Spreadsheet for managing finances?

[BeauJangles]

Someone posted a great one a while back that allowed you to keep track of monthly expenditures. I tried searching for it both here and on Google and was unsuccessful.


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The OP has been here long enough to know which forum it should have been posted in.

Anandtech Moderator

 

[DivideBYZero]

phail

 

[Safeway]

I think it is best to develop your own system/spreadsheet. Start basic, then add in features that you want. You will know exactly how to customize it if you build it up.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Safeway
I think it is best to develop your own system/spreadsheet. Start basic, then add in features that you want. You will know exactly how to customize it if you build it up.

bingo... I kinda wanted to use google so i could add things anywhere i was.. but then a) i'm not too sure i want google to have that info.. they have enough of me.. heh. and b) google spreadsheets suck for this IMO.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Safeway
I think it is best to develop your own system/spreadsheet. Start basic, then add in features that you want. You will know exactly how to customize it if you build it up.</end quote></div>

bingo... I kinda wanted to use google so i could add things anywhere i was.. but then a) i'm not too sure i want google to have that info.. they have enough of me.. heh. and b) google spreadsheets suck for this IMO.

I started it on Google Spreadsheets, but ended up deleting everything because their built-in functions suck. Hell, you can't even do mass formatting.

 

[SoulAssassin]

I have a good one...pm me your email address and I'll send it to you. Might take me a couple days.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Safeway
I think it is best to develop your own system/spreadsheet. Start basic, then add in features that you want. You will know exactly how to customize it if you build it up.

Haha, well I don't know too much about excel at all and my experiences with budgets are pretty limited (mine has been very, very small for the past four years). Now that I have a real job though, I'd like to be better financially organized.

So, would you have any tips, starting places, or ideas?

I'm really clueless here,

Beau

 

[Nocturnal]

My Excel spreadsheet just consists of two columns. Item Name and Amount. I then put in whatever I bought/purchased in the Item Name such as Costco, CompUSA, Newegg, etc. and then type in the amount.

I then just have a cell at the bottom of the Amount column that has the total from the first Item Name to the last in my spreadsheet.

I have one cell to the left of the Total Amount that has my salary or amount paid for the month.

It's rather simple and easy to start off. And like others have said, eventually as you need more stuff, you can add on and tweek it as necessary.

 

[Yossarian]

I recommend getting either Money or Quicken. The basic versions are inexpensive and can hook up to your bank automatically to download transactions. I've been using Money for almost 10 years now and it's great.

 

[Tiamat]

probably easier to make your own in Excel. Setup some conditionals (debit vs. deposit) for your total money left column and you should be golden.

 

[IronWing]

I'd second the Money or Quicken suggestion since you're not already an Excel wiz. The built in reports in those programs makes them so much easier to work with than trying to make reports in Excel.

Either way the key is to record every single transaction from depositing a paycheck to plugging change in a pop machine. Set up a separate sheet or column for every account you have and one for cash. Another tip is that when recording a credit card payment or other loan payment only the interest and/or fees (if any) are an expense. The principal portion of the payment should be treated as a simple account to account transfer.