If you have not yet begun creating a budget spreadsheet using Excel, now is the time to do so. As more people are beginning to learn about financial matters, many are taking a close look at their spending habits, credit accounts, etc. And now that the internet has become a part of many people’s lives, it is easier than ever to see if you are paying too much in mortgage or utility bills, or are overspending on food.
People’s spending habits have a big impact on their financial situation. It takes a lot of effort to stay on top of spending, but without an accurate accounting of how much you spend, you will never find out what your true spending rate is. Fortunately, it is possible to create a budget spreadsheet using Excel.
The first step is to sit down and review your current financial situation. Even if you think you can’t afford to do this, you should try anyway because it will help you make decisions on what to do. This step is not just for budgeting purposes; it is important to develop a solid financial foundation.
How to Create a Budget Spreadsheet Using Excel
The next step is to use Microsoft Excel to learn how to create a budget spreadsheet using Excel. Create a blank sheet and work in rows and columns. Enter all of your monthly expenses on this blank sheet. Do not enter any recurring costs until you have a basic understanding of how to budget for them.
A cell is the smallest segment of a row or column. Each cell has a name and value and when you click on a cell, a range shows up. A range shows only the information about the cell itself. You will use this information to break up your financial information. In addition, you will develop the habit of entering only the minimum amount for each expense and the maximum amount.
Click on the first cell and choose Insert From Formulas. Choose the first column and change the format to Cell. Type a simple formula into the formula bar, click OK, and then type the amount. You will use this formula to calculate the sum of all of your expenses.
On the second column, you can enter the average cost of your expenses. You can change the formula for Average Cost by entering the following:
Total X Cost
Keep in mind that you will have to change the Total and the Cost formulas at least once to account for your living expenses. Once you have entered the total for all of your living expenses and you have separated the living expenses into categories, you will have to find the averages for these categories to find the minimum and the maximum for your living expenses.
To get the averages for your living expenses, start with the expenses that are less than $50 and then move to the expenses that are more than $50. This is the only way to calculate averages for your living expenses. In order to be accurate, it is best to enter a range for these totals. This is done by selecting cells that contain the information and entering a range from the drop-down menu.
Next, select the remaining cells and then paste the new ranges onto the worksheet. There is one very important step that you should take before you can begin adding the average amounts. Choose Cells B4 and B5 in the upper left corner of the worksheet and then select Format Cells to format the workbook.
The formatting will include different column headers, so make sure that you have chosen the right options. Select the Cell B5 option and then scroll to the bottom of the worksheet. Scroll back up to the top of the worksheet and then enter a blank row and column at the beginning of the worksheet. and then copy and paste the range. PLEASE READ : how to create a budget spreadsheet in excel
