5 simple, useful Google Sheets formulas everyone should know
One easy way to manage your money better is by laying everything out in a spreadsheet. You may think only businesses need them, but everyone needs to keep track of their finances. A spreadsheet is helpful because it provides a bird’s eye view of your financial situation.
You don’t necessarily have to buy financial software, either. You can use Google Sheets, a free online spreadsheet editor that works just like Microsoft Excel. You get 15GB of free storage, so you have room for a lot of financial spreadsheets.
You may be able to use it for years before updating to a paid financial software like our sponsor, Oracle Netsuite. More on that option later. Here are a few easy formulas to make the most out of Google Sheets.
First things first
You probably know that the little boxes in a Google Sheets spreadsheet are called cells. You may not know that each cell is a mini calculator. For example, you can type in an equation within a cell like this:
To find the solution, type = ahead of the equation, like so:
As you can see, the answer pops up. Pretty nifty, huh? This formula feature will be handy once you start inputting numbers into a spreadsheet.
Don’t think that Google Sheets is a simple calculator, though. It has a ton of 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 type A4+B4+C4 to add the numbers in those specific cells together. The cool thing about cell referencing is that you can change the values of the cells in the formula and the formula will update itself.
You can also merge cells, create thick black borders between cells, wrap text and much more. We found a comprehensive beginner’s guide if you want more general knowledge about what Google Sheets can do. Tap or click here to set yourself up for success with Google Sheets.
Now let’s move on to the helpful formulas
So you opened up a spreadsheet. Maybe you’re using a template to start on the right foot. Tap or click here for 10 free spreadsheet templates to help manage your finances.
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