A running balance
PremiumIn D3, work out the balance after the paycheck: the balance in the row above plus what came in, minus what went out. Leave the references unlocked, so the formula works when you fill it down.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | In | Out | Balance | ||
| 2 | Opening balance | 2000 | ||||
| 3 | Paycheck | 8000 | 0 | |||
| 4 | Rent | 0 | 3000 | |||
| 5 | Groceries | 0 | 650 | |||
| 6 | Electricity | 0 | 600 | |||
| 7 | ||||||
| 8 |
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Why this works
Each row starts from the balance above it. 2,000 plus the 8,000 paycheck, minus 0 going out, is 10,000. Fill the formula down and D4 becomes =D3+B4-C4, which is 7,000 after the rent, and so on down the list.
Common mistake: Locking D2 with $. Every row then starts over from the opening balance instead of the balance just above it.
The answer
- D3
=D2+B3-C3
Put the opening balance in the first row, then write =D2+B3-C3 in the next one, the balance above plus what came in minus what went out. Fill it down.