Focus on managing your budget, not creating a spreadsheet to do so. For a great start, check out these best Excel budget templates for most any type of budget.

Here are our favorite tricks to craft your budget spreadsheet like a master. Learn all the hot keys Budgeting doesn’t need to be so tedious when you make Excel do the work for you.

Launch Excel 2010. A new spreadsheet opens on the screen. Click on cell "A1" and type "Expense Type" into this cell. Click on cell "B1" and type "Cost" into this cell.