Managing your budget with Excel: who is it for, and what are the limits?
Many people use an Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet to track their budget. And for some, it works very well. But for others, it's a source of frustration. The real question isn't whether Excel is a good tool — it's whether it's suited to your profile.
What works well with Excel
A budget spreadsheet has real advantages:
- You can customize everything to fit your situation
- You get a comprehensive view of your finances on a single screen
- You can plan ahead, month by month
- There are many free or paid templates to get started
For people who are comfortable with spreadsheets and like having total control, it's an effective tool.
Where it falls short for many
But Excel isn't made for everyone. Several common barriers keep coming up:
- You need to know Excel: formulas, formatting, structure. It's not intuitive for everyone
- Finding the right template is tricky: there are hundreds out there, and it's hard to know which one is reliable and fits your situation
- On mobile, the experience is painful: tiny cells, horizontal scrolling, not designed for a quick glance
- The calculations remain basic: a spreadsheet doesn't automatically compute a daily recommended balance based on all your upcoming expenses
Result: many people download a template, fill it in once or twice, then give up. Not because the tool is bad, but because it doesn't fit their profile.
Excel vs dedicated app: a matter of profile
Spreadsheets suit a certain profile: methodical, comfortable with numbers, who likes building their own tools. But if you're looking for something simpler, a dedicated app might better meet your needs:
- No need to know formulas
- Readable at a glance on your phone
- Calculations are done automatically, every day
It's not about better or worse. It's about what fits the way you work.
The Yosanami approach
Yosanami starts from a simple observation: most people don't need a full spreadsheet. They need a single number, updated every day: the recommended balance in their account. You enter your expenses and income once, and every day, you know if you're on track or if you need to slow down. No formulas, no template to find, no spreadsheet to open.
Ready to better manage your budget?
Join Yosanami and discover how much to keep in your account each month.
Start for free