How to Budget Using Access Database Freeware
Microsoft Access software was created to fill a need for consumer user-friendly databases. In order to use Access, it is not necessary to be knowledgeable of programming languages. Access is used by multinational corporations, small businesses and households. There are templates available for business and household use. One of those household templates is for personal budgets. Learn how to budget using a free Access database template.
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Instructions
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Go to "Start," "Programs," "Microsoft Office," "Microsoft Access." If Access has been used recently, go to "Start," "Microsoft Access."
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Go to "Personal," then click on "Personal Account Ledger." These are the available Access database templates.
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Click on "Download" to download the "Personal Account Ledger" database template.
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Type "Breakfast at McDonald's" in the Entry Title field. This will be the first entry to document for the budget.
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Enter "1" under Entry Number. Use the drop-down box to enter the Category expense as "Dining out," then "7.50" as the Transaction Amount. As these fields are completed, the fields in the lower box are also updated. The date is also automatically entered by the database.
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Type "Breakfast with coworker" in the "Memo" field. This space allows notes to be associated with the expense. This is an expense entry for the budget.
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Click on "New Entry."
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Enter the data for the next record as displayed in the image. This will also be an expense entry for the budget. When the information is entered, press the "Tab" key to advance to the next record.
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Enter "Payroll check" in the Entry Title field, "3" for the Entry Number, "Wages & Salary" for the Category, "920.00" for the Transaction Amount, and "Payroll check for 2/15/09-2/28/09" in the Memo field. This is an income entry for the budget. There is a budget remaining of $787.50 under the Actual Amount column.
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Click on "Filter" in the upper right-hand corner. This allows for the filtering of the entries. The filter can be saved by clicking the "Save Filter" icon under the "Filter" drop-down box.
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Click on the Shuttle Bar's double arrows to open the navigation pane.
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Double-click on "Expenses by Category." A report will open to show a pie chart of how money is spent. Budget accordingly. Click on the "Account Transactions" tab to return to the original screen.
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Tips & Warnings
Categories can be added or deleted from the categories list. There is also a budget database template for business budgeting.
The database and budgeting is only as accurate as the information entered into it. Do not forget to include any bank or ATM fees.
Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of Microsoft Office online
