• Pick 5–7 staple items you’ll always restock (pasta, frozen veg, eggs, rice, canned tomatoes, onions, fruit).
• Aim for one simple home meal before a café drink. No bans, just swap once.

4. Soft Weekly Caps

• Groceries: set a soft cap (e.g., 25–40 EUR per person per week). Adjust after two weeks based on reality.
• Social: set a toy number you’re cool with (e.g., 20–30 EUR/week). If you overshoot, note it—no shame—then nudge the next week down a bit.

5. Shared Costs, Simple Rules

• Decide what is always shared (toilet paper, cleaning supplies, cooking oil).
• Everything else is personal unless you both agree at checkout.
• If you split often, log a short note (“Paper towels, shared”) to keep it fair without debates.

How to use the template month to month

• Start with the fixeds. Rent and internet rarely surprise you. Log them once, set recurring reminders, and forget.
• Add estimates to the irregulars. Utilities might be quarterly or variable. Jot an average when your first bill arrives and keep a tiny buffer for it monthly.
• Track the “creepers.” Groceries and Eating Out like to trade places. Watch them together—when one rises, try nudging the other down.
• Pace your setup. Home Setup + Maintenance is where budgets go to die in month one. Move the “nice to have” items into a wish list and spread costs across 2–3 months.

Splitting fairly with roommates or a partner

• Agree on shared categories up front (often: Housing, Utilities + Internet, and certain items in Groceries + Household Supplies).
• Choose a simple split (50/50, or proportional to income if that’s comfortable).
• Keep receipts optional. A tiny note like “cleaning supplies—shared” is enough to settle up weekly or monthly without spreadsheets.
• One person pays rent? Make Utilities the balance lever so you both contribute meaningfully each month.

What “good” looks like after 4–6 weeks

• You can name your top three spending categories without checking.
• No surprises: the weird quarterly bill is expected and covered.
• Eating Out and Groceries are balanced enough for your lifestyle.
• Home Setup spending is slowing as essentials are done.
• Buffer + Goals exists—even if it’s just a small amount.

Common traps (and lighter alternatives)

• Over‑categorizing every tiny thing. If you need a subcategory, keep it high‑level (e.g., “Cafés” under Eating Out). If it doesn’t change a decision, skip it.
• Relying on memory. When you buy something, add the amount and category right away or snap a photo of the receipt. Two seconds now saves 20 minutes later.
• All‑or‑nothing thinking. Didn’t hit your cap? Cool—notice it, adjust next week. Progress beats perfection.

A few simple numbers you can borrow

• Transit: If your city offers a monthly pass around ~49 EUR, compare it to your typical rides. If two weeks of single tickets cost more, switch next month.
• Groceries: Start with a soft cap per person per week (25–40 EUR). If you cook most meals at home, you might land on the lower end; if you prefer prepared foods, budget higher.
• Home Setup: Pick one larger item per month (desk, mattress, shelves) and one micro‑item list (hooks, bulbs, storage bins). This keeps you moving without blowing one paycheck.

Keeping it lightweight with a tool

If you prefer a simple tracker, Monee keeps the friction low: quick entry (amount, category, optional note), a clear monthly overview, recurring transactions for rent/subscriptions, and shared logging for households. It respects privacy (no ads, no trackers) and keeps data under your control, with export whenever you want. Available on iOS and Android.

Monthly review (10 minutes, max)

• Scan category totals: Which three took the lead? Does that match your priorities?
• Check irregulars: Any quarterly bills coming up? Add a small buffer now.
• Nudge one thing: Lower a soft cap by a tiny amount, or add one more home meal next week.
• Archive a win: Cross one setup item off and move on.

Make it yours

This seven‑category template is a starting point. Add one category if you truly need it (e.g., “Pets”), or merge two if your life is simpler. Keep the list stable for a month so your trend becomes visible. The point isn’t control—it’s awareness you can act on.

Copy the checklist, run one mini‑experiment, and give yourself a calm first month in your new place. The rest gets easier when you can see it.