Before you start
- Your download is a zip with two files. Double-click it to open it. Start with the one marked with examples to see how everything works, then use the blank one for your household.
- Open the file in Microsoft Excel. Using Google Sheets? Upload it to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets.
- Start on the Start Here tab. It has the same steps, right inside the file.
- The sample data is there so you can see how everything works. Type over it with your own when you're ready.
Here's how to set up a project, track its costs, and compare quotes.
1Add your projects (about 10 minutes)
- Open Start Here first. Yellow cells with blue text are yours to fill in. Italic yellow cells are optional. Gray cells calculate on their own.
- Open Projects. Add each project with its budget, target dates, status and how you'll pay for it. Contingency is 10% unless you change it.
2Add budget lines
- Open Budget. Add a line for each thing you'll pay for: pick the project and a category, then type the estimated cost.
- Add the quoted and actual cost as they come in, and whether it's paid.
3Compare quotes
- Getting bids? Open Quotes and compare up to 3 contractors for up to 5 projects side by side.
- Set how much each factor matters to you on Settings. The score is a decision aid, not a recommendation.
4Track payments and check the Dashboard
- Open Payments and list deposits and payments you owe, with due dates.
- The Dashboard shows each project's budget status, what's left, upcoming payments and how much to save each month.
What the messages mean
The tool watches your numbers and tells you in plain words when something needs a look. Here's every message you might see.
What to do: Look at what's left before committing to more.
What to do: Trim the scope, use contingency, or raise the budget.
What to do: Pay it, then mark it paid.
Using Google Sheets or your phone
- To use Google Sheets, upload the file to Google Drive, then right-click it and choose Open with, then Google Sheets.
- Dropdowns, colors, and every calculation work the same in Google Sheets.
- On a phone, the Google Sheets and Excel apps work for quick changes. For setup and printing, a computer is easier.
- Want to start fresh? Type over the yellow example cells. Don't delete rows, since other tabs may be reading them.
Ready when you are
Everything above comes with our renovation budget for $14, updates included. Or get it as part of the full Home and Money Toolkit.
Common questions
Can I track one big remodel?
Yes. Use one project with as many budget lines as you need.
What are costs not matched to a project?
Budget lines whose project name doesn't match one on Projects. Pick the project from the list.
Quick reference from the Start Here tab
Welcome
A kitchen remodel, a new deck, or a handful of smaller jobs: this file keeps every project's budget, quotes, payments and spending in one place, and tells you early when a project is drifting over budget.
Where To Start
Open 'Projects'. Add each project (up to 20) with its budget, target dates, status and how you'll pay for it.
Open 'Budget'. Add a line for each thing you'll pay for: pick the project and a category, then type the Estimated cost. Add the quoted price when you get one and the actual cost when you pay.
Getting bids? Open 'Quotes' and compare up to 3 contractors for up to 5 projects side by side.
Open 'Payments' and list deposits and payments you owe, with due dates. We flag what's overdue or coming up.
Check 'Dashboard' for each project's budget status, what's left, upcoming payments and how much to save each month.
Optional: open 'Settings' to change the default contingency, the 'Watch' warning level, and how much each quote factor matters to you.
Which Cells To Edit
Yellow cells with blue text are yours to fill in. Italic yellow cells are optional. Gray cells calculate on their own and are locked so a formula can't be erased by accident.
Every list has room built in: 20 projects, 300 budget lines and 100 payments. Fill rows from the top; blank rows in between are fine.
Need to change a formula? In Excel go to Review, then Unprotect Sheet. In Google Sheets use Data, then Protect sheets and ranges. No password needed.
What The Results Mean
Budget status: 'On track' means spending and Estimated costs fit your budget. 'Watch' means you've used most of the budget or started using the contingency. 'Over budget' means you've gone past budget plus contingency.
Line status on Budget: 'Under' or 'Over' compares what you paid with the quote (or the Estimated cost if there's no quote). 'Not yet spent' means no actual cost yet. 'Part paid' means you've paid a deposit and more is still to come. 'No estimate' means you paid for something you hadn't planned.
Payment status: 'Overdue' (due date has passed and not paid), 'Due soon' (within the next 30 days), 'Upcoming', or 'Paid'.
Quote score: a 0 to 100 score built from the factors on Settings. This is a decision aid, not a recommendation. Always check references, licenses and the written contract yourself.
Monthly savings needed: for projects paid from Savings, what's still to fund divided by the months until the target start. If the start date has passed, the whole amount shows as needed now.
How To Clear The Examples And Reuse It
The example version is filled with made-up projects (each working tab shows an 'Example data' banner). The easiest fresh start is the Blank file that came with it.
To clear by hand: select the yellow cells on Projects, Budget, Quotes and Payments and press Delete. Leave the gray cells alone. Settings keeps its starting values.
Sorting: select the yellow rows of a list (not the header) and use Data, then Sort. Gray columns follow along.
Good To Know
Budget: the amount you want the project to cost.
Contingency: extra money set aside for surprises (hidden damage, price changes). Most homeowners set aside 10% to 15%; older homes often need the higher end.
Total allowed: budget plus contingency. The most you're prepared to spend.
Estimated: your own guess before you have a price. Quoted: a written price from a vendor. Actual: what you really paid. Committed on the Dashboard is the total of quoted prices.
Expected final cost: actual cost where you've paid in full, otherwise the quote, otherwise the Estimated cost. For a deposit we use the larger of what you've paid and the planned cost. All costs here are Estimated until paid.
Share box: the "Share with other EasyWorkTools Home tools" box on the Dashboard lists the numbers this file gives to and gets from the other Home tools. Copy them by hand. The labels match exactly, so it's clear where each one goes.
Getting Updates
Every update is free. When a new version is ready we email you, and you can download it any time.
Moving to a new version: copy the yellow cells from each sheet into the same sheets of the new file.
Using Google Sheets? Upload this file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets (or File, then Import, then Upload). The math works the same.
Your License
This file is licensed to one household. Please don't share, resell or post it online.
© 2026 EasyWorkTools. All rights reserved. easyworktools.com
Every tab
This file has 8 tabs, in this order:
- Start Here
- Dashboard
- Projects
- Budget
- Quotes
- Payments
- Lists
- Settings