Excel Efficiency: Budget Spreadsheets

In this comprehensive presentation, Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, demonstrates how many Excel functions and features can be used to create adaptable and easy-to-maintain budget spreadsheets. David explains how to separate inputs from calculations, build out a separate calculations spreadsheet, create both an operating and a cash flow budget, transform filtering tasks, preserve key formulas, and more.  

David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in Excel 2016. He’ll draw to your attention any differences in Excel 2013, 2010, or 2007 during the presentation as well as in his detailed handouts. David also provides an Excel workbook that includes most of the examples he uses during the webcast.

Topics covered:

• Understanding the use of the MONTH function to return the month portion of a date or month name.
• Preserving key formulas using hide and protect features.
• Learning how the Table feature empowers you to improve the integrity of Excel spreadsheets.
• Building formulas faster by way of the Use in Formula command.
• Using range names to streamline formulas and bookmark key inputs within a workbook.
• Understanding why it’s worthwhile to build out supporting schedules to break down calculations used in budgets.
• Improving the integrity of spreadsheets with Excel’s VLOOKUP function.
• Building operating budgets quickly based on detailed supporting schedules that provide an audit trail.
• Avoiding the complexity of nested IF statements with Excel’s CHOOSE function.
• Accessing free downloadable budget templates that can be customized as needed.