Happy New Year from the Excel Rain Man team! In this issue, we have yet another bundle of EXCEL love for you:
1. Free Excel Rain Man Budget Buster Spreadsheet!!!
2. Tip #3 – Text Functions in Excel
3. ExcelRainMan’s Top 10 Ways to save money in a recession

1. Budget Buster from ExcelRainMan.com
Hello there fellow Spreadsheeters! Is your New Years Resolution to drop a few lb’s and watch those precious dolla bills in this economy?
Well… the Excel Rain Man team is here to help you with the latter. (Trust me, you will be the first to know when we come up with a calorie cutting calculator)

To help jump start your new years resolution… get spreadtastic with The Excel Rain Man Budget Buster. This tricked out spreadsheet provides a personalized P&L and will assist you in understanding and organizing your finances for living responsibly.

It’s no secret that building financial habits takes work check this link. If you are always spending more than you’re earning, you’re severely decreasing your capacity to make long-term wealth.

The Excel Rain Man Budget Buster can be downloaded for FREE from the Tips & Tricks section at ExcelRainMan.com. Instructions are also provided to help you dominate this terrific tool!

2. Tips & Tricks #3
Some of my favorite text functions in Excel… get ready to live!
Just another lovely way to clean up your data dump in excel in no time! Take a few minutes out of your work day to learn about some yummmy text functions: LEFT, RIGHT, MID, FIND, LEN, … It’s okay if your boss catches you. This is continuing education that you do not need to submit in your expense report. Holla!
Download Tip #3 (Text Functions in Excel) free of charge from the Tips & Tricks section at ExcelRainMan.com.
Check out the latest free tips, tricks and goodies from the Excel Rain Man team and improve your spreadsheeting skillz today!!
Note: Has your company upgraded from Excel 2003 to Excel 2007?
Were you an excel ninja a few months back and now your company’s recent “upgrade” from Excel 2003 to Excel 2007 has you feeling a little down in the dumps? Calm down and stop complaining… It will get better, I promise! However, until you get your “Excel Esteem” back, the Excel Rain Man team will be offering all Tips & Tricks in both 2003 and 2007 versions. Now that’s spreadsheeting you can believe in!

3. Excel Rain Man’s Top 10 Ways to Save a Buck in 2009
1. No more ATM Fees – Walk the extra block to your bank’s ATM and avoid ATM fees! One ATM fee at a Bodega per week adds up to at least $104 in fees per year.
2. Caffeine Intake – Okay, I understand that you do not want to drink the motor oil coffee from the office break room… but just give it a shot. If you are still miserable, try cutting your double grande mocha frappuccino down from 5 to 1 per week, and have a coffee in its place.
FACT: 5 Grande Soy Cinnamon Dolce half-caff Frappuccinos costs $24.10 per week. If you just downgrade to a Grande Pike Place roast 3 days per week, have some free office coffee 1 day per week, and restrain yourself to 1 Grande Soy Cinnamon Dolce half-caff Frappuccino® per week, you will save $673.40 per year. Don’t even get me started on the calorie savings there…
3. Cut down your cabs – As it is, the traffic is such a pain. Try walking around the city. It is free and it is a great source of exercise that won’t make you feel like a hamster at your gym. Also, take advantage of the public transportation in your hometown. Ask your company about Transportation Reimbursement.
FACT: an Upper East Sider taking 5 cabs downtown to work a week cost them approximately $3,900 per year. If you can limit your taxi affair to once a week following a big night out and instead take the subway the other 4 days… you will see an annual savings of at least $2,700!
4. Pot Luck dinners – Not enough BYOBs in your hometown to keep the dinner bill down? Make your own chic BYOB in your 400 square foot studio apartment! Invite your friends over and have everyone bring a dish and some booze!
5. Brown Bag It! – Pack your lunch once or twice a week. Don’t have time? Just make a little extra dinner and take some leftovers to work! It is probably healthier and yummier than the same thing you get every day.
6. Utilize the free Excel Rain Man Budget Buster to get things in gear! This personal P&L will help you prepare for your future!
7. Come up with thoughtful recession gifts that mean more than a regular gift that can cost a pretty penny. Some ideas:
– babysit for your friend’s kid – approximately $80 value
– use your skill as a gift (I gave family and friends in Pittsburgh excel classes on Christmas day) – more than $100 value per person
8. Bar Tab… more like Bar Stab! – Are you scared to think of how much money you spend at the bar per month? It is important to go out and have fun during these shaky financial times, you can cut the bar bill down a little by doing a little college style pre-gaming… You are never too old for a little SoCo… right!?!
FACT: 15 shots of So Co and Lime with Tip at the bar is $106. One liter of Southern Comfort sold in Manhattan costs 25.99. There are 22.5426818 shots in a liter. Who knew?!? Buying 2 liters of Southern Comfort for 3 pre-games a year will save you $266.02 per year.
9. Utilize your Amex Points and Frequent Flyer Miles – This is a great way to spoil yourself or get a gift for someone without spending a dime. Plus, it is not a bad idea to use up these plastic perks while they are still around.
10. Clean your own apartment – Come on now people… your place is not that big. Just grab a swiffer sweeper (I am obsessed with the Wet Jet), some clorox wipes, put on some Beyonce, and get your clean on… Sasha Fierce style! This will save you at least $1,000 per year.
By sticking to these simple money saving tips, you could save upwards of $5,000 per year!!! Now thats a lot of dough!

Since I last wrote, Excel Rain Man has completed a bunch of projects for companies, boutiques and startups in industries varying from entertainment to restaurant management. The consistent theme that we have seen of late is that in this economic climate, everyone is looking for ways to improve efficiencies and save money (big surprise)!
Let the Excel Rain Man help to provide simple, cost-effective solutions for your business on issues such as budgeting, payroll tracking, inventory management etc.
Feel free to Submit a Request… There is no charge for inquiries!

In case we don’t chat before Superbowl Sunday… Go STEELERS and thanks for reading!