Free spreadsheet apps are a cool idea, as long as you’re comfortable with their limitations. Many are ad-supported, for instance, so expect part of your screen to be trying to sell you something.

Open your program of choice and look for the “Template” or “Project” gallery. Select the template that best matches your needs, like “Monthly Home Budget,” to create a new spreadsheet.

Still, everyone needs to start somewhere, so here are three basic spreadsheet tricks for beginners, whether you prefer Microsoft’s suite or Google’s collaborative nature.