How to Make a Spending Spreadsheet in Excel

Use Excel to keep track of how much you are spending. Create a spending spreadsheet in Excel by entering categories and dates and a formula. Even for those who don't know how to use Excel, they can do it with these simple steps. The part that will take the longest is entering the categories. You can create it to suit your own style. In this tutorial, I will show you one method where each month is divided into its own page. You can see the months at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Excel program
• saved receipts

Instructions

1. In the first column (or column A) enter the categories such as mortgage, telephone, etc. If you like, you can subdivide them under living expenses, entertainment, etc. Don't start on the top row, start around row 6 or 7 so that you can leave room for the days of the week on top.

2. Enter the day of the month in rows on top. Start around row 3 and column B because remember that you have a list in row A.

3. 

   When you are done with listings, you will enter total expenses at the bottom (under wherever your categories end) and enter a formula. The formula for this particular spreadsheet will be =sum(B7:B81) This is assuming that your categories ended in row 81. Start with the = sign and do not leave any spaces. You will type this in the cell. When you are done hit Enter. You will not see anything in the cell but if you look in the bar above, you will see this formula. Now when you enter the amounts under the days, the amounts will automatically be added up.

   This formula is instructing Excel to add all the numbers from row 7 through 81 in column B. For column C, click on the cell and press Ctrl R and so on until you have formulas for the entire row. This instructs Excel to copy the formula for the remaining rows.

4. Now you can start entering all of your expenses under the day of the month and category.

Tips & Warnings

• To enter for the following month, insert a new worksheet. Right-click at the bottom of the page and click on 'Insert' then on 'Worksheet' when the dialog box appears. Start the same procedure for the next month on the new worksheet. You can copy and paste the format from one worksheet to the next. There are several ways to do this but it is easiest to copy and paste.

• To insert another column or row, hover mouse over letter (column) or number (row), when it turns into an arrow, right-click selecting 'Insert'.

• Always save your sheet as you work so that you don't lose anything if you make a mistake.