Useful spreadsheet for keeping track?

brummiebabe

Evening

Have done a quick search & tried to google...but not had much luck.

Does anyone know of a spreadsheet that will help me keep track of my bank account balance? I've only recently had Excel & to be honest..I'm struggling to do really simple calculations!! I just want to be able to keep track of things!

I'm sure people have advised on this before - but I can't locate the threads. Thanks in advance for any help x

Moleie

Excel is probably your best bet. Try searching Google for 'Excel forumlas' - it's really simple once you get to grips with it and it'll enable you to personalize your budget/bank balance.

If simply want to track your balance it might be worth setting up online banking?

curlygirl1971

Hi Brummiebabe

I've heard that MS Money is a good tool for keeping track - and easy to use

However I think most people construct their own spreadsheet to suit their own purposes. It only needs to be simple and doing your own is the best way to learn - excel is simpler than you think

What I would say is
1) Learn how to do simple formulas - the help function will assist you. Like adding up a range of cells, deducting from a balance etc.
2) Always check your results. If your spreadsheet says you've got £100 in the bank then this might be true, or you may have forgotten a transaction or you may have mis-typed a value
3) Always keep a copy - it's gutting to see several months worth of work disappear - especially if you come to rely on your Spreadsheet. The way round this for me is to email myself a copy every month and keep that copy in my email account.
4) If you think 'I'll have a go at doing.....' then mess around with a copy of your spreadsheet not the real thing incase it doesn't work

I have a number of spreadsheets including one that tracks my bank account balance - on this I put ALL transactions that go through the bank and also all cash transactions so that I can also cateogorise the expenditure (eg Food, Transport, Social....). I reconcile the balance against my real bank balance every so often to make sure they are the same

Make friends with Excel - it can be a great tool to help to manage your finances

Moleie

It's a shame banks don't offer an online tool to this effect - though I guess it would conflict with their interests to enable people to manage their finances appropriately!

brummiebabe

Thanks for the replies.

I know I need to get to grips with Excel but find it's really complicated to do even simple calculations!! I had to google how to subtract one number for another as I couldn't work out how to do it!! Guess I'm just used to Microsoft Works which was SO easy!!!

Oh well...back to the drawing board..

Tixy

Eager learner has some spreadsheets they will email to you if you ask, which might be useful. Another option might be to try a website such as spendingdiary.com.

Here is a link for eagerlearners stuff -
Money Saving Spreadsheet to use in addition to Martin's
Debt Buster Spreadsheet - Get it now!