MultiverseOSPHow to set up the Paycheck Budget Planner
Google Sheets or Excel. About 10 minutes. Prefer to be walked through it? Open the AI guide (bottom corner) and choose Walk me through setup.
Hi, I'm Ava the Fox, your AI setup guide! Follow along below, or let me walk you through it one step at a time in the chat.
Download this guide as a PDF (also included with your purchase)
Open it in Google Sheets
- Download the .xlsx from your download page or email (the link works 3 times in 24 hours; save the file somewhere you'll find it).
- Go to drive.google.com, click New > File upload and choose the .xlsx.
- Open the uploaded file, then choose File > Save as Google Sheets. Work in the new Google Sheets copy (it has the green icon).
- Formulas, dropdowns and colors carry over. If a sheet asks to allow editing a protected range, click OK: gray cells are protected only to prevent accidents (no password).
Open it in Excel
- Download the .xlsx and double-click it. Works in Excel 2010 or newer, Microsoft 365 and Excel for Mac (also LibreOffice Calc).
- If Excel shows a yellow Protected View bar, click Enable Editing (files from the internet always open that way). There are no macros to enable.
- Save a copy under your own name (File > Save As) so you always have the clean original.
Color code: yellow cells are for typing, gray cells are formulas. Tabs: Start Here, Setup, Bills, Paycheck Plan, Bill Map, Spending.
Setup, one step at a time
Open the file
Open the workbook (see Google Sheets or Excel below). Start on the Start Here tab, then look at the filled-in sample so you can see it working.
Ava's tip: You've got this! Take it slow, there's no rush.
Setup
Pick how often you're paid, type your next payday and your usual take-home pay per check, and choose a savings amount per check.
Ava's tip: Nice! One step down. Little steps add up fast.
Bills
List each monthly bill with its amount and due day (1-31). Days past the end of a short month are moved to the month's last day.
Ava's tip: Look at you go! If anything looks odd, the troubleshooting list below has your back.
Paycheck Plan
Read each paycheck: the bills due before the next payday, savings, and what's left. Type a different amount in the yellow 'Actual pay' column when a check is bigger or smaller.
Ava's tip: Halfway-ish and doing great. Keep going!
Bill Map
See which upcoming paycheck pays each bill, so you know which check to hold money back from.
Ava's tip: Ooh, you're really getting the hang of this.
Spending
Optional: log spending against a paycheck number to see what's left in real time.
Ava's tip: Almost there! I can see the finish line.
Make it yours
Replace the sample values in the yellow cells with your own. Gray cells calculate automatically. Save.
Ava's tip: Woohoo, last step! You did it. Give yourself a cheer!
Troubleshooting
The download link says expired or used up
Each link works 3 times within 24 hours. Email Grokedgepm@proton.me with your order email and we'll send a fresh link.
I didn't get the email
Check spam and promotions for 'downloads@multiverseosp.com'. Your download page also appeared right after checkout. Still nothing? Email us your order email.
A cell shows #REF!, #VALUE! or #NAME?
Usually a gray formula cell was typed over or a row was deleted. Press Undo, or start again from the original file. Type only in yellow cells.
Dates look like numbers (e.g. 46310)
Select the cell and set Format > Number > Date. In Google Sheets also check File > Settings > Locale matches your country.
Can I delete the sample data?
Yes. Clear the yellow cells only (select, press Delete). Don't delete whole rows; the formulas expect them.
Still stuck? Email Grokedgepm@proton.me with your order email, or ask the AI guide to pass your question to a person.
Back to the Paycheck Budget Planner
Informational tool only. Not financial, tax, or legal advice. Guide written with AI assistance and checked by hand.