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Excel Monthly Budget

Instructions: Follow the directions below to create a budget spreadsheet. Attached is a sample of the final product.

In Excel there is usually more than one way to do something. If a different way to do it occurs to you, go ahead and try it! If it doesn't work, you can always click the Undo button.

Remember the difference between the active cell and the edit mode:

• Clicking a cell once makes it active. You can perform actions on the active cell (make it bold or italic, delete it, etc.) but you cannot edit the text.

• To enter the edit mode you must double-click the active cell, or press the f2 key at the top of your keyboard. Once the insertion point appears, the contents of the cell can be changed.

Entering Column Titles

1. In cell A1 type Monthly Budget and press Enter.

2. In cell A2 type Item, and press the right arrow key or the Tab key to move to cell B2.

3. In cell B2 type Amount and press the right arrow key or the Tab key to move to cell C2.

4. In cell C2 type Comments.

5. Type TOTAL in cell A11, INCOME in cell A13, EXPENSES in A14, and SAVINGS in cell A15.

Formatting Column Titles

1. Select the block of cells that have column titles (Item, Amount, Comments) by clicking cell A2, then dragging the mouse pointer to cell F2. The row should be grayed - although the first cell will not be dark.

Hint: Make sure your mouse pointer is a large white cross when you select the cells.

2. Click the Bold button on the toolbar. Keep the cells selected.

3. Click the Format menu and select Cells.

4. Click the Patterns tab and select a light color from the color choices.

5. Click OK.

Move the title, Monthly Budget, to the middle of the spreadsheet

1. Select cells A1 to F1.

2. Click the Format menu and choose Cells.

3. On the Alignment tab click once in the box that says Merge Cells.

4. Click OK.

Center the title, Monthly Budget

1. Select cell A1 (click once in the cell).

2. Click the Center button.

Formatting Data

This is a step you can do before or after entering data. Since we would like to be able to read the column titles clearly, we will do this step first.

1. Select Columns A-F. Essentially you are selecting your entire spreadsheet. To select these cells move your mouse pointer to the letter A at the top of the first column. Click once and drag your mouse pointer to the letter F and let go.

2. To resize these columns click Format on the Menu bar. Click Column (which has an arrow on its right side, showing you it has options you can choose from) and choose AutoFit Selection.

Entering Data

1. Click cell A3. Type Rent (or Mortgage if you prefer) and press Enter.

2. Using the arrow keys, or you mouse, move down to cell A4 and type Utilities.

3. Move down to cell A5 and type Transportation.

4. Move down to cell A6 and type Food.

5. Move down to cell A7 and type Medical.

6. Move down to cell A8 and type Clothing.

7. Move down to cell A9 and type Leisure.

8. Move down to cell A10 and type Miscellaneous.

Hint: As you enter text and data in a cell the format may change, and data may not fit in the column, turning into something like #### (or simply cut off). If this happens, move your mouse between the column identifiers (between the letters). When the mouse pointer changes to a black cross with arrows, double-click. This will make the column automatically resize itself to fit all current data.

9. Type a numeric estimate (a dollar figure) for each category. These numbers should start in cell B3 and continue to B10 (the Miscellaneous category).

10. Type a dollar figure for your income in cell B13.

11. To standardize the B column so that the numbers present a currency style, select cells B3 through B15 and click the Currency Style button.

Entering Formulas

1. We want to total the B column. To let Excel know that you are typing a formula, always start your formula with an equal = sign. In cell B11 type =SUM(B3:B10). You are telling Excel to total the sum of cells B3 through B11.

2. In cell B14 type =B11. This inserts the totaled value of your expenses.

3. In cell B15, type =B13-B11. This is the formula that takes the balance of B11 and subtracts the expenses from B14 resulting in the amount left over as savings.

Finalizing and Saving

1. Check the spelling in your spreadsheet. Click the Tools menu and click Spelling.

2. Click the Print Preview button on the Standard toolbar. (If you aren't sure which button it is move your mouse pointer over the buttons until the identifying tag appears).

• Does the document look the way you want it? If it does, click Close and proceed to save the document (see below). If not, click Close and attempt to make the necessary changes.

2. To save the document, insert a floppy disk into the appropriate disk drive. Click the File menu and click Save As.

3. In the File Name box type the words Budget.

4. Click the Save button.

5. Your work is now saved. Close the Excel by clicking the Close (X) button in the upper right corner of the screen.

Sample Budget