My spreadsheet for tracking cash envelopes took a full weekend to fix

Honestly, I set up a simple budget last month using the cash envelope method for groceries and gas. I thought it would be easy to track in a spreadsheet, but my formulas for subtracting cash spent kept breaking when I added new weeks. I spent maybe 4 hours on Saturday trying different things before I gave up. On Sunday, I watched a 20 minute YouTube tutorial and found out I needed to use absolute cell references, which fixed it in like 5 minutes. Has anyone else had a simple budget tool turn into a huge time sink?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayden_martin2917d ago

Oh come on, that's just part of the process! Spending a weekend to really learn how your spreadsheet works is time well spent. You didn't just fix a formula, you learned a core skill that will help you with every sheet you make from now on. My first budget sheet was a total mess for months, but fighting with it taught me more than any perfect template ever could. That four hours of struggle is what makes the five minute fix actually stick in your brain. Sometimes the long way is the better teacher.

stellaj7017d ago

The struggle also teaches you how to Google the right questions next time lol.