(1) When I download my transaction record from a bank, excel seems to treat
the value, for example, $ 12.34 as text and I cannot do arithmetic. I tried
Format|Cell command but it does not work because of stupid $.

(2) So next I tried to replace $ 12.34 by 12.34 using woldcard but when I
try replacing $ * by *, $ 12.34 becomes * instead of 12.34 !!!

Any easy way to solve my problem? Thank you.