How to Use the Spreadsheet

The first step is to customize the worksheet to tailor to your financial profile.

  1. Rename the "Primary Checking Account" to the name of your bank
    and then the last three numbers of your account.  (for example, Wells
    Fargo *******123).  Complete this task for the demand deposits,
    savings accounts, investment (brokerage or other) accounts,
    retirement and 401(k) accounts.  Also input liability information such as
    any outstanding home mortgage balances, home equity loans, car
    loans, student loans, etc.




  1. Input your balance at the end of each month.  Since the worksheet
    chronicles your finances on a monthly basis, this task should be
    completed only at month-end.
  2. Does your financial institution allow online banking access?  If so, input
    your user ID and password.  It is always recommended that you do not
    input the entire ID and password.  Rather, simply input enough
    information that is helpful to allow you to remember.  For example, if
    your user ID is "MyUserID" and your password is "password," input
    under the ID field "My*****D" and in the password field, input "p******d."  
  3. The "% Mth Chg" and "YTD Chg." field represent the month-to-date
    and year-to-date change in these accounts, respectively.  Do not alter
    these fields!  The formula automatically calculates these changes for
    you.  It is a great way to track which accounts are straining your
    financial outlook, and which accounts are helping build up your asset
    base.
  4. The "Total Assets divided by Total Liabilities" ratio simply represents
    the ratio of your total assets to your total liabilities.  Again, there is a
    formula in the spreadsheet which automatically calculates this figure
    for you, and no adjustment other than account balance input is
    necessary to produce this figure.
  5. It is very important that you Password Protect Your Spreadsheet!  
    Obviously, this information is sensitive.  If someone were to somehow
    access your computer or if it was lost or stolen, you don't want to have
    people having access to your finances!  By clicking "Tools" in the
    Menu Bar of your Spreadsheet and then clicking on "Options," you will
    bring up the following Options box which is listed at right.  Simply click
    on "Security" and then you are able to enter a password which
    protects your file.  Remember your password.  In order to open the file
    after you password-protect it, you will need to first type in your
    password.
  6. If you are more of a Visual Person and like to have things printed out,
    after you have finished recording your finances at the end of the
    month, you may print out the spreadsheet by using the program's print
    function.  It is recommended that prior to printing, you erase the login
    and password field of the spreadsheet.  
My Financial Profile - MyFinPro.com