I have all my expenses for 2009 listed in date order. I have assigned each
one an expense category using a drop-down based on the "data validation"
tool. Is there an easy way to tally up the total expenses for each category?

You could sort your data (all the columns) by the category column.

Then use data|subtotals (in xl2003 menus).

Then use the outlining symbols to the left to hide/show details.

If you're really industrious, you could learn about pivottables.

If you've never used pivottables, here are a few links:

Debra Dalgleish's pictures at Jon Peltier's site:
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Pivots/pivottables.htm
And Debra's own site:
http://www.contextures.com/xlPivot01.html

John Walkenbach also has some at:
http://j-walk.com/ss/excel/files/general.htm
(look for Tony Gwynn's Hit Database)

Chip Pearson keeps Harald Staff's notes at:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/pivots.htm

MS has some at (xl2000 and xl2002):
http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2000/XCrtPiv.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/assistan...lconPT101.aspx

The Ambassador wrote:

I have all my expenses for 2009 listed in date order. I have assigned each
one an expense category using a drop-down based on the "data validation"
tool. Is there an easy way to tally up the total expenses for each category?

--

Dave Peterson

SUMIF will work but that mean you must make a list of categories
Pivot table would be ideal but will take you a few minutes to lean how to do
it

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/pivots.htm
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Pivots/pivotstart.htm
http://www.contextures.com/xlPivot02.html
http://www.ozgrid.com/Excel/excel-pivot-tables.htm
http://www.techonthenet.com/excel/pivottbls/index.htm
http://www.dicks-blog.com/archives/2...le-parameters/

best wishes

--
Bernard Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme
"The Ambassador" <The wrote in message
...
I have all my expenses for 2009 listed in date order. I have assigned each
one an expense category using a drop-down based on the "data validation"
tool. Is there an easy way to tally up the total expenses for each
category?

Sounds like a job for a Pivot Table:
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Pivots/pivottables.htm
http://www.babeled.com/2008/07/18/ex...-manipulation/

--
Ryan---
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"The Ambassador" wrote:

I have all my expenses for 2009 listed in date order. I have assigned each
one an expense category using a drop-down based on the "data validation"
tool. Is there an easy way to tally up the total expenses for each category?