# Excel for the web budget: tables, calculated columns, Total Row, red flags and sharing on one page

> A free one-page Excel for the web cheat sheet: Format as Table, a Difference column, Total Row, conditional formatting for overspending and sharing.

Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/excel-for-the-web-budget · Updated 2026-10-23 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com)

[Lesson cheat sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets#kind-lesson) · One page · US letter · [Excel](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/excel)

By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) · Published October 23, 2026 · From the free lesson [Excel for the Web: Your First Budget Spreadsheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/excel-web-budget)

A free one-page Excel for the web cheat sheet: Format as Table, a Difference column, Total Row, conditional formatting for overspending and sharing.

[Download the free PDF (70 KB)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/excel-for-the-web-budget.pdf)Print this sheet

Free, no sign-up and no email needed. It prints on one letter-size page; the whole sheet is below.

*▶*StepthroughFree printable cheat sheet · learn.ynteractive.com

Excel for the web budget: tables, calculated columns, Total Row, red flags and sharing on one page

The steps from the free Excel for the Web Jump Start, practised there on real Excel for the web screens (Microsoft 365).

## Start

1. Sign in at **microsoft365.com**, open Excel, choose **Blank workbook** and rename the file at the top.
2. Headers in A1 to C1: **Category**, **Budget**, **Actual**. Type numbers without commas or "$".
3. Excel for the web saves as you work: there is no Save button to forget.

## Make it a table

**Format as Table**

**Home > Format As Table**, pick a style, keep **My table has headers** ticked, **OK**.

**Calculated column**

Type **Difference** in D1 and `=C2-B2` in D2: Excel fills it down the whole column.

**Total Row**

**Table Design > Total Row**, then choose **Sum** in each total cell.

**No table?**

Click under a column of numbers and choose **Home > AutoSum**.

## Flag overspending

1. Select the Difference cells.
2. **Home > Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cell Rules > Greater Than**.
3. In the panel on the right type **0**, keep the light red style, click **Done**.

## Finish and share

- Select the numbers and apply **Currency** from the Home tab.
- **Share > Share**, add the person, use the eye button for **Can edit** or **Can view**, then send.
- Next month, type only the new Actual numbers: totals and red flags update by themselves.

**Remember:** Put the numbers in a table once, let formulas and rules do the checking, and share one link instead of emailing totals.

Practice it free: [Excel for the Web: Your First Budget Spreadsheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/excel-web-budget) at learn.ynteractive.com/modules/excel-web-budget. This sheet: learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/excel-for-the-web-budget. Tom's bakery is a made-up business from the lesson. By Robert Breen, October 23, 2026.

## Practice it in the free lesson

**Excel for the Web: Your First Budget Spreadsheet**. A beginner Excel for the web walkthrough on real screens: turn a budget into a table, let one formula fill the Difference column, total it with the Total Row, turn overspending red and share one link. You do every step yourself in a practice copy of Excel, it checks your work as you go, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Free, and nothing touches your real accounts.

[Start the free lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/excel-web-budget)

[Or read the full step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/excel-web-budget)

## Related terms

Plain-English definitions, each with an example from a free lesson.

[Conditional formatting](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/conditional-formatting)

[The full AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary)

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