Forum Discussion
Mediocre Excel User Seeking to Improve on Bills Sheet
Hi all,
I would say I'm just barely past the beginner level of using Excel to its fullest potential and I have been slowly but surely improving over the years. My main focus for learning has been a sheet I've been using for my bills each month. I started knowing absolutely nothing about Excel back in 2013 and I've only gotten as far as you can see in the example attached. The example is using random numbers to keep my actual finances private.
The purpose: I have 2 bank accounts: my bills and my debit card. Bills are all on autopay and after an allowance is deposited each month, the remainder of my check goes into my bills account. As interest rates are non-existent, it kind of doubles as a savings account. As the majority of the bills are consistent and any small changes can be made as things go, I can see what the potential balance of my account will be in the future, all the way out until I stop creating a new sheet for that next month. Currently I can see what my balance, and therefore savings, should be in Dec 2025.
I'm sure there are ways to improve this to be more efficient and/or neater. What would the hivemind that is this forum board suggest?
Thank you for any and all suggestions. Feel free to ask any questions needed. I will try to answer in a timely manner.
1 Reply
There are many ways to approach such cash planning schedules. And it's very much up to yourself what works and what not. If your current set-up works, let's keep it that way, but I've added a sheet to your workbook with an alternative 'all-in-one' approach. One column with row headers and two columns for each month until December 2025. One column for the 1st half month and one for the 2nd. Personally, I find such a schedule easier to use and maintain. But I'm certain that if you ask 10 other persons, they will each come up with their own preferred schedule.
