- 1). Collect your data. You cannot begin a spreadsheet without information. Gather all the information you want to put in the spreadsheet before you begin. Once you have everything laid out in front of you, you can begin to decide what type of spreadsheet you are going to create.
- 2). Input your data into the cells. Your spreadsheet program has columns and rows. The columns are the headers for each strain of data, and the rows are where you put the information. For example, if you are organizing your home finances, items such as rent, car payment and electricity would head up the columns, and the amounts for those expenses would be in the rows of the spreadsheet under their corresponding column.
- 3). Find the correct formula. Spreadsheet formulas can be confusing. Unless you are a mathematician, however, you do not need to further complicate things by creating your own formulas. The program has a number of preset, ready-made formulas in the program menu. You can organize your data by amount, date or alphabetically just by clicking one of those options. If you are working with multiple columns and rows, you can highlight certain items you want to organize or highlight all the cells.
- 4). Check and read your spreadsheet properly. A spreadsheet is only effective if it makes sense. Its purpose is to successfully take your information and make it one concise form. If by reading your spreadsheet, you have a new and better understanding of your data, then you have successfully used a spreadsheet.
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