Creating a spreadsheet model to explore the costs of a children's party
To create a spreadsheet model like the one above:
- Type in the headings as above, or similar, eg "Party things" in cell A1, "Cost each" in cell B1, "How many?" in C1 and "Total cost" in D1.
- Enter in items for the party in column A, their individual or unit costs in column B and the number required in column C.
- To format the cells under the headings in columns B and D to display amounts of money correctly, select and highlight the relevant cells by clicking and dragging. Now click on Cells in the Format menu and select "Currency" from the list on the right of the resulting dialog. Click OK.
- In cell D2, enter the formula =B2*C2 to multiply the cost of the item in B2 by a chosen quantity in C2.
- Copy the formula to cells D3 to D17 by dragging
the fill handle from cell D2 down to D17.
- In cell D18, enter the formula =SUM(D2:D17) to add together the total costs in column D.
- Select a cell adjacent to the data to provide information in relation to your chosen budget. Enter the formula =D18-n with n being your chosen budget - in the example above the budget is ten pounds.
- Use the colour, clip-art and border tools to give the spreadsheet an attractive appearance.
- Now manipulate the variables in the spreadsheet to plan a party which has all necessary items and is within the chosen budget.
Download the file - party.xls 
