Build a monthly budget
Create columns for Item, Planned amount, and Actual amount. Add a few realistic expense categories such as Transport and Supplies. Enter amounts as numbers, and format the two amount columns as currency.
Calculate and compare
Use SUM to calculate each total. To compare actual spending with the plan, subtract the planned total from the actual total. A positive difference means spending was above plan; a negative difference means it was below plan.
Check your work
Make sure every expense is included once, all amounts are numeric, and the total formula covers the full list. Change a value to see whether the total and difference update.
Key takeaways
- Organize related records as rows and fields as columns.
- Use formulas rather than typing a total by hand.
- Check the range and sign before interpreting a difference.