As in checking things off (a tick) in that particular column...I am
using microsoft excel 2003.

One way is to start with the "Forms" tool bar. Make this appear by right-
clicking in the toolbar area and checking "Forms."

Click on the check box in the Forms tool bar and then click in the
spreadsheet. This should make a check box appear. You can move it around
and resize it.

Then, using
Right-click Format Control
you can change its appearance and behavior.

Most interesting is Format Control's "Control" tab. Using it, you can
assign a "Cell link," choosing a worksheet cell to store the state of the
check box (checked or not). This lets you do calculations based on this
state.