Use formulas to automatically calculate total costs, shipping fees, and refunds for better financial planning.
Manually tracking online purchases, shipping costs, and refunds can be time-consuming and prone to error. The LitBuy Spreadsheet template is designed to automate this process, giving you a clear and accurate monthly overview of your spending with minimal effort.
1. Setting Up Your Core Columns
Start by creating these essential columns in your spreadsheet:
- Date:
- Item Description:
- Item Cost (USD):
- Shipping Fee (USD):
- Tax/Fees (USD):
- Refund Amount (USD):
- Status:
- Item Description:
2. Key Formulas for Automation
The power of the LitBuy system lies in these automated formulas. Assume data starts in Row 2, with headers in Row 1.
Total Transaction Cost
Calculates the net cost of each transaction, including shipping and tax, minus any refund.
=SUM(C2:E2) - F2Where C2=Item Cost, D2=Shipping, E2=Tax, F2=Refund.
Monthly Item Cost Total
Sums all item costs for a given month (e.g., January in cell I1).
=SUMIFS(C:C, A:A, ">="&I1, A:A, "<="&EOMONTH(I1,0))Monthly Shipping Total
Totals all shipping fees for the month.
=SUMIFS(D:D, A:A, ">="&I1, A:A, "<="&EOMONTH(I1,0))Monthly Refund Total
Calculates the total amount refunded in the month.
=SUMIFS(F:F, A:A, ">="&I1, A:A, "<="&EOMONTH(I1,0), G:G, "Refunded")Checks the "Status" column (G) to ensure only completed refunds are counted.
Net Monthly Expenditure
The most critical formula: your total spending net of refunds.
=SUMIFS(H:H, A:A, ">="&I1, A:A, "<="&EOMONTH(I1,0))Where column H contains the "Total Transaction Cost" from the first formula.
3. Insights for Better Financial Planning
With the automated data, you can now easily:
- Identify Spending Trends:
- Budget Accurately:
- Evaluate Subscription Services:
- Forecast Future Spending:
- Simplify Tax Preparation:
- Budget Accurately:
Take Control of Your Spending
By implementing the LitBuy Spreadsheet with these automated formulas, you transform raw transaction data into actionable financial intelligence. Spending a few minutes logging each purchase saves hours at month's end, providing clarity and control for smarter financial decisions. Start this month and turn expense tracking from a chore into a powerful planning tool.