How to Create a Household Budget Worksheet using Microsoft Works Spreadsheet

Being able to track your monthly household budget is just as important as the money you make. Keeping bills that are due precisely organized is the best way to stay ahead of financial spikes, unforeseen expenses and emergencies. By creating an easy to read monthly budget with your Microsoft Works software, a spreadsheet is a simple way to access all of your financial information and easily forecast your household expenses for the month ahead.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Windows operating platform
• Microsoft Works

Instructions

1. Compile all of your monthly bills and sort by due date.

2. Start Microsoft Works and select the Spreadsheet tab and open a new spreadsheet.

3. Create subheaders for each category by double clicking on the cross in box 1 column B and typing in "Bill." Tab across to column C and type in "amount due." Tab across to column D and type in "date paid."

4. Take your cursor and double click on line 2 column A and type in the number 1, then take your cursor and double click on line 3 column A and type in the number 2. Take your cross and highlight both boxes. From the lower right hand corner of line 3, carefully grab the corner and drag down to the bottom of the spreadsheet in accordance to how many bills you have. This will number the bills.

5. Begin to name your bills by double clicking on the cross in line 2 column B. Type in the name of the first bill. Tab to the next column (C) and type in the amount due. Tab to the next column (D) and type in date paid after you have paid the bill. Place your cursor in the next line and repeat steps five, six and seven and enter all of your bills for the month.

6. Highlight the separating lines between the columns and pull apart to size and to accommodate the largest text. Repeat for each column so that data is legible and easy to read.

7. Go to the view tab at the top of the spreadsheet and select insert header and footer. Insert a footer that names your monthly budget.

8. Click "Save" to save all of your work and make it accessible later.

Tips & Warnings

• Throughout the month after you pay your bills, you can enter the amount in red or with a strike-though text to remind yourself that you paid that debt.

• Insert a new new worksheet for the next month and copy and paste last months budget but just make necessary adjustments.

• Accommodate bi monthly or quarterly bills by making each budget weeks in advance for the entire year.

• You can create your spreadsheet by date due or by alphabetizing also.

• Try using color variations to easily recognize certain items.

• Make sure to always save your work to prevent loss of data.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish