Support

Instructions & FAQs

Everything you need to get started and troubleshoot common issues.

This product is for personal use only. You may not share, sell, copy, or distribute any part of it without prior written permission. All information is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial or professional advice.

Getting Started

How to use your template

Follow these four steps to get up and running quickly.

01
Make a Copy
Click the Google Sheets template link in your purchase. Go to File → Make a Copy and save it to your Google Drive. You won't be able to edit the original — always work from your copy.
Important You won't be able to edit the original file — always work from your copy.
02
Read the Instructions Tab
Every template includes a detailed README – Instructions tab that explains how the template works and provides key details to help you get started. Be sure to read it before entering your data.
03
Refer to Sample Data
Your template comes with pre-filled sample data so you can see how categories, entries, and numbers should look. Use the Sample Data link in your purchase, or click the "Click here for sample spreadsheet" button in the Instructions Tab.
04
Start Using Your Template
You're ready! Follow the recommended formatting for numbers, dates, and inputs as shown in the Instructions Tab. If you need specific customisation or run into issues, feel free to message me.
Important Our templates are designed for Google Sheets and are not compatible with Excel. If you need offline access, use Google Sheets in Offline Mode — see FAQ 05 below.

Troubleshooting

Common Questions

The most common reason is that you haven't made your own copy yet. You're viewing the original template, which is read-only.

1 Open the template link from your purchase.
2 Go to File → Make a Copy in the top menu.
3 Choose a location in your Google Drive and save. Now you can edit your personal version.
Note For sheets and cells that are still protected after making a copy, see FAQ 02 below.

Some sheets and cells are protected because they contain formulas or data that keep the template working correctly. Removing protections is not recommended — editing protected cells may break calculations, charts, or automation.

If you still need to remove a protection, here's how:

Unlock a Protected Sheet (Tab)

1 Go to Data → Protected Sheets & Ranges in the top menu.
2 A panel opens on the right — find the sheet you want to unlock.
3 Click the sheet name, then click the trash icon 🗑 to remove protection.
4 A pop-up will appear — confirm by clicking Remove.

Unlock a Protected Cell or Range

1 Go to Data → Protected Sheets & Ranges.
2 Find the protected range in the panel (it may highlight in the spreadsheet).
3 Click it, then click the trash icon 🗑 to remove the protection.
4 Confirm by clicking Remove in the pop-up.

The template worksheets are on separate tabs. Check the bottom of your Google Sheets window for the tab bar — you'll see tabs like START, TRANSACTION, DASHBOARD, etc. Click the arrow icons on the right side of the tab bar to reveal any hidden tabs.

Always use Paste Special → Values Only when copying data from an external source like a CSV file. This pastes just the numbers and text without overwriting any formulas in the template.

1 Copy your data from the external source.
2 Click the target cell in the template.
3 Right-click → Paste Special → Values Only (or use Ctrl+Shift+V).
Important Make sure your data structure matches the template layout before importing.

You can use your template without internet by enabling Offline Mode. Follow these steps:

Step 1 — Enable Offline Mode in Google Drive

1 Open Google Drive.
2 Click the gear icon ⚙ in the top-right corner, then select Settings.
3 In the General tab, scroll to Offline and check the box: "Create, open, and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline."

Step 2 — Make the Template Available Offline

1 Open your Google Sheets template.
2 Click File → Make available offline. A checkmark will confirm it's ready.

Any changes you make offline will automatically sync when you're back online.

If your dates, currency symbols, or times look incorrect, you may need to update the spreadsheet's locale and time zone settings.

1 Go to File → Settings.
2 In the Locale drop-down, choose the country that matches your preferred date, time, and currency format.
3 In the Time zone section, select your desired time zone.
4 Click Save settings, then reload the sheet to apply the changes.

Still have questions?

Send me a message and I'll get back to you within 24 hours. If you're enjoying the tool, a review means the world — thank you for your support!

Get in Touch