Building a combined budget and investment dashboard for holistic planning

A combined dashboard keeps your short-term spending and long-term investing aligned in one place. Instead of flipping between apps, you see cash flow, savings progress, and portfolio balance on a single screen. This article shows how to design a dashboard using spreadsheets or Notion, what key metrics to include, and how to keep it updated without burnout.

Define your dashboard sections

Three core sections keep it manageable:

1. Budget summary: Income, spending, savings, and net cash flow (link to your cash flow statement).
2. Goal tracking: Progress toward emergency funds, sinking funds, debt payoff, or other savings targets.
3. Investment overview: Current portfolio value, allocation, contribution activity, and rebalancing notes.

Add context like runway months, debt ratio, and habit streaks (tie in the habit tracker). Use simple charts or progress bars to visualize the numbers.

Choose the tools

Options include:

• Google Sheets: Easy formulas, conditional formatting, and charting. Use separate tabs for budget vs investments but link totals via references.
• Notion: Create a database with properties for amount, status, and related files. Embed charts or linked views for each section.
• Open-source templates: Start with one and customize categories, formulas, or visuals (see open-source budget templates).

Pick the platform you already visit—no need to adopt a new system.

Populate metrics

Budget summary items:

• Total income (after taxes).
• Total spending with category breakdown.
• Savings rate (savings ÷ income).
• Net cash flow (income − spending).
• Runway (savings ÷ essential expenses).

Investment overview items:

• Portfolio value across accounts.
• Percentage allocations (US equities, international, bonds, alternatives).
• Contributions this period (link to DCA or fractional savings).
• Rebalance notes (rebalancing article).
• Tax-aware notes (e.g., Roth conversion planned).

Goal tracking:

• Emergency fund target.
• Debt balances and progress.
• Generosity goals (see micro-habits generosity).
• Learning goals (financial journal prompts).

Use formulas to auto-populate values (sum ranges, calculate percentages).

Keep it updated

Update frequency matters:

• Budget section: Weekly or monthly.
• Investment section: Monthly or when you rebalance.
• Goals: Monthly check-ins or after major milestones.

Automate imports when possible (bank exports, investment statements). If not, schedule a short “dashboard time” each week (habit stacking after your Sunday review). Use the annual financial retreat article to plan yearly updates.

Share the dashboard

If you manage finances with a partner, share view-only copies or collaborate directly. Use neutral language during joint reviews (money mindset practices article) to keep things constructive. You can also share highlights with accountability partners via email or Slack for extra momentum.

Closing tips

A combined dashboard brings clarity to both budgeting and investing. Keep the sections simple, link them to existing tools, tape habit reminders to stay consistent, and revisit the metrics during your annual retreat. When you see the whole picture in one place, you make decisions that honor both today’s needs and tomorrow’s goals.