RISC - Budgeting & Financial Planning Spreadsheet 3.0
Want a copy of the RISC spreadsheet?
RISC
A Power Spreadsheet
There are plenty of budgeting spreadsheets out there — zero-based, 50/30/20, envelope, and more — all designed to help you set and track your spending limits. RISC takes a different approach. It shifts the focus to where your money is taking you — showing how extra debt payments shorten your loan term, how soon you'll reach your savings goals, and how your investments stack up for retirement.
“My biggest frustration with most budgeting tools is that they don’t connect to your bigger goals — like paying off debt faster or staying on track for retirement. They miss the whole point of why we budget in the first place. RISC addresses that.”
Traditional budgeting templates tell you what you spend.
RISC shows you what that spending means — for your debt, your savings, and your retirement.
Instead of just categorizing your spending, RISC helps you:
- See how extra debt repayments reduce your loan term — and how much interest you’ll save.
- Track your short-term savings goals — and calculate how long it’ll take to hit them.
- Project your long-term investments — to see whether you're on track for retirement (and what your money could grow into).
You’re not just managing your money. You’re mapping out your future.
What is RISC?
RISC is an acronym — and a mindset — that stands for Reserve, Insure, Service and Consume.
But it’s not just a list. The order matters.
It reflects the priority of how your money should flow each month — starting with the foundations that protect your future, and only then moving to everyday spending.
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RESERVE
Start by reserving money for what matters most.
Paying off debt, building short-term savings, and investing for your future.
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INSURE
Next, protect yourself from financial shocks.
Life cover, medical aid, car insurance — the “grudge purchases” that keep your finances stable when life throws a curveball.
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SERVICE
Then, meet your fixed obligations.
Rent, school fees, levies, subscriptions, contracts — the bills that must be paid to keep life stable.
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CONSUME
Only now do you budget for flexible, day-to-day spending.
Groceries, fuel, eating out — all that flexible stuff that makes life liveable.
RISC isn’t just a budget structure — it’s a set of guardrails.
It helps you avoid the trap of spending first and saving later. Instead, you give every rand a job — in the right order.
Who It's For
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People who want to connect the dots between daily budgeting and big-picture planning.
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Anyone who’s asking: “How much faster can I pay this off?” or “Will I have enough to retire?” and have to regularly adjust as life changes.
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Those tired of budgeting tools that don’t show the why behind the what.
Want a copy of the RISC spreadsheet?