Take control of your finances with the best Google Spreadsheets formulas

An easy way to manage your money better is to put everything in a spreadsheet. You may think that only companies need them, but everyone should monitor their finances. The spreadsheet is useful because it provides a bird’s eye view of your financial situation.

You don’t have to buy financial software either. You can use Google Spreadsheets, a free online spreadsheet editor that works just like Microsoft Excel. You get 15 GB of free storage, so you have space for a lot of financial spreadsheets.

You may be able to use it for years before updating to paid financial software such as our sponsor, Oracle Netsuite. More on this option later. Here are some easy formulas you can use to get the most out of Google Spreadsheets.

First and foremost

You probably know that the small fields you see in a spreadsheet in Google Spreadsheets are called cells. You can no know that each cell is a mini calculator. For example, you can enter an equation in a cell as follows:

To find the solution, enter = before the equation, so:

As you can see, the answer appears. Pretty elegant, huh? This formula function will be useful to you once you start entering numbers in a spreadsheet.

However, don’t think that Google Sheets is a simple calculator. It has many impressive features. You can create your own equations with numbers in different cells. You can add two numbers in different columns or subtract two numbers in different rows.

For example, you can enter A4 + B4 + C4 to put together the numbers in these specific cells. The great thing about cell references is that you can change the cell values ​​in the formula and the formula will update itself.

You can also merge cells, create thick black borders between cells, wrap text, and more. If you want a more general knowledge of what Google Spreadsheets can do, we’ve found a comprehensive beginner’s guide. Tap or click here to set up Google Spreadsheets success.

Now let’s move on to the useful formulas

So you opened a spreadsheet. Maybe use a template to start with the right foot. Tap or click here for 10 free spreadsheet templates to help you manage your finances.

Now that your data fills the cells into neat little formulas and columns, it’s time for magic. With a few keystrokes you can unlock the secrets hidden in your huge wall of data. There are many complex formulas, but as this is a basic overview, here are some simple Google Sheets formulas to get you started:

1. CYM

This adds a set of cells. To use it, select a range, and then click the amount button at the far right of the toolbar. Let’s say you’re curious about blockbuster statistics by creating a new spreadsheet and highlighting B4, C4, and D4:

Then tap CYM a button that looks like this:

Then tap it again to get the total of these three cells. The result appears in the empty box on the right, as you can see below:

2. AVERAGE

Let’s say you want to find the average cost of creating a blockbuster in 2010. In this sample spreadsheet, you’ll see several highlighted production budgets. Press CYM button and select Averageso:

As with the other formulas, the solution materializes in the nearby empty cell.

3. NUMBER

This formula takes into account the values ​​in a range of selected cells. Just touch CYM button at the top right of your spreadsheet and tap Count. This is useful in huge spreadsheets when you lose track of everything.

4. MAX

Maybe you choose a wide range of cells and want to see which cell has the largest number. Just touch CYM and Max.

That’s right, you catch the largest number in the group.

5 MINUTES

This is the polar opposite of MAX. Follow the same steps: Select a range and press CYMthen hit MIN. You will see the smallest number in the range you selected.

These five tips were pretty basic, but they’re the best Google Sheets for beginners

We all have to start somewhere. Now that you have the five easiest formulas under your belt, you can move on to the next level: intermediate formulas. Some tricks allow you to replace or replace cells. You can combine several strings into one text string, round the numbers down, increase the number to a certain degree, and much more.

Want to learn more about Google Spreadsheets? We have found a free online course that you can take to unlock the full potential of advanced formulas. Tap or click here for a 30-lesson course on Google Sheets formulas.

Need some more help? It’s time for the professionals

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