How to track expenses with this automatic tracker in Excel! #excel #spreadsheets #budgeting, by Easily Excel on YouTube. 1 min 13 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 13 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Open a blank workbook and name the first sheet Expenses. In row 1, type these headers across columns A to E: Date, Description, Category, Amount, Type.
Click any cell in the header row, then press Ctrl+T to turn the range into a table. Tick My table has headers and click OK.
Fill in a few sample rows so you have data to test. Use dates like 01/06/2026 and amounts as plain numbers, for example 12.50.
Go to an empty area, say G1, and type Total Spent. In H1, enter =SUMIF(E:E,"Expense",D:D) to add up only the expense rows.
In G2 type Total Income. In H2, enter =SUMIF(E:E,"Income",D:D) so income is tracked separately.
In G3 type Balance. In H3, enter =H2-H1 to show what is left after spending.
Build a category summary. In G5 type Category and H5 type Spent. List your categories in G6 down, such as Food, Rent and Travel.
In H6, enter =SUMIF(C:C,G6,D:D) and copy it down the column. Each category now totals itself as you add rows.
Format the Amount column as currency. Select column D, right click, choose Format Cells, then Currency, and pick your symbol.
Add new expenses at the bottom of the table. The table expands and every formula updates on its own.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the Type column values exactly as Expense or Income, because the SUMIF formulas match that text.
Enter amounts as numbers only, with no currency symbols or spaces, or the totals will break.
Save the file as.xlsx and keep a backup copy in cloud storage so you do not lose your records.
Questions
Do I need to know formulas to use this?
No. You only type the formulas once, then the sheet updates itself as you add rows. Copy and paste them exactly as shown.
Can I add more categories later?
Yes. Add the new name in the category list and copy the SUMIF formula down one more row. It will pick up any matching entries.
Will this work in Google Sheets?
Mostly. SUM and SUMIF work the same, but the Ctrl+T table shortcut does not. Use Format, then Convert to table instead.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
