Here’s what you can try:

1. When you click on the link in the PDF, a page should open in your internet browser. Look for the ‘Use Template’ button in the top right corner. Clicking this should open a personal copy of the spreadsheet, accessible only by you, within seconds.

2. If the spreadsheet opens in view-only mode, go to the top toolbar, click on ‘File’ → ‘Make a Copy’. This will create a copy of the spreadsheet that gives you full access.

3. Sometimes, Google Sheets can be glitchy. If it doesn’t open, or if it opens in view-only mode, try these troubleshooting options:

   • Open the spreadsheet from a computer or laptop initially, as mobile devices sometimes encounter issues.
   • Ensure you have enough space on your Google Drive. If it’s full or near full, it might only allow view-only access.
   • Check if your browser is up to date. If it is, try using a different browser.
   • Make sure you’re logged into Google Sheets. The spreadsheet won’t open if you’re not logged in or if you’re using an incognito window.

4. If you’ve tried all these options and still have issues, please reach out to us on Etsy for further assistance. We’re here to help!”

View Only Mode Fix:

In the top toolbar, click on ‘File’ → ‘Make a Copy’. This will generate a copy of the spreadsheet that grants you full access. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, proceed with the troubleshooting options below.
Open from a Computer or Laptop:

We’ve observed that opening the spreadsheet for the first time from mobile devices like phones or tablets might encounter difficulties. Therefore, we recommend initiating the process from a computer or laptop.
Check Google Drive Space:

Ensure there’s adequate space on your Google Drive. If it’s nearing full capacity, access to spreadsheets might be restricted to ‘View Only’ mode. You can check your available storage by visiting drive.google.com.
Try a Different Browser:

Verify if your browser is up to date. If it is, attempt opening the spreadsheet in a different browser to rule out browser-related issues.
Ensure You’re Logged into Google Sheets:

If the spreadsheet fails to open, confirm that you’re logged into your Google Sheets account and not attempting to access the template in an incognito window. Follow these steps:
Close all tabs and windows where you tried to open the spreadsheet.
Go to sheets.google.com.
Log in with your Google account.
Return to the PDF, click on the link, and select ‘Use Template’. The spreadsheet should open properly.
Contact Us for Further Assistance:

If you’ve exhausted all these options and still encounter issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on Etsy. We’re here to help troubleshoot and resolve any problems you may face.”

If you’ve realized that you need to access the spreadsheet with a different email address, don’t worry! Our spreadsheets aren’t tied to the email address of your Etsy account. After making your purchase, you can open it with any Google account, even if you’ve already accessed it with a different one.

To access it with the correct Google Account:

1. Go to sheets.google.com.
2. Log in with the Google Account you want to use to access the spreadsheet.
3. Return to the PDF, click the link, and select ‘Use Template’.

Your spreadsheet will now be linked to the right Google Account.

If you want to access the spreadsheet with multiple Google Accounts, for instance, because you want to share your budget with your partner, follow these steps:

In the top right corner of the spreadsheet, you’ll see a big green “Share” button. Click it.
In the bar labeled “add people or groups,” type in the email address of the person you want to share the spreadsheet with.
Choose the level of access you want to grant to the person you’re adding:
Viewer: Allows the person to see the data in the spreadsheet but not make any changes.
Editor: Grants the person permission to view the spreadsheet and make changes.
Owner: Gives the person full control to view, edit, and even remove you from the spreadsheet.
Click on the send button to share the spreadsheet.

While you need an internet browser to edit your spreadsheet, Google Sheets now allows you to edit and access your spreadsheet offline. For more information on using and editing your spreadsheet online, you can visit the Google Docs Help Platform here.

All our spreadsheets available in our store are specifically designed for Google Sheets and may not function properly on Excel or any other program. While Google Sheets and Excel are similar programs, they have significant differences in their formulas and how formulas are set up. When a spreadsheet is exported to an Excel format, the formulas may not translate properly, causing the spreadsheet to not function as designed. For this reason, we highly recommend not exporting your spreadsheet and only using it in Google Sheets.

Absolutely! You can use this spreadsheet for as many months or years as you need. Simply duplicate the month tab (instructions provided in the tips & tricks section above) for each additional month you want to track. Then, adjust the year and month details in the top left corner of the budget tab to reflect the desired time period.