Savings spreadsheets for cash and timing

Match the dates to the money

Start with the account or deposit terms, current balance and the date you may need the funds. A maturity calendar tracks when a deposit ends; a forecast depends on assumptions about what happens afterward. Those are different jobs.

Keep principal and interest separate. Check whether a stated percentage is an annual percentage yield (APY) or another interest-rate measure before entering it. A future renewal rate is an assumption, not a quote or a guarantee.

Use the instructions for each published workbook to understand its calculation method. Check access restrictions, fees and early-withdrawal terms with the provider; a date in a spreadsheet does not make funds available.