Workshops
and tools
to use freely.
Downloadable templates and educational materials designed for practical use. Adapt them to your own circumstances.
Our resources are designed to be used, not just downloaded. Each template comes with a brief guide explaining how it works and how to adapt it.
Free
templates.
Monthly Budget Template
A structured spreadsheet for recording monthly income and categorising outgoings. Includes sections for housing, transport, food, utilities, subscriptions, and discretionary spending. Designed for UK households with space to add custom categories.
- Pre-built income and expense categories
- Monthly summary and running total
- Compatible with Excel and Google Sheets
- Editable fields throughout
Daily Expense Tracker
A simple log for recording daily spending across key categories. Useful for identifying patterns in discretionary spending over a week or month. Works as a printed sheet or a digital spreadsheet.
- Daily and weekly views
- Category breakdown by spend type
- Running total column
- Printable A4 format included
Financial Planning Checklist
A structured checklist covering the key areas to consider when reviewing your personal finances. Covers bank accounts, insurance, savings, debt, and documentation. Intended as a general review prompt, not a personalised plan.
- Organised by financial area
- Tick-box format for easy use
- Prompts for professional consultation
Savings Goal Planner
A planning sheet for setting savings targets and tracking progress over time. Includes space to note the purpose of each saving goal, a target amount, a target date, and a monthly contribution field to calculate a general timeline.
- Up to five simultaneous saving goals
- Monthly contribution calculator
- Progress tracking chart
- Works in Excel and Google Sheets
Workshop
topics.
Our educational workshops explore practical financial literacy topics in a structured format. All sessions are informational and do not constitute financial advice.
Understanding Your Bank Account
How UK current accounts work, what fees to look for, how to read your statement, and the difference between account types available in the UK market.
Budgeting Frameworks Explained
An overview of common budgeting approaches, including envelope budgeting, zero-based budgeting, and proportional allocation frameworks. We explain the mechanics of each without recommending one over another.
Reading Financial Documents
How to interpret payslips, bank statements, credit card statements, and basic tax documents. Practical line-by-line walkthroughs using anonymised examples.
Credit, Debt, and Interest
How credit scores work in the UK, the difference between secured and unsecured debt, and how interest accumulates on credit products. Educational overview only.
When to Seek Professional Advice
Understanding the difference between financial education and regulated financial advice. How to find an FCA-regulated adviser and what to expect from a professional consultation.
General information only. All resources and workshop content on TopInNews are provided for educational purposes. Nothing here constitutes financial advice. For guidance specific to your personal circumstances, please consult a qualified financial adviser regulated by the FCA.