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LitBuy: How to Generate Monthly Expense Reports with the LitBuy Spreadsheet

2025-11-18

Keeping track of your online purchases can be a challenge. Between the item cost, shipping fees, and occasional refunds, managing your monthly spending requires organization and time. The LitBuy Spreadsheet is designed to simplify this process, turning a messy list of transactions into a clear, actionable monthly expense report. By leveraging the power of formulas, you can automate calculations and gain valuable insights into your financial habits.

Setting Up Your LitBuy Spreadsheet Foundation

A proper structure is key to automation. Start by creating the following columns in your spreadsheet:

Mastering the Essential Formulas

The real magic happens in the Total

1. Automatically Calculate Net Cost Per Transaction

In cell F2, enter the following formula:

=C2 + D2 - E2

This formula adds the CostShipping, then subtracts any Refund

2. Generating Your Monthly Summary

To see the big picture for the month, create a summary section elsewhere on your sheet. You will use the powerful SUMIFS

Assume you want to see the totals for a specific month, say May 2024.

  • Total Costs:=SUMIFS(C:C, A:A, ">=5/1/2024", A:A, "<=5/31/2024")
  • Total Shipping:=SUMIFS(D:D, A:A, ">=5/1/2024", A:A, "<=5/31/2024")
  • Total Refunds:=SUMIFS(E:E, A:A, ">=5/1/2024", A:A, "<=5/31/2024")
  • Net Spent (Final Total):=SUMIFS(F:F, A:A, ">=5/1/2024", A:A, "<=5/31/2024")

Pro Tip:G1H1=SUMIFS(F:F, A:A, ">="&DATE(H1, G1, 1), A:A, "<="&EOMONTH(DATE(H1, G1, 1), 0)). This will automatically update your summary when you change the month and year values.

Benefits for Your Financial Planning

By automating your monthly LitBuy report, you unlock several key advantages:

  • Clear Spending Visibility:
  • Informed Decision-Making:
  • Time Savings:
  • Budget Accuracy:

Conclusion

The LitBuy Spreadsheet, powered by simple yet effective formulas, transforms the task of expense tracking from a chore into a strategic financial activity. By setting up a structured log and employing automatic calculations for totals and monthly summaries, you gain unparalleled control and insight into your online spending. Start generating your automated reports today and take the first step towards smarter, more confident financial planning.

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