<ul class="summary-list"><li>Money in <keyword id="121911" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="excel">Excel</keyword> is a <keyword id="25456" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="financial-planning">financial planning</keyword> tool that can help you track how much money you spend every month.</li><li>You can download the Money in Excel template from Microsoft's website, and use it with <keyword id="693285" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft-365">Microsoft 365</keyword>.</li><li>To use Money in Excel, you need to let Excel connect to your financial services using a secure connection.</li></ul><p>Microsoft includes a few unexpected (and relatively unadvertised) features in its Microsoft 365 subscription. One of the most useful is Money in Excel, a workbook for <keyword id="492700" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft-Excel">Microsoft Excel</keyword> that gives you a dashboard to review all your personal <keyword id="103937" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="finances">finances</keyword>.</p> <p>You can use Money in Excel to securely connect all your financial accounts - savings, investments, loans, credit cards, and so on. From there, the workbook can analyze your data and generate reports. These can include monthly snapshots of your budget, your overall net worth, recurring expenses, and more. </p><h2><strong>How to get Money in Excel</strong></h2><p>To install and use Money in Excel, you need to have an active Microsoft 365 Personal or Microsoft 365 Family subscription. Those are the only Office 365 subscriptions that are compatible with Money for Excel.</p><ol><li>Using a web browser, go to<a href="https://templates.office.com/en-us/money-in-excel-tm77948210" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Microsoft's Money in Excel webpage</a>. If necessary, log into your Microsoft 365 account and then click "Download." Save the downloaded Excel template to a folder on your computer.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="What is Money in Excel 2" height="1831" width="1878" msid="81574122" hostid="261"></div></li><li>Open the downloaded Excel template file in Excel. </li><li>If you see a notification bar across the top of the Excel window warning that you are in Protected View, click "Enable Editing" so you can work with the template. Alternatively, you might see a New Office Add-in pane on the right side of the window. If you do, click "Trust this add-in."</li></ol><p><br />You've now opened Money in Excel and you're ready to start using the file. </p><h2>How to use Money in Excel</h2><p>Money in Excel is an easy-to-use template that gives you multiple views of your finances. The hardest part is setting it up for the first time, and that's mainly because you'll have to go through the time-consuming process of syncing each of your financial accounts one at a time.</p><p>Here's how to get started with the Money in Excel template.</p><h2><strong>How to start using Money in Excel</strong></h2><ol><li>The first time you start Money in Excel, you'll need to log into your Microsoft 365 account in the workbook to enable it. You should see a pane on the right side of the Excel window - click "Sign in" and enter your Microsoft 365 credentials.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="What is Money in Excel 3" height="1604" width="2250" msid="81574124" hostid="261"></div></li><li>For an overview of Money in Excel, you can browse the first two tabs in the workbook - "Welcome" and "Instructions." These sheets provide an overview of how to use it. When you've reviewed them, you can keep them where they are or delete or hide them (right-click on the sheet tab and choose "Delete" or "Hide" from the menu). </li><li>To get started, you need to add at least one of your financial accounts. Money in Excel uses Plaid, a popular, highly secure tool for synchronizing financial accounts. At the bottom of the Money in Excel pane on the right, click "Get started." Follow the instructions to add your first account.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="What is Money in Excel 4" height="1089" width="1935" msid="81574125" hostid="261"></div></li><li>You need to enter your username and password and, depending on how your account is configured, also enter a passcode texted or emailed to you. Microsoft never receives or records your login information for your account - it's all handled securely by Plaid. </li><li><p>After your first account is entered, click "Add an account" at the top of the Money in Excel pane and continue adding more accounts until you are done. Remember that the workbook becomes more useful if you add all your accounts.</p><div type="image" title="What is Money in Excel 5" height="980" width="1741" msid="81574128" hostid="261"></div></li><li>Now take a look at the main Excel pane, where the spreadsheets are located. In addition to the "Welcome" and "Instructions" sheets, you should see sheets called "Snapshot," "Transactions," and "Categories." Explore them - Snapshot shows you important details on a monthly basis (click the month at the top right to change the snapshot to a different time period), while Transactions is a filterable, sortable list of transactions across all your accounts. </li><li>In the Money in Excel pane on the right, click "Templates" at the top. Here you can see additional spreadsheet templates you can add. To install one, click "Add to workbook." After a moment, you should see a new spreadsheet tab on the left.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="What is Money in Excel 6" height="1464" width="2212" msid="81574129" hostid="261"></div></li></ol><h2>Why you should consider using Money in Excel</h2><p>Unless you already use financial software, you probably don't have access to a program that can present simplified views of your entire financial picture like this. If you already have a Microsoft 365 subscription, Money for Excel is an essentially free way to do that. </p><p>Money in Excel has considerable advantages. It's highly secure, for example, since Microsoft doesn't have direct access to your login credentials; that's managed by Plaid, a secure solution used by all major financial institutions. </p><p>It also delivers a wealth of information that's hard to get any other way. Consider, for example, the Recurring Expenses template. This gives you "hidden" insight into recurring charges on your various credit cards all on one page. One or more of your credit card companies might offer a feature similar to this, but you probably don't have access to a single view that includes all your credit and debit cards. </p><p>Likewise, Money for Excel can synthesize all your accounts to show you your net worth, create a monthly budget, and see how much money you spend by category - like dining out - regardless of which combination of accounts you use to spend that money.</p><div type="image" title="What is Money in Excel 1" height="1821" width="2251" msid="81574130" hostid="261"></div>Office 365 (small)<a data-type="604aa2ca55cfb0629b16bcd4">What is a CSV file? How to open, use, and save the popular spreadsheet file in 3 different apps</a><a data-type="602559de9614fd1ec34a388a">How to split cells into columns in Microsoft Excel using the 'Text to Columns' feature</a><a data-type="601c82619dad23712d4f3076">How to create data bars in Excel to help others visualize your spreadsheet's numbers</a><a data-type="5fda7ca8fb3ed915b976ecdf">How to make a bar graph in Excel to visually represent your dataset</a>

How to use Money in Excel, the advanced personal finance tool that's free for Microsoft 365 users

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A CSV (comma-separated values) file is a simple <keyword id="6370972" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Text">text</keyword> file in which information is separated by commas.</li><li>CSV files are most commonly encountered in <keyword id="1599435" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Spreadsheets">spreadsheets</keyword> and databases.</li><li>You can use a CSV file to move data between programs that aren't ordinarily able to exchange data.</li></ul><p>If you spend any time with spreadsheet applications like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Excel</a> or <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/google-sheets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Sheets</a> - or even import certain kinds of data into <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Outlook</a> - you will inevitably encounter a comma-separated values file, commonly known as a CSV.</p><p>A CSV file is a simple text file that you can open in a wide variety of programs, including any program that works with plain text like the Notepad app; what makes a CSV file unique is the way its content is organized. </p><h2>What to know about a CSV file</h2><p>A CSV file, as the name implies, typically separates information using commas. It's a way to exchange structured information, like the contents of a spreadsheet, among programs that can't necessarily talk to one another directly.</p><p>As long as two programs can both open a CSV file, they can exchange data. For example, you can save contact information from <keyword id="492700" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft-Excel">Microsoft Excel</keyword> as a CSV file, and import it into the address book in Microsoft Outlook.</p><p>A typical CSV file looks like this, where each line contains the same sequence of data so any program which needs to read it knows what to expect:</p><blockquote><pre>Product, Size, Color, Price<br /><br />Shirt, Medium, Blue, $14<br /><br />Shirt, Large, Red, $15<br /><br />Pants, Medium, Khaki, $23</pre></blockquote><p>Despite the name, a CSV doesn't need to rely on commas as the separator between pieces of information. This separator, called a delimiter, can be a semicolon, space, or some other character, though the comma is most common. </p><h2>How to open a CSV file in Microsoft <keyword id="121911" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="excel">Excel</keyword></h2><p>Because CSV files are so simple, most spreadsheet apps can open and save CSV files.</p><p>Here is how to do that in Excel:<br /><br /></p><ol><li>In Excel's ribbon, click the "File" tab and then click "Open."</li><li>Click "Browse" and, in the File Explorer box, click the drop-down menu to the right of the File name field. It usually defaults to All Excel Files - change it to "All Files."</li><li>Navigate to the location where the CSV file is stored and select it. <br /><br /><div type="image" title="What_is_a_CSV_file 1" height="1478" width="1938" msid="81472573" hostid="261"></div></li><li>Follow the Text Import Wizard to open the CSV. Usually, you'll want to select the option to import delimited data (this would be the comma or other separator) and click "Next." </li><li>Choose the kind of delimiter the file is using. You'll know you've selected the correct delimiter when the preview appears structured and organized properly. Click "Next."<br /><br /><div type="image" title="What_is_a_CSV_file 2" height="1041" width="2257" msid="81472578" hostid="261"></div></li><li>If needed, you can click a column and change the kind of formatting for that data. When you're satisfied, click "Finished."<br /><br /></li></ol><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> You can also easily save a spreadsheet as a CSV file to import it into a different program. Save the file as you usually would - choose "File" and "Save As," but then choose "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (*.csv)" from the file type menu. </p><h2>How to open a CSV file in <keyword id="1971456" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="google-sheets">Google Sheets</keyword></h2><p>Opening a CSV file in Google Sheets is much simpler because Sheets automatically sets all the options during import. <br /><br /></p><ol><li>In Google Sheets, click "File" and then click "Open."</li><li>Find the CSV file and select it. If needed, click "Upload" and then drag and drop it from your computer.</li><li>The CSV will automatically be formatted properly and appear in Sheets. </li></ol><h2>How to open a CSV in a text editor</h2><p>Unlike spreadsheets, a text editor won't automatically format or structure the CSV file for you. Instead, you'll simply see the data separated by the comma or other delimiter. It's usually not aesthetically appealing, but it's an easy way to see the content of the file. <br /><br /></p><ol><li>Open a text editor like Windows Notepad or TextEdit.</li><li>Click "File" and then "Open."</li><li>In the "File Open" dialog box, click the drop-down menu to the right of the "File name" field. If it's currently set to "Text Documents," change it to "All Files."</li><li>Find the CSV file and select it. <br /><br /><div type="image" title="What_is_a_CSV_file 3" height="500" width="1686" msid="81472580" hostid="261"></div></li></ol><p>And of course, once you've imported your CSV file into any of these programs, you can then edit the data like you would with any other file.</p><a data-type="602559de9614fd1ec34a388a">How to split cells into columns in Microsoft Excel using the 'Text to Columns' feature</a><a data-type="6022da699dad2334224f7843">How to convert an Excel spreadsheet to a Google Sheets document</a><a data-type="5fc6ac7fc7bd851c1c521c49">How to see the edit history for cells in Google Sheets and spot changes or mistakes in a spreadsheet</a><a data-type="5f3d5bf0f34d0547620be8d7">The 35 best Google Sheets keyboard shortcuts for speeding up your workflow on a Mac or PC</a>

What is a CSV file? How to open, use, and save the popular spreadsheet file in 3 different apps

<ul class="summary-list"><li>You can split cells into columns in <keyword id="121911" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="excel">Excel</keyword> using the "Text to Columns" tool.</li><li>Excel gives you two ways to split cells into columns: using delimiters, or using a manual fixed width.</li><li>Splitting cells into columns is a convenient way to separate first and last names, or cities and states.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Excel</a> has lots of features that can help you manage your <keyword id="6355729" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="data">data</keyword>.</p><p>For example, say you have a hundred cells, which are each filled with a first and last name. You can use the "Text to Columns" tool to separate these two data points (first name and last name) into two separate columns, which is great for organizing your data.</p><p>Here's how to separate a single column of cells into two individual columns with just a couple clicks.</p><h2><strong>How to split an Excel cell into columns </strong></h2><p>There are two ways to split an Excel cell: using delimiters, or using a fixed width. These two options have some slight differences.</p><h2>Delimited vs Fixed Width columns</h2><ul><li>The <strong>Delimited</strong> option will split your data using commas, spaces, periods, dashes, or other formatting marks that you might have in a single cell. For example, if you've written out someone's name as "Smith, John," it'll separate Smith and John into separate columns.</li><li>The <strong>Fixed Width</strong> option lets you manually pick where you want Excel to split the data. For example, if you have a list of names, you can tell Excel to split the data so one column has the first letter of everyone's name, and the second column has the rest of the name.</li></ul><h2><strong>How to split cells into columns using a delimiter</strong></h2><p><strong>1.</strong> In Excel, select the cell, group of cells, or entire column that has the text you want to split. It'll need to contain two pieces of data separated by a "delimiter." This'll usually be a comma, period, dash, or space.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> Click the "Data" tab and then click "Text to Columns."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_split_Excel_cell_into_columns 1" height="876" width="1592" msid="80869359" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>3.</strong> In the "Convert Text to Columns Wizard" window, choose "Delimited." If you want to base the columns on a fixed width, see the next section. </p><p><strong>4.</strong> Click "Next."</p><p><strong>5.</strong> Select one or more delimiters - in other words, what Excel should use to know how to separate the columns. In a case like names or locations, it'll often be a comma. Some kinds of data imported from another spreadsheet or database might be delimited by a tab or space. You can choose more than one delimiter as well. Click "Next."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_split_Excel_cell_into_columns 2" height="1029" width="1632" msid="80869362" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>6.</strong> Choose the way you want to format the column and, if you want to, use the "Destination" option to specify where in the spreadsheet the new column will appear. If you don't select this, the new split columns will overwrite the current cells. </p><p><strong>7.</strong> Click "Finish."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_split_Excel_cell_into_columns 3" height="800" width="1336" msid="80869364" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>How to split cells into columns using a fixed width</strong></h2><p><strong>1.</strong> In Excel, select the cell, group of cells, or entire column that has the text you want to split. It doesn't need to have delimiters.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> Click the "Data" tab and then click "Text to Columns."</p><p><strong>3.</strong> In the "Convert Text to Columns Wizard" window, choose "Fixed width" and then click "Next."</p><p><strong>4.</strong> Click in the ruler at the top of the "Data preview" to indicate where you want to break the text into multiple columns. After you add a break, you can drag it to reposition it. You can also add multiple breaks to create more than two columns. If you add a break you don't want, double-click it to delete it. When you're done, click "Next."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_split_Excel_cell_into_columns 4" height="958" width="1634" msid="80869366" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>5.</strong> Choose the way you want to format the column and, if you want to, use the "Destination" option to specify where in the spreadsheet the new column will appear. If you don't select this, the new split columns will overwrite the current cells. </p><p><strong>6.</strong> Click "Finish."</p><h2><strong>Related coverage from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tech Reference</a>:</strong></h2><ul><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-a-bar-graph-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to make a bar graph in Excel to visually represent your dataset<br /></a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-create-data-bars-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to create data bars in Excel to help others visualize your spreadsheet's numbers</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-change-date-format-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to change the date format in Microsoft Excel to make the program write dates in a certain way</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-move-columns-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to move columns in Microsoft Excel to organize your spreadsheet data</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-remove-duplicates-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to remove duplicates in Microsoft Excel to clean up data in individual or multiple columns</a></h3></li></ul>

How to split cells into columns in Microsoft Excel using the 'Text to Columns' feature

How to use Excel: A beginner's guide to Microsoft's spreadsheet program

<ul class="summary-list"><li>You can enable macros in <keyword id="121911" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="excel">Excel</keyword> using the Trust Center or enable a specific macro from the security warning at the top of a spreadsheet. </li><li>Excel supports macros, which are programmable scripts that automate various features in Excel. </li><li>Macros can be dangerous, so Excel disables them by default. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Excel</a> spreadsheets can contain scripts known as macros. Macros are small, simple programs within <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Excel</a> (or other <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft-office" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Office</a> programs) that can automate common tasks.</p><p>There was a time when macros were very common in Excel, but macro viruses — malicious macros that could inflict serious harm — forced <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft</a> to implement safety and security precautions, including disabling macros by default.</p><p>These days, you can still use macros in Excel, but you need to enable the macro feature to do so. Here's how to enable (and disable) macros. </p><h2><strong>How to enable macros in Excel</strong></h2><p>If you are willing to accept the risk of enabling all macros in Excel, you can permanently enable them using the Trust Center. </p><p><strong>1.</strong> Click "File" and then click "Options."</p><p><strong>2.</strong> In the Excel Options window, click "Trust Center" in the navigation pane on the left. </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click "Trust Center Settings…"</p><div type="image" title="How_to_enable_macros_in_Excel 3" height="1411" width="1926" msid="79293054" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>4.</strong> In the navigation pane on the left, click "Macro Settings."</p><p><strong>5.</strong> In the Macro Settings section, click "Enable all macros (not recommended: potentially dangerous code can run)" and then click "OK." As the option warns, this is a dangerous choice and not recommended. </p><div type="image" title="How_to_enable_macros_in_Excel 4" height="1411" width="1933" msid="79293055" hostid="261"></div><p>If you want to disable macros in the future, return to the Trust Center and choose "Disable all macros with notifications." </p><h2><strong>How to permanently enable a single macro in Excel</strong></h2><p>If you have an Excel file with a macro, you can easily enable it when you open the spreadsheet.</p><p><strong>1.</strong> Open the file with the macro in Excel. </p><p><strong>2.</strong> You should see a yellow Security Warning message bar advising you that macros have been disabled. </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click "Enable Content."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_enable_macros_in_Excel 1" height="871" width="1507" msid="79293056" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>How to enable a macro in Excel for one time only</strong></h2><p>If you want to run a particular macro just one time, you can configure Excel's security settings for that as well. </p><p><strong>1.</strong> Open the file with the macro in Excel. </p><p><strong>2.</strong> You should see a yellow Security Warning message bar advising you that macros have been disabled. </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click "File" and then click "Info."</p><p><strong>4.</strong> In the Security Warning section, click "Enable Content."</p><p><strong>5.</strong> In the dropdown menu, click "Advanced Options."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_enable_macros_in_Excel 2" height="1027" width="1703" msid="79293057" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>6.</strong> Click "Enable content for this session" and then click "OK."</p><p>The macro will be enabled for this one time and will be disabled the next time you open the file. </p><h2><strong>Related coverage from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tech Reference</a>:</strong></h2><ul><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-add-alt-text-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to add alt text in Microsoft Excel to photos, shapes, and graphs and improve your spreadsheet's accessibility<br /></a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-convert-google-sheets-to-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to convert your Google Sheets files into Excel files, and edit them in Microsoft Excel</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-export-iphone-contacts-to-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to export your iPhone contacts to an Excel spreadsheet using iCloud</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-edit-drop-down-list-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to edit a drop-down list in Excel, depending on how you created it</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-do-vlookup-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to use the VLOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel to find related data points in your worksheet</a></h3></li></ul>

How to enable macros in Excel and automate your work on a spreadsheet

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11894125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tiktok" source="Orion">TikTok</keyword>'s <keyword id="12665283" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="excel" source="Orion">Excel</keyword> community is vast, with some stars garnering millions of followers making tutorials.</li><li>Some of the biggest Excel influencers are "Miss Excel," "Your Excel Friend," and "Excel Daddy."</li></ul><p>TikTok has spawned countless trends and subcultures on a wide variety of topics. Videos featuring the <keyword id="11895708" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="microsoft" source="Orion">Microsoft</keyword> spreadsheet program Excel are among those to recently become hugely popular on the platform.</p><p>Although data programming and digit calculation may not seem like it would make for the flashiest clips, Excel TikTok tutorials and comedy sketches have amassed millions of views and morphed into an entire genre of content, with an array of influencers that spans languages and continents.</p><p>The TikTok hashtag "excel" has over 1.8 <em>billion</em> views in total, and some of the biggest TikTokers in the space have hundreds of thousands of followers thanks to their videos featuring jokes about Excel and how-to guides.</p><h2>Excel influencers fuse spreadsheet tutorials with comedy </h2><p>Your Excel Friend, who goes by the handle @excel.friend, is one of the most popular Excel-centric channels on the platform with over 2.7 million followers and 9.7 million likes. The influencer has never revealed their face or voice, and all their videos are tutorials with funny on-screen captions, while pop music or TikTok hits are broadcasted in the background.</p><p>Another popular creator in the space is known as "Excel Daddy" and has over 440,000 followers, 13 million views, and 1.4 million likes on the app.</p><p>Excel Daddy, who hasn't publicly disclosed their name, has been posting spreadsheet-centric memes and tutorials since June. Most videos feature voice-over narration and TikTok's face-builder effect, which superimposes eyes and a mouth onto objects, giving them a comedic effect.</p><p>"I decided to not just add some flavor to Excel but really bring some spice. I developed a character that I use in most<br />of my videos," Excel Daddy told Insider in an email. "That's how I went from showing a few functions to becoming the Excel Daddy of TikTok. I flirt with my audience quite a bit too, by blowing kisses or winking at them."</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@excel4thewin/video/6987106473906031878" data-video-id="6987106473906031878" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@excel4thewin" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@excel4thewin">@excel4thewin</a> <p><a title="stitch" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/stitch">##stitch</a> with @theblacksheep99 <a title="excel" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/excel">##excel</a> <a title="excel4thewin" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/excel4thewin">##excel4thewin</a> <a title="excel4dummies" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/excel4dummies">##excel4dummies</a> <a title="learnontiktok" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/learnontiktok">##learnontiktok</a> <a title="worksmarternotharder" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/worksmarternotharder">##worksmarternotharder</a> <a title="officelife" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/officelife">##officelife</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Excel Daddy   " href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6987106383636531973">♬ original sound - Excel Daddy   </a> </section> </blockquote> <p>Kat Norton, who began making TikTok videos in June 2020 under the name "Miss Excel," has also skyrocketed to over 650,000 followers, making her one of the app's most popular Excel influencers.</p><p>She has leveraged her TikTok fame into a software tutorial business called Miss Excel, from which she reportedly makes over $100,000 a day, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/22807858/tiktok-influencer-microsoft-excel-instagram-decoder-podcast">according to a recent interview with The Verge</a>. </p><p>Unlike Excel Daddy, Norton features heavily in her clips. But she also takes a comedic approach, integrating popular dances and viral lip-syncing into spreadsheet content, like twisting her body to Disclosure's bouncy dance-pop hit "Latch" while <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@miss.excel/video/6972672741644242182?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;lang=en">showing viewers a tip to latch multiple cells together</a>. </p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@miss.excel/video/6972672741644242182" data-video-id="6972672741644242182" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@miss.excel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@miss.excel">@miss.excel</a> Excel hack sponsored by Fredi! Use the code MISS.EXCEL15 for 15% off my favorite wellness product to boost memory, focus &amp; mood! (link in bio) <a title="excel" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/excel">#excel</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ Latch - Disclosure" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Latch-6829389750026127362">♬ Latch - Disclosure</a> </section> </blockquote> <h2>A common Excel TikTok trend involves creators referring to their 'boss'</h2><p>Many Excel TikToks follow a common format, beginning with a caption along the lines of "My boss asked me to do this," and then showing viewers how to execute a certain task on the program. </p><p>Excel Daddy told Insider he does this to make his videos relatable. "I think most people have had an incompetent boss, colleague, or client so maybe that specific person will show up in the viewer's head," he said. </p><p>Some creators like "Your Excel Friend" take this trope to the extreme and post long-winded stories about what their "boss" asked them to do. </p><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@excel.friend/video/7008914497326910726?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;lang=en">In a video posted September 17</a> with 1.8 million views, the creator wrote in on-screen text that their "boss" forced them to "cancel your weekend" to sort out an Excel crisis in which the spreadsheet's height and width were wrong.  </p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@excel.friend/video/7008914497326910726" data-video-id="7008914497326910726" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@excel.friend" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@excel.friend">@excel.friend</a> save this coz ur gonna need it when ur a grown up  <a title="spreadsheet" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spreadsheet">#spreadsheet</a> <a title="tutorial" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tutorial">#tutorial</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ The Ecstasy of Gold (From " the="" good="" bad="" and="" ugly="" ennio="" morricone="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/The-Ecstasy-of-Gold-From-The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-Ugly-6767561340413282305">♬ The Ecstasy of Gold (From "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly") - Ennio Morricone</a> </section> </blockquote> <p>"That's my weekend Fvk€d," the TikToker wrote in another on-screen caption with sad emojis, before they added "UNLESS…" and then proceeded to provide a tutorial on how to solve the issue. Ennio Morricone's heroic "The Ecstasy of Gold" soundtrack played in the background.</p><h2><strong>The Excel online community is largely welcoming and diverse</strong></h2><p>Compared to some of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/tiktok-trend-school-accounts-fake-mock-teachers-offensive-posts-2021-11">darker</a> <a href="https://www.insider.com/tiktok-rejects-rush-to-join-clapper-share-far-right-videos-2021-3">sides</a> <a href="https://www.insider.com/the-worst-tiktok-health-trends-of-2020-2020-12">of</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-milk-crate-challenge-removes-tags-dangerous-that-went-viral-2021-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">TikTok</a>, this community appears to be drama-free and positive. The comment sections of Excel TikToks are often flooded with folks asking additional questions and other users responding with assistance.</p><p>Excel Daddy told Insider that he sees very few negative comments on his videos and that everyone involved in the community is "extremely engaged" because they want to learn.</p><p>The Excel TikTok genre also includes a plethora of non-English speakers. There's <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@excel_rus">@excel_rus</a>, a Russian-speaking creator with over 460,000 followers; <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@elingefrancisco">Francisco Terán</a>, an Ecuadorian influencer who describes himself in his bio as TikTok's official Excel professor and has 1.7 million followers; <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mindpower43">@mindpower43</a>, a French-speaking Excel expert with almost 6,000 followers; the Turkish-speaking Excel star <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@excel.tr">@excel.tr</a>, who has amassed over 130,000 TikTok followers; <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@excelpraontem?lang=en">"Excel pra Ontem,"</a> a TikToker with almost 300,000 followers who makes tutorials in Portuguese; and the Vietnamese-speaking video maker <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@exceltips211">@exceltips211</a>, who has garnered over 150,000 followers.</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@elingefrancisco/video/7033192774145019141" data-video-id="7033192774145019141" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@elingefrancisco" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@elingefrancisco">@elingefrancisco</a> Cálculo de margen de utilidad… <a title="elingefrancisco" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/elingefrancisco">#elingefrancisco</a> <a title="aprendeentiktok" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aprendeentiktok">#aprendeentiktok</a> <a title="excel" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/excel">#excel</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ sonido original - Francisco Terán" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/sonido-original-7033192596629457670">♬ sonido original - Francisco Terán</a> </section> </blockquote> <p>"The Excel online space is something that's been growing more robustly," Norton told The Verge. "I think that it's always going to be around in some way, shape, or form. There will be people in the spreadsheets and it will just keep moving along."</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/culture"><strong>For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.</strong></a></p>

TikToks on how to use Excel spreadsheets are getting billions of views and building one of the best communities on the platform

<ul class="summary-list"><li>You can use these tips and tricks to get the most out of your <keyword id="2724071" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Outlook-calendar">Outlook Calendar</keyword> on a variety of devices. </li><li>The <keyword id="23268" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="outlook">Outlook</keyword> Calendar can be accessed in a desktop app, on the web, or in a mobile app, though only the Outlook desktop app includes all of the service's features. </li><li>You can create a free account to use the Outlook Calendar on the web, but a subscription to <keyword id="693285" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft-365">Microsoft 365</keyword> gives you the most features. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft</a> has offered a full-featured calendar as a part of its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-microsoft-365" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft 365</a> suite of productivity apps for decades. But rather than being a stand-alone program like other apps, Office's calendar is so well integrated with the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outlook email app</a> that they are literally the same program; the only way to see your digital calendar is via Outlook. </p><p>There are a lot of lesser-known features hidden in the app, and unless you're already an Outlook power user, you'll find that there are a lot of ways to get more out of your <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/outlook-calendar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outlook Calendar</a>. </p><h2><strong>How to get an Outlook Calendar with or without <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> 365</strong></h2><p>Microsoft's digital calendar is only available as a part of Outlook. You can get Outlook three ways: with a Microsoft 365 subscription on desktop, for free on the web, or as a mobile app for iPhone and Android. </p><p>The most full-featured version of the calendar is on the desktop with a <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products">Microsoft 365 subscription</a>, such as Microsoft 365 Family ($100 per year) or Microsoft 365 Personal ($70 per year). In addition to giving you access to the full suite of Office apps, these subscriptions also include <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-onedrive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OneDrive</a> storage. </p><p>Without a subscription, you can still access the Outlook Calendar on the web or via the mobile app, though with fewer features and capabilities.   </p><h2><strong>Where to find your Outlook Calendar</strong></h2><ul><li>If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can download and install Outlook from the <a href="https://www.office.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Office website</a>.</li></ul><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 1" height="1552" width="2379" msid="81697069" hostid="261"></div><ul><li>You can view your <a href="https://outlook.live.com/calendar/0/view/month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outlook calendar on the web</a>. </li></ul><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 2" height="1385" width="1890" wfid="1475089"></div><ul><li>You can install <a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/microsoft-outlook/id951937596" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outlook for iOS</a> (including iPhone and iPad) or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.outlook&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=USmp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outlook for Android</a>. </li></ul><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 3" height="2408" width="1242" msid="81697071" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>Outlook Calendar tips and tricks</strong></h2><p>There are countless ways to personalize your Outlook Calendar to get the most out of the program. Here are some of the most useful tips and tricks. </p><h3><strong>Create new personal calendars</strong></h3><p>If you don't want business and personal activities to co-mingle in your Outlook Calendar, you can create any number of separate calendars to keep them apart. For example, you could add a personal calendar or separate calendars for specific hobbies or projects.</p><p>You can display your calendars side-by-side, or all mixed together with each color-coded for clarity (see the next section for details on that).</p><p>To create a personal calendar on the Outlook desktop app:</p><ol><li>Make sure you're on the "Home" tab and then click "Add Calendar" in the ribbon. In the drop-down menu, choose "Create New Blank Calendar." <br /><br /><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 8" height="1000" width="1766" wfid="1475091"></div></li><li>In the "Create New Folder" dialog box, give your calendar a name and then click "OK."</li><li>You should see the calendar appear in the "My Calendars" section on the left side of the Outlook window. <br /><br /></li></ol><p>While you can't make personal calendars in the mobile app, you can do it in Outlook on the web. Just click "Add Calendar" in the pane on the left side of the Outlook calendar webpage (it's above the list of calendars) and click "Create blank calendar." Then name it and click "Save."</p><h3><strong>View calendars side-by-side or blended</strong></h3><p>Once you add more than one calendar to Outlook, you can choose how you want to see them: one at a time, side-by-side, or blended so that they overlay in the same calendar space. </p><p>In the pane on the left of the calendar, in the "My Calendars" section, you can display as many (or as few) calendars as you like at one time - just check the boxes next to the calendars you want to see. </p><p>By default, these calendars appear side-by-side. If you prefer, right-click a calendar and choose "Overlay." The calendar should now appear blended with the default calendar. You'll be able to distinguish them because each calendar remains color-coded. To undo an overlay, just right-click the calendar entry and choose "Overlay" a second time.</p><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 9" height="1549" width="2386" msid="81697073" hostid="261"></div><h3><strong>Share your calendar with others</strong></h3><p>You can share your calendar with other people and specify how much permission you want to give them. Your shared calendar might only reveal when you're busy, show all meeting details, or even give other people the ability to edit your calendar. </p><ol><li>In the Outlook calendar desktop app, make sure you're on the ribbon's "Home" tab and then click "Share Calendar" in the ribbon. </li><li>In the drop-down, choose the calendar you want to share. <br /><br /><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 10" height="1000" width="1766" wfid="1475093"></div></li><li>In the "Calendar Properties" dialog box, click "Add" and then find the contacts you want to share your calendar with. </li><li>Based on the individual's credentials, Outlook will let you choose from various permissions. Choose the one you want to share, such as "Can view when I'm busy" (which doesn't reveal the meeting details), "Can view all details," or "Can edit."<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 11" height="1000" width="1969" msid="81697075" hostid="261"></div></li><li>Click "OK" to send the calendar sharing invitation. </li></ol><p>You can also share your calendar if you're using <a href="https://outlook.live.com/calendar/0/view/month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outlook on the web</a>. The steps are very similar - start by clicking "Share" at the top-right of the webpage and then enter the email address of the person you want to share with. In the drop-down menu, choose what permission level you want to grant and then click "Share."</p><p>To share your calendar in the Outlook mobile app, go to the calendar menu and tap the gear icon. Tap "Add people" to select who to share with, edit their permissions, then hit the checkmark. </p><h3><strong>Customize your calendar</strong></h3><p>There is a huge array of ways to customize and personalize your calendar. You can specify which days of the week are considered work days, what hours start and end the work day (to make it easier to schedule events), the default length of meetings and appointments, the default calendar color, and much more. All these options are easy to access and change to suit your needs.</p><p>To find the calendar settings in the Outlook desktop app: </p><ol><li>Click "File" and then, in the menu that appears on the left, choose "Options." </li><li>In the "Outlook Options" dialog, click "Calendar" in the navigation pane on the left. </li><li>After making your changes, click "OK."</li></ol><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 12" height="1027" width="1259" wfid="1475095"></div><p>You can also adjust calendar options on the web, though your options are less extensive:</p><ol><li>On the Outlook webpage, click the gear-shaped "Settings" icon at the top-right of the page.</li><li>In the pane that opens, click "View all Outlook settings" at the bottom of the page.</li><li>On the left side of the page, click "Calendar" to see all your options. <br /><br /></li></ol><p>If you're using the mobile app, here's how to find your options:<br /><br /></p><ol><li>Tap your account icon at the top-left of the screen. </li><li>In the fly-out menu, tap the gear-shaped "Settings" icon at the bottom of the screen.</li><li>Scroll down to the "Calendar" section where you should see a list of settings to choose from. </li></ol><h3><strong>Sync your Google Calendar with Outlook</strong></h3><p>When you <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-sync-google-calendar-with-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subscribe to your Google Calendar in Outlook</a>, it's a two-way connection - anything you change in Google updates in Outlook, and vice-versa. Note that when you "subscribe" to your Google Calendar, both calendars stay up-to-date, but when you "import" your Google Calendar to Outlook, it's a static, one-time import that does not update as changes are made.</p><p>To subscribe to Google Calendar in the Outlook desktop app:</p><ol><li>Open your <a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Calendar webpage</a>.</li><li>In the pane on the left, click the three dots to the right of your calendar. In the drop-down, choose "Settings and sharing."<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 4" height="1000" width="1149" msid="81697077" hostid="261"></div></li><li>Scroll down to the "Integrate calendar" section and find "Secret address in iCal format."</li><li>On the right side of this entry, click the "Copy" icon and then click "OK" in the pop-up.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 5" height="1108" width="1617" wfid="1475097"></div></li><li>Go to your Outlook Calendar on the desktop app, and click "Add Calendar" from the ribbon's "Home" tab. In the drop-down, choose "From Internet."<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 6" height="1000" width="1790" msid="81697079" hostid="261"></div></li><li>Paste the link you got from Google into the field and click "OK."</li><li>In the "Subscription Options" dialog box, name your calendar and then click "OK."<br /><br /></li></ol><p>You can also do this in Outlook for the web. In the pane on the left, click "Add calendar" and then choose "Subscribe from the web." Paste the URL and name the calendar to complete the process. </p><h3><strong>Add your iOS calendar to Outlook</strong></h3><p>When you add your iPhone or iPad calendar to Outlook, it's only a one-way connection, unlike when you sync Google Calendar to Outlook. Any changes you make on your phone or tablet are reflected in Outlook, but not the other way around. If that works for you, here's what do to: </p><ol><li>Open your <a href="https://www.icloud.com/calendar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iCloud Calendar webpage</a>. </li><li>In the pane on the left, click the "broadcast" icon to the right of your calendar. </li><li>In the "Calendar Sharing" pop-up, click the checkbox next to "Public Calendar" and then click "Copy Link" under the URL that appears below the checkbox. Click "OK" to close the pop-up. <br /><br /><div type="image" title="Office_365_Digital_Calendar_tips_and_tricks 7" height="1000" width="1769" wfid="1475099"></div></li><li>Go to your Outlook Calendar on the desktop app, and click "Add Calendar" from the ribbon's "Home" tab. In the drop-down, choose "From Internet."</li><li>Paste the link you got from Google into the field and click "OK."</li><li>Confirm you want to subscribe to updates to your iOS calendar by clicking "Yes."<br /><br /></li></ol><p>You can also do this in Outlook for the web. In the pane on the left, click "Add calendar" and then choose "Subscribe from the web." Paste the URL and name the calendar to complete the process. </p><a data-type="5eea94494dca6835236807e2">How to add your Outlook calendar to an iPhone in 2 ways, and sync your schedule when you're on the go</a><a data-type="5eea94ce2618b953e11a4812">How to add holidays to your Microsoft Outlook calendar and keep your schedule up-to-date</a><a data-type="601c25ade1cc5c49086c37d3">What is Microsoft 365? Here's what you need to know about the subscription service to Word, Excel, and other Microsoft programs</a><a data-type="601c5a8b9dad2364da1afc9f">How to use reminders, flags, and categories in Outlook to organize your email</a><div type="image" title="Advertisement" height="1" width="1" msid="81697081" hostid="261"></div> <img />

The 6 best tips and tricks to manage your Outlook Calendar on any device

<ul class="summary-list"><li>You can thicken soup with flour or cornstarch, which do not add any additional flavor.</li><li>If you want more flavor, a roux is the best way to thicken up a soup.</li><li>Starchy add-ins are another great way to create thick and creamy vegan soups.</li></ul><p>Making soup is a bit of an art, and the right texture and consistency could be the difference between a good bowl and a delicious one. </p><p>Consistency can make a big impact on flavor, says <a href="https://www.instagram.com/acooknamedmatt/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chef Matt Broussard</a>, who uses his online platform to teach folks how to cook well. "Mouth-feel is a really important part of the eating experience," he says. </p><p>But, we've all been there. Maybe you've accidentally added too much liquid, or maybe you're looking at the website's photographs and your soup just doesn't have the same texture. </p><p>Troubleshooting in the kitchen is part of the natural process, and soup is a very forgiving dish to thicken and doctor up to your liking. Here are five easy ways to fix it.  </p><h2><strong>Method 1: Whisk in a slurry of cornstarch or flour</strong></h2><p>Flour and cornstarch are both pantry staples, and they work great as thickening agents thanks to their water absorption abilities, which increase when heated. Not only is it as simple as making a quick slurry, this method also won't impact the flavor of the soup. </p><p>To thicken soup using flour or cornstarch, measure out the flour or cornstarch in a separate bowl — start with 1 tablespoon per cup of soup. Add equal parts water or soup liquid to the flour or cornstarch and <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/best-whisk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whisk</a> until they're completely combined in a slurry. Once you've created the slurry, slowly whisk it into soup liquid and bring it back to a simmer. </p><p>Keep in mind you can always make and add more slurry if the consistency is still too thin for your liking. This is a versatile method to thicken most soups and stews. For example, Broussard reaches for a cornstarch slurry to thicken Hot and Sour soup. </p><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> Broussard recommends a vegetarian gelatin substitute made from seaweed called agar-agar as a substitute for cornstarch. You only need half the amount of agar-agar than you would need cornstarch, so use a 2 to 1 ratio when substituting. </p><h2><strong>Method 2: Make a roux </strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="A pan of white roux sitting on a wooden cutting board being stirred with a wooden paddle" height="1310" width="1747" msid="89674405" hostid="261"></div><p>Broussard's favorite way to thicken soup is by <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-make-a-roux" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adding a roux</a>, which is a mixture of equal parts flour and fat (typically butter) that's cooked slowly over low to medium heat. </p><p>Roux is typically the first step in making gumbo. But as a thickening agent, it can be added at any stage. A roux imparts a nutty, buttery flavor that you can't get with cornstarch or other thickening methods. It is an excellent option for making rich, creamy soups like lobster bisque, or clam chowder.</p><p>There are four main stages of roux: </p><ul><li><strong>White roux </strong>is cooked for about 5 minutes just to remove the raw flour taste. </li><li><strong>Blonde roux</strong> is achieved after <keyword id="11910989" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cooking" source="Orion">cooking</keyword> the roux for about 10 to 15 additional minutes, giving it a golden hue. </li><li><strong>Brown</strong> and <strong>dark brown roux</strong> are cooked for roughly 30 to 45 minutes. The color deepens overtime and this helps develop a rich, nuttier flavor while cooking flour out. Because of this, the darker the roux, the less it will thicken up your soup. </li></ul><p>To make a roux, you'll need about 3 ounces of roux for each quart of soup liquid you want to thicken. To do this, use 1.5 ounces of butter, or roughly 3 tablespoons, and 1.5 ounces of flour, or roughly 5 and a half tablespoons. You can use more per quart if you want to create an even thicker consistency.</p><p>In a <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/best-cast-iron-skillet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">skillet</a>, melt the butter over medium-low heat, then sprinkle the flour in. Stir the butter and flour constantly until the mixture turns light golden brown. The process typically takes 3 to 5 minutes. </p><h2><strong>Method 3: Add dairy </strong></h2><p>Dairy works well if it has a high-fat content, says Broussard. The best options for thickening soup are cream or half and half. Plain yogurt or even freshly grated cheese works well and adds an extra layer of tangy, salty flavor. Add the dairy at the end and avoid bringing the soup to a boil since this can cause yogurt, cheese, or cream to split. </p><p>When adding dairy to soups, start with a small amount. Stir to see if the consistency is right and add more if needed. </p><p>Dairy works well in any kind of soup but is best if you're looking for a creamy texture. </p><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> Some store-bought non-dairy alternatives don't have the same fat content needed to add creaminess to the soup like dairy, but a homemade cream using nuts does the trick. Blend 1/2 cup of raw, neutral-tasting nuts or seeds (soaked in water for a few hours) with 1 cup of water to make a cream replacement. </p><h2><strong>Method 4: Blend up part of the soup  </strong></h2><p>Blending a portion of the soup creates an emulsion, especially if it has starch in it like potatoes or beans. The easiest way to blend soup is using an immersion blender. </p><p>Alternatively, you can also scoop out some soup and blend it in a regular blender then add it back in. This is a quick hack, especially if you're vegan, because it adds creaminess without needing special substitutes or ingredients. </p><p>"[Blending] works better if you want a pureed soup instead of something with more texture," says Broussard.  </p><p>You can choose to blend the entire pot of soup or blend it partially for a chunkier consistency. A good rule of thumb is to blend about a third of the soup, which creates some creaminess while retaining texture. </p><h2>Best blenders</h2><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/best-blenders" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p><div type="image" title="Best blenders, surrounded by colorful fruit 4x3" height="1749" width="2333" msid="89674406" hostid="261"></div><p>We test and recommend the <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/best-blenders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best blenders</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/best-immersion-blender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immersion blenders</a>. Check out our picks:<br /><br /></p><ul><li><strong>Best blender overall: </strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/reviews/out?asin=B008H4SLV6&amp;platform=browser&amp;postSource=in%7C61b8efc8f2a36b1ac9f43463&amp;postTag=biauto-1555-20&amp;sc=false&amp;type=AMAZON-AFFILIATE-LINK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB008H4SLV6%3Ftag%3Dbiauto-1555-20&amp;sessionid=1645220307419owi8vem4&amp;tag=insider-safetynet-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">Vitamix 5200, $385.18 on Amazon</a></li><li><strong>Best mid-priced blender: </strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/reviews/out?asin=B0094B94BM&amp;platform=browser&amp;postSource=in%7C61b8efc8f2a36b1ac9f43463&amp;postTag=biauto-1555-20&amp;sc=false&amp;type=AMAZON-AFFILIATE-LINK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0094B94BM%3Ftag%3Dbiauto-1555-20&amp;sessionid=1645220307420e6so2k7p&amp;tag=insider-safetynet-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">Cleanblend 3HP Commercial, $178.97 on Amazon</a></li><li><strong>B</strong><strong>est immersion blender overall:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.williams-sonoma.com%2Fproducts%2Fbreville-control-grip-immersion-blender" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender, $99.95 on Williams Sonoma</a></li><li><strong>Best immersion blender on a budget:</strong> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EA5ZI2U" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Braun MultiQuick Immersion Hand Blender, $64.95 on Amazon</a></li></ul><h2><strong>Method 5: Incorporate starchy add-ins </strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Lasagna soup close up" height="1299" width="1732" msid="89674408" hostid="261"></div><p>Adding starchy foods like rice, potatoes, pasta, and beans can also help thicken up a soup while adding texture and body. As they cook, they release starches, creating a thicker consistency.</p><p>Beans and potatoes are an especially great choice for making creamy, dairy-free vegetarian or vegan soups. </p><p>Broussard recommends adding starches at the start of the cooking process, aside from pasta, which you should add according to the package's cook-time, so they have enough time to break down and alter the soup's texture. </p><h2>Insider's takeaway </h2><p>You can use a cornstarch slurry, a roux, dairy, or starchy add-ins to thicken a soup. Blending a veggie-laden soup will also help thicken it up. </p><p>The method you choose depends on your desired consistency and your dietary requirements. Want a creamy texture but prefer to avoid dairy? Use beans or potatoes. Need to thicken up a soup without altering its flavor? Use a cornstarch slurry.</p>

5 ways to make thicker, creamier soup with common tools and ingredients

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Never leave buttermilk out of a recipe — it's essential for adding moisture and helping batters rise.</li><li>You can create buttermilk substitutions using other dairy such as milk, yogurt, and sour cream.</li><li>Oat milk combined with lemon or vinegar is the best vegan buttermilk substitution.</li></ul><p>Buttermilk is often thought of as a Southern ingredient, but the cultured milk brings great flavor and texture to a wide variety of baked goods.</p><p>Using buttermilk is a way to "bring more depth to baked goods that can be a little flat while also making the crumb of your bake more tender," says Bethany Costello, chef and owner of Eat Like Kings and culinary director of <a href="https://www.doughdoughnuts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dough Doughnuts</a>.</p><p>So if you plan to regularly make biscuits, pound cake, cornbread, or pancakes, consider keeping a carton of buttermilk stashed in your fridge. </p><p>But what if you start making pancakes and realize that there's no buttermilk in sight? While the exact flavor and texture that buttermilk provides can't be replicated exactly, there are some handy substitutes for when your stomach is growling and there's no time to run to the store.</p><iframe title="Buttermilk substitutes" id="datawrapper-chart-JeF1e" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/JeF1e/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% ; border: none;" height="551"></iframe><h2>The importance of buttermilk in any recipe </h2><p>Traditionally made of the leftover liquid after churning butter (making it quite thin), buttermilk is now fermented on a larger scale and sold in cartons. Recipes that ask for buttermilk are usually calling for store-bought cultured buttermilk.</p><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> Never skip buttermilk in a recipe. Not only does it impart flavor, it adds necessary moisture and tenderness to baked goods without watering down the batter and creates a reaction with raising agents like baking soda to make the batter rise.</p><h2>Acidified milk</h2><p>The most commonly cited substitute for buttermilk - adding an acidic ingredient like lemon juice or vinegar to plain milk - will add a nice tang and curdle the milk to make it slightly thicker. Vinegar-infused milk is Costello's "go to for cakes and pancakes" and if the recipe calls for a fairly small amount of buttermilk, you can use apple cider vinegar in a pinch.</p><p>To make 1 cup of acidified milk, add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup and add enough milk to make 1 cup. Stir and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before using. If you don't have vinegar or lemon juice handy, dig out that cream of tartar out of the back of your pantry. Whisk 1 3/4 teaspoons together with milk and let sit several minutes before using. For best results, use whole milk. </p><p>You won't get the thickness of buttermilk from this mixture, so you may want to add slightly less than the recipe calls for. If your recipe is buttermilk heavy - think biscuits, certain cakes, or a buttermilk dressing - go for the real thing or try a different substitution.</p><h2>Thinned yogurt</h2><p>If you're seeking that signature tang, but also need the thickness that buttermilk provides, watered-down plain yogurt is a good option. Full-fat is best, though low-fat yogurt will work in a pinch. Thin the yogurt with milk to mimic the consistency of buttermilk - exactly how much milk you'll need will depend on the yogurt. If you're using regular yogurt, a 3:1 mixture of yogurt to milk is a good starting point. If you're using especially thick yogurt or Greek yogurt, try 2 parts yogurt to 1 part milk, or even a 50/50 mixture for extra-thick Greek yogurt. You can use the mixture in your recipe immediately, no need to let it sit.</p><p>Thinned yogurt will work in most recipes that call for buttermilk. While the consistency helps make thicker batters and allows for more browning than acidified milk, it doesn't provide as nice of a crumb as buttermilk. Try using it as a substitution in pancakes, cornbread, drinks, and dips. Costello suggests "if you're craving fried chicken, but missing buttermilk, you can use yogurt or a mixture of yogurt and regular milk to brine your chicken. It makes your chicken a bit more tender than brining in a vinegar-based mixture."</p><h2>Thinned sour cream</h2><p>Much like watered down yogurt, thinned sour cream is also a worthy option for replacing buttermilk. Depending on the thickness of your sour cream, you'll want to water it down with milk at a ratio of 3:1 or 2:1 sour cream to milk. Sour cream has a lovely tang and a creamy, luscious texture, and it's a good option for many of the same applications as thinned yogurt. </p><p>It's especially well-suited for savory dishes like dips and dressings. If Costello doesn't have buttermilk for something like a dressing, she uses sour cream or yogurt "to get the tang and the creaminess."</p><h2>Kefir</h2><p>Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that's similar to thin yogurt. It's often treated as a drink, and is sometimes sweetened with fruit purées and other flavorings. Plain kefir has a texture strikingly similar to buttermilk and is an excellent substitution when baking.</p><p>Kefir can be used 1:1 in recipes that call for buttermilk and it works especially well in biscuit recipes since it produces a good crumb and allows for nice browning. Try using it in any baked goods in place of buttermilk.</p><h3>What substitute should I use? </h3><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 147px;" border="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Acidified milk</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Thinned yogurt</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Thinned sour cream</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Kefir</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Pancakes and Waffles</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Cakes</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Biscuits</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Fried Chicken</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Cornbread</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px;">Dips and Dressings</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">x</td><td style="width: 20%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2>Vegan buttermilk substitution</h2><p>You can make acidified milk with non-dairy milk and use it in the same way. Costello has used this method with oat milk and noted that "it will give you the tang and a bit more tender crumb - but you need to add less liquid than the recipe states since the non-dairy milk doesn't have as much structure." Using a barista-style non-dairy milk can help produce a thicker acidified milk.</p><h2>Insider's takeaway</h2><p>Buttermilk is an essential ingredient, adding not just flavor, but also texture and rise to <keyword id="6181" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Food">food</keyword>. If you don't have any around and need a substitute, there are different options depending on what you're making - but any swap is better than skipping buttermilk entirely.</p><a data-type="5ea305f2f242ab6b13248952">4 royal baker-approved swaps, like mayonnaise and milk mixed with lemon juice, that you can make in your recipes if you're missing key ingredients</a><a data-type="59c2a62859d82e32008b4b63">9 celebrity chefs reveal their secrets to making perfect pancakes</a><a data-type="589a02d78275e81e008b48ea">I baked biscuits 6 different ways - and one addition made all the difference</a><a data-type="5d27ac0221a8610e7c59c44c">We tasted and ranked 7 different types of dairy and non-dairy milks. Oat milk came in dead last.</a>

How to make buttermilk substitutes with milk, yogurt, and more

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/2023-wedding-trends-whats-in-out-this-year-summer">I've been a wedding planner</a> since 2016, and I've learned a few tricks for saving couples money. </li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/things-wedding-guests-should-never-do-according-to-planner-2022-7">Invite fewer guests</a> or book a weekday wedding if you're really trying to bring costs down.</li></ul><p>The thing that annoys me most about <a href="https://www.insider.com/most-unique-wedding-reception-ideas-ive-ever-seen-from-planner">my job as a wedding planner</a> is that nobody talks about how much weddings cost. Or, if we do, we shame people — making them feel like how much they spend on their wedding is an indicator of how successful their marriage will be.</p><p>Of course, if it was that simple, rich people would never get divorced. </p><p>Here are my best money-saving tips for couples planning weddings.</p><h2><strong>Make a list at the start of your budgeting process</strong></h2><p>"Traditional" wedding-planning advice tells couples something along the lines of, "Here are 15 services that cost an average of $2,000 each. Buy them all." That's how we get to a national average of <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=d6c1028a8bf3747498782ca0705ae5838d8a2ddac484386a1d57e036800b1781&amp;postID=649d96ce4228264a6c1f2c25&amp;site=in&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theknot.com%2Fcontent%2Fwedding-data-insights%2Freal-weddings-study" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$30,000</a> a wedding.</p><p>I don't know about you, but I don't have a cool $30,000 hanging around. And even if I did, I wouldn't want to spend it on a single party. </p><p>I tell any newly engaged couple to do <a href="https://www.elisabethkramer.com/unwed/planning-wedding-engaged-priorities-worksheet">this budgeting exercise</a>: Take those 15 services and rank them. Then based on the ranking, group them into three buckets: top five, middle five, and bottom five.</p><p>Each bucket gets a certain portion of your budget. The top five get 50%, the middle five get 30%, and the bottom five get 10%. The remaining 10% goes to non-vendor items such as the marriage license and favors.</p><h2><strong>Invite fewer people</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="A couple gives a toast to a single table of guests in an outdoor setting during the day." height="3012" width="4016" msid="101419826" hostid="261" sizebytes="1263932"></div><p><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=1261590e118021aa84d63cefb02b44f5a55516d06843c5ed637177fe96c6a451&amp;postID=649d96ce4228264a6c1f2c25&amp;site=in&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theknot.com%2Fcontent%2Faverage-cost-wedding-catering">The average cost</a> to feed a guest at a wedding is at least $70 — and that's before any alcohol or other guest-related items like favors.</p><p>With that in mind, the most efficient way to lower the cost of your wedding is to invite fewer people.</p><p>Often, the response to this advice is something like, "But we can't do that. We have big families/lots of friends/want to have everyone we love in person at our wedding." I hear that, and I respect it.</p><p>If you're stuck, make another list: Who needs to be at our wedding in person for it to feel like our wedding?</p><p>I started using this exercise during the coronavirus pandemic, and it remains very effective. We're quite good at knowing <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-wedding-planner-thinks-guests-should-do-stop-doing">how people make us feel</a> and if we want to feel those feelings on our wedding day.</p><h2><strong>Consider choosing a different time of year/ day of the week</strong></h2><p>The next most efficient way to save money is to consider a morning, winter, and/or weekday wedding.</p><p>People tend to avoid these because they think they're inconvenient to their guests. <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-keep-dance-floor-full-from-wedding-planner">But your guests</a> nearly always have to take one day off to travel anyway, so having your wedding on a Tuesday is rarely as much of a pain to them as we think it is.</p><h2><strong>Buy used when you can</strong></h2><p>There are a lot of quality resale sites available for wedding items, particularly wedding decor.</p><p>One I often point people to is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/bridechillabuyandsell/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bridechilla Buy &amp; Sell</a>. But a search for "wedding resale group near me" will likely get you a bounty of options.</p><p>There are also many wedding-dress resale sites, but there are very few wedding-dress rental options (quality suits, meanwhile, remain easy to rent). </p><p>Sites I recommend include <a href="https://www.nearlynewlywed.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nearly Newlywed</a>, <a href="https://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com</a>, <a href="https://www.stillwhite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stillwhite</a> (where I sold my wedding dress), or, if you're in the Pacific Northwest, <a href="http://www.bridesforacause.com/donate-your-wedding-dress/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brides for a Cause</a> (where I got my wedding dress). <br /><br />Note: Many of the sites above continue to use images that are not representative of the world and often promote harmful expectations about how women should look or dress. I recommend these sites despite this imagery because they are the most widely available option. </p><h2><strong>Consider opting for custom wedding attire (yes, really)</strong></h2><p>One of the things I've learned in the <a href="https://www.insider.com/important-lessons-for-couples-before-wedding-2021-7">last six years of being a wedding planner</a> is that ordering custom clothes isn't actually as prohibitive as it sounds. </p><p>It's no small fee, but when compared to what wedding attire (particularly wedding dresses) costs anyway, custom often presents an equally priced option.</p><p>Plus you get the huge benefit of it being made for and celebrating your unique body.</p><h2><strong>If you don't want a lot of flowers, consider buying them à la carte</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Wedding bouquet" height="1733" width="2311" msid="101419828" hostid="261" sizebytes="172482"></div><p>There are two types of flowers used at weddings: personals and decorative. "Personals" refer to any flowers a person wears or carries. "Decorative" refers to any flowers used to decorate.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/answers-to-questions-couples-are-scared-to-ask-wedding-planner-2022-3">If you and your partner</a> have minimal flower needs — for example, you each want a bouquet and some greenery for the tables — ask florists if they offer à-la-carte options. This is where you buy a very limited number of flowers and don't buy any setup or cleanup labor from the florist.</p><p>It's not a good fit for people who want flowers on every table or have wedding parties and want each member to have personals. In those cases, if you're hiring a florist, the package it offers will be more cost-effective.</p><h2><strong>Hire a friend (with certain parameters)</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/best-ideas-for-unique-wedding-ceremony-from-planner">Many wedding vendors</a> will tell you it's a terrible idea to hire a friend. I don't disagree, but I also think assuming everyone can afford to hire professional vendors is, at best, unrealistic and, at worst, classist.</p><p>Hiring a friend can work <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-to-never-do-when-planning-wedding-according-to-planner-2022-5">with certain parameters</a>, the most important one being that you have to compensate them in some way. </p><p>Yes, I know you're arranging this so you can save money. But as soon as you ask a friend to do something at your wedding, you're asking them to work instead of attending. As such, pay them for that service, be it a $15 gift card and an online review or $50 and a nice thank-you card. </p><p>Another important parameter: Get it in writing. This can be as simple as a long email or a one-page document, but meet with your friend and work together to establish the expectations you have for each other.</p><p>It sounds tedious, and maybe even a little rude. But trust me, it's the best way to make sure you're still friends after the wedding.</p><h2><strong>Ask your loved ones for financial help</strong></h2><p>In an ideal world, we'd all have enough money to pay for our weddings ourselves. <a href="https://www.insider.com/wedding-planner-answers-questions-couples-should-ask-photos-tips-2022-4">But many couples</a> receive funding from people they love.</p><p>I call these people "The Board" because no matter who they are, they've now invested in your wedding and thus have some power over the decisions being made.</p><p>Respect The Board. You don't have to make choices that aren't in line with your values, but depending on the situation, you need to be clear about your boundaries.</p><p>One way to do this is to ask the members of The Board what brings them value in relation to your wedding. Is there something they really, really want to buy you, and if so, why that thing? Have these conversations before anyone's sent anyone any cash. </p><h2><strong>Consider DIY options — with caution</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Wedding catering, wedding food" height="800" width="1066" msid="101419830" hostid="261" sizebytes="125218"></div><p>Are there three more contentious letters in all of wedding planning than DIY?</p><p>Many wedding vendors will tell you to avoid DIY at all costs. Often, this is because they're selling you something. But sometimes it's because the vendor has witnessed (as I have) grown people break down into tears the night before their wedding because they realized they don't actually know how to make a bouquet.  </p><p>If you're considering DIY, be honest with yourself about what is more valuable in this situation: your time or your money. Whatever the answer, please don't assign yourself homework the <a href="https://www.insider.com/wedding-planner-shares-things-couples-should-never-do-2022-6">week of your wedding</a> — particularly the night before.</p><h2><strong>Serve a different meal</strong></h2><p>For reasons that I'm not sure anyone knows, dinner is often the default meal <a href="https://www.insider.com/most-common-regrets-couples-have-per-wedding-planner-2022-6">at weddings</a>. But it doesn't have to be this way.</p><p>I've seen some truly excellent weddings serve breakfast or, one time, all dessert. The trick is to communicate this expectation to your guests ahead of the wedding so they can plan accordingly.</p><h2><strong>If tips for vendors aren't in the budget, at least write a nice review</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/wedding-planner-answers-questions-for-couples-2022-7">Your wedding vendors</a> work in the service industry, which means that tips are a significant part of our income. Wherever possible, <a href="https://www.elisabethkramer.com/unwed/who-tip-wedding-vendor-how-much" target="_blank" rel="noopener">please budget for tips</a>. </p><p>If tips really aren't in your budget, there's an option that costs your time instead of your money: Review your vendors online.</p><p>Ideally, you'd copy and paste the same review to every review platform they use, and you'd be specific as to how this particular person or business helped you and your partner.</p><h2><strong>Set a cap on the bar</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="wedding" height="2576" width="3434" msid="101419833" hostid="261" sizebytes="210224"></div><p>I personally love when other people buy me a drink, <a href="https://www.insider.com/wedding-planner-answers-questions-couples-should-ask-about-nuptials-guests-2022-2">but open bars</a> can easily cost thousands of dollars. </p><p>Instead, consider "hosting" or paying for limited types of alcohol, such as wine and beer. People who want hard alcohol can have the option of buying it themselves. </p><p>Another little-used but tasteful option is to set a cap on an open bar. </p><p>When my clients do this, they tell the bar staff the number they want to hit (say $1,000). As we approach that number, the bar either tells me or tells the couple so they can assess if they want to increase the limit before turning over to a cash bar.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.insider.com/things-to-never-do-for-a-wedding-according-to-planner-2022-7">The only downside</a> is that depending on when you hit that limit, you can be pulled out of the flow of your day. If this is a concern, I recommend trusting someone else with the authority to make the call on your behalf.</p><h2><strong>Ask for money as a wedding gift</strong></h2><p>I like to joke that the best gift <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-guests-should-always-do-at-weddings-according-to-planner-2022-10">any wedding guest</a> can give a couple is to pay for something.</p><p>Somehow this isn't trending yet, so instead, just ask for money as a gift. Many online registry options now even allow for tactful, easy ways to do this. </p><p>One technique my husband and I used was asking for money for specific things. For example, money for a date-night fund or a spa day on our honeymoon.</p><p>This has the benefit of making the gift-giver feel like they bought you "A Thing" without them actually getting you something you don't want.</p>

I'm a wedding planner. Here are 13 of the best money-saving tips I give my clients.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>You can use the IMPORTRANGE function in <keyword id="1971456" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="google-sheets">Google Sheets</keyword> to easily copy <keyword id="6355729" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="data">data</keyword> from one spreadsheet to another.</li><li>To import data, you only need to know the URL and name of the original spreadsheet, and the range of cells to import.</li><li>Once imported, the data is automatically updated when it changes in the original <keyword id="6355629" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword> Sheets spreadsheet. </li></ul><p>If you work with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/google-sheets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Sheets</a> often enough, you'll inevitably need to get data from one spreadsheet into another. </p><p>You could always simply copy and paste the cells in question, but if you do that, there's no live connection between the two sheets - if the original data changes, your second spreadsheet will become outdated. </p><p>Instead, you can use the IMPORTRANGE function, which quickly and easily helps you import data from one spreadsheet into another and keeps the two <keyword id="1599435" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Spreadsheets">spreadsheets</keyword> in sync at all times.</p><h2><strong>What to know about IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets</strong></h2><p>While the IMPORTRANGE function can look long and unwieldy, that's only because it includes a URL in it, which can make even the simplest function look confusing. In reality, it's very simple to use. Here is what the function looks like:</p><pre>=IMPORTRANGE([spreadsheet_url], [range_string])</pre><p>As you can see, the IMPORTRANGE function is broken into two separate parts.<br /><br /></p><ul><li><p><strong>spreadsheet_url:</strong> This is just the URL or web address of the spreadsheet you want to import data from. You actually have an option here: You can use the entire URL, or just what's known as the spreadsheet key. More on that in a moment. </p></li><li><p><strong>range_string:</strong> This is the specific cells in the original spreadsheet you want to import and sync with the new spreadsheet. </p></li></ul><h2>How to use IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets</h2><p><strong>1. </strong>With only two arguments, using the IMPORTRANGE function is usually quite simple. Suppose you have a spreadsheet and you want to import the table into a new spreadsheet.</p><p><strong>2. </strong>Click the URL in the address bar at the top of the browser and copy it. Alternately, you can copy just the spreadsheet key from within the URL. </p><div type="image" title="How to use IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets 6" height="798" width="1418" msid="82225053" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>3. </strong>In the new spreadsheet, type "=IMPORTRANGE(" - without the quotes.</p><p><strong>4. </strong>Paste the URL and add a closing quote (").</p><p><strong>5. </strong>Type a comma, add a quote (") and enter the range of cells you want to include. It should look like this: "Sheet1!B1:C6" Here, we're specifying that we want the spreadsheet named "Sheet1," and want cells B1 through C6.</p><p><strong>6. </strong>Add a closing parenthesis and press Enter. </p><p><strong>7. </strong>The complete function should look something like this:</p><pre>=IMPORTRANGE("https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Zoq0M0RG-RLYZ9HjOf01ff9eSPIYY3s/edit#gid=1027643093", "Sheet2!A1:C12")</pre><div type="image" title="How to use IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets 2" height="736" width="1350" msid="82225054" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>8. </strong>You might have noticed, though, that the data didn't import - there's a #REF! error in the cell instead. Click this cell and you'll see a message that you need to connect these sheets. Click "Allow access" and then, a moment later, the data should appear. You'll only need to do this once for each spreadsheet you import data from. </p><div type="image" title="How to use IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets 3" height="650" width="1155" msid="82225055" hostid="261"></div><h2>How to use the IMPORTRANGE function with a named range</h2><p>If you prefer, you can use a named range instead of specifying the range in the manual way. </p><p><strong>1. </strong>In the original spreadsheet, select the range and then right-click. </p><p><strong>2. </strong>In the dropdown menu, choose "Define named range."</p><div type="image" title="How to use IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets 4" height="1422" width="1953" msid="82225056" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>3. </strong>In the Named ranges pane that appears, give the selection a name and then click "Done."</p><div type="image" title="How to use IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets 5" height="1146" width="1946" msid="82225057" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>4. </strong>Now when you add your range_string to the IMPORTRANGE function, you can just enter this name, which already includes the name of the sheet. It's much easier than building the argument by hand.</p><div type="image" title="How to use IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets 66" height="798" width="1418" msid="82225058" hostid="261"></div><h2>Using the spreadsheet URL or spreadsheet key</h2><p>There are a few nuances in the way this function works you should be aware of. Let's start with the URL.</p><p>You have a choice: You can use the entire spreadsheet URL or you can use just <strong>the spreadsheet key, which is the part of the URL that follows the "d/."</strong> For example, suppose you had a spreadsheet with this URL:</p><pre>https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K6Jy9BAUsNLYtbEIIxI3LONV9JQ0hTY/edit#gid=25213</pre><p>You can use the entire URL, or just the part after the d/:</p><pre>1K6Jy9BAUsNLYtbEIIxI3LONV9JQ0hTY</pre><p>Both options work exactly the same; the only difference is convenience, so use whichever works best for you. Either way, always enclose this argument in quotes. </p><div type="image" title="How to use IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets 1" height="943" width="1693" msid="82225059" hostid="261"></div><h2>Using the range_string</h2><p>The range_string also has its own quirks. Specifically, when you enter the range in the IMPORTRANGE function, you need to clarify which sheet the cells are located in. Keep in mind that a spreadsheet might have many tabs, each being its own sheet. As a result, this argument takes this form:</p><pre>Sheet1!A1:A12</pre><p>In this example, Sheet1 is the name of the sheet, and the cells are indicated by the range A1:A12. You need to always include an exclamation mark between the sheet name and the range, and like the URL, always enclose it in quotes. </p><h2><strong>Tips for using IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets</strong></h2><p>Here are a few things to keep in mind when using the IMPORTRANGE function:<br /><br /></p><ul><li>Google Sheets treats both arguments - the URL and range - as strings, which means you must always enclose them in quotes.</li><li>If you want to use the spreadsheet key rather than the entire URL, most browsers will select it automatically if you double-click that part of the URL in the browser's address bar.</li><li>Often, an easier way to specify a range is to use a named range. </li><li>If you make changes to the original spreadsheet, the update will appear after a few seconds in the new spreadsheet. It is fast, but not instantaneous. </li><li>The data synchronization only updates in one direction - from the old spreadsheet to the new one. If you try to change a value in the new spreadsheet, you'll find that an error message will appear. To get the imported data back in the new spreadsheet, delete the data that you tried to add. </li></ul><a data-type="6036b13606adf85c600aa75f">Is Google Drive secure? How Google uses encryption to protect your files and documents, and the risks that remain</a><a data-type="6022da699dad2334224f7843">How to convert an Excel spreadsheet to a Google Sheets document</a><a data-type="5f23352f5fa9a47e6f74f226">19 of the best Google Drive tips and tricks for getting the most out of the service</a><a data-type="606fbc79adf09e40ec5f7938">How to use VLOOKUP in Google Sheets to search for specific data and replicate it across spreadsheets</a>

How to use the IMPORTRANGE function in Google Sheets to keep multiple spreadsheets in sync

<ul class="summary-list"><li>You can use <keyword id="11125450" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="microsoft-forms">Microsoft Forms</keyword> to create <keyword id="6359957" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Polls">polls</keyword>, surveys, <keyword id="707912" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="quizzes">quizzes</keyword>, and tests for co-workers, students, and others.</li><li>You can make sophisticated polls with multiple choices, text answers, dates, branching questions, and more.</li><li>You can access responses in real time with detailed analytics and export results to Excel.</li></ul><p><keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> Forms got its start as an online application for educators to easily create quizzes and tests, but it has evolved into a more comprehensive form-making tool and become available to a much larger audience. </p><p>Forms is a web application that can be used to create polls, surveys, quizzes, and tests - essentially, any form in which you want to capture data from other users. When used by educators to make tests and quizzes, Forms can automatically score the results; for all kinds of polls, it can track responses with its own built-in analytics.</p><p>Microsoft Forms is available for all <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-microsoft-365" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft 365</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fen-us%2Feducation%2Fproducts%2Foffice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Education</a> users as well as anyone using <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fen-us%2Fmicrosoft-365%2Fbusiness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft 365 for business</a> and any user with a Microsoft account (such as one from Hotmail, Live, or Outlook). </p><h2>How to use Microsoft Forms</h2><p>Using Microsoft Forms is very straightforward: You choose whether you want to make a form (such as a poll or survey) or a quiz; the distinction is that quizzes have correct answers and can be scored. After you've built your form, you can share it with the desired audience and can then review the results with Forms' built-in analytics display. </p><h2>How to get started with Microsoft Forms</h2><p>Microsoft Forms is available from your <keyword id="693285" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft-365">Microsoft 365</keyword> applications or your Microsoft account. Here's how to get started:</p><p><strong>1.</strong> Sign into your <a href="https://account.microsoft.com/account?lang=en-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft account</a>, such as your Microsoft 365 work or school account or your Microsoft Outlook account.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> In the list of apps, find "Forms." You might need to click the apps menu and choose "All apps." </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click "Forms."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 1" height="1287" width="1990" wfid="1898929"></div><p>Alternately, you can go directly to the <a href="https://forms.office.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Forms</a> page and sign in with your Microsoft account credentials. </p><p>The Forms page has a row of templates at the top of the page including options to create a new form or a new quiz. There might be additional templates, and you can see about a dozen template options if you click "More templates."</p><p>If you've already created one or more forms, you'll see them below the templates, where you can see a list of recent forms and any you have pinned to the page for frequent access. To see all your previous forms, click "All My Forms."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 2" height="1506" width="2002" wfid="1898931"></div><h2>How to create a new form</h2><p><strong>1.</strong> To create a survey or poll, click "New Form." </p><p><strong>2.</strong> Click "Untitled form" and give your form a name and description. You can also click the image button on the right and add an image to the top of the form.</p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click "Add new."</p><p><strong>4.</strong> In the pop-out menu, choose the kind of entry you want to create for your form. It can be a multiple-choice question with buttons, a free-form fill-in-the-blank text entry, an entry in which the user needs to assign a star rating, a date entry, and more. </p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 3" height="1000" width="2764" wfid="1898932"></div><p><strong>5.</strong> After selecting the entry option, fill in all the necessary details. Enter the question and answer choices, for example. You can allow multiple answers and indicate if an answer to the current question is required (otherwise all questions are optional, and users can submit the form without answering every entry). </p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 4" height="1334" width="2002" wfid="1898935"></div><p><strong>6.</strong> A toolbar at the top of each question gives you additional options:</p><ul><li>To create a duplicate question, click the "Copy" icon. This is convenient if you need to make a similar question and don't want to re-enter it from scratch. </li><li>The "Trash" icon deletes the current question.</li><li>Use the up and down arrows to move the current question in the form, changing its order. </li></ul><p><strong>7.</strong> Click "Add new" to continue adding items to your form until it's complete, then you can move on to preview and share it. </p><h2>How to create a new quiz</h2><p><strong>1.</strong> Click "New Quiz."</p><p><strong>2.</strong> Click "Untitled quiz" and give it a name and description. You can also click the image button on the right and add an image to the top of the quiz.</p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click "Add new."</p><p><strong>4.</strong> In the pop-out menu, choose the kind of entry you want to create. You have the same options as if you were making an ordinary form: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, star rating, and date selection. </p><p><strong>5.</strong> Fill in all the necessary details. But because this is a quiz, you have some additional options. The "Choice" and "Text" questions can have correct answers. To indicate which answer is correct to a Choice question, hover your cursor over the correct option and then click the check to the right. For a text answer, click "Add answer" under the question and enter the exact answer the user needs to type for it to count as correct. You can add multiple correct answers as well. If the user enters the correct answer, this won't be revealed while taking the quiz - this is used by Forms to automatically score the quiz for you. </p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 5" height="1326" width="2004" wfid="1898937"></div><p><strong>6.</strong> You can assign a point value to each question. </p><p><strong>7.</strong> Continue adding items to your quiz until it's complete, then you can move on to preview and share it. </p><h2>How to create a branching form</h2><p>One of the most powerful features in Microsoft Forms is the ability to create branching forms - your poll, survey, or quiz can interactively change the questions a user sees based on which answers they choose (this is generally only useful for multiple questions, of course). This can be used to create highly interactive, personalized experiences. Nonetheless, it's simple to create. </p><p><strong>1.</strong> While editing a question, click the three dots at the bottom right of the question. In the pop-up menu, choose "Add branching."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 6" height="1000" width="1724" wfid="1898938"></div><p><strong>2.</strong> On the Branching Options page, choose which question to go to for each of the choice selections. For example, the first option can take the user to the very next question, while the second option might skip that question and go directly to the following one.  </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Continue selecting branching options for the other questions in the form. Certain questions might be a "dead end," for example, and go directly to the end of the form, while others proceed from question to question in an ordinary manner. </p><p><strong>4.</strong> When you've tweaked your branching options, click "Back" to go to the main form page. </p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 7" height="1345" width="1659" wfid="1898939"></div><h2>How to preview and share your completed form</h2><p><strong>1.</strong> Before you share your form, you may want to preview it to make sure it looks and works the way you expect. In the toolbar at the top of the page, click "Preview." You can now complete the quiz and review the results to make sure it's ready to be shared.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> To share the form with your desired audience, click "Send" in the toolbar at the top of the page. In the pane that appears on the right side of the page, choose how you want to share it. </p><p><strong>3.</strong> If you are part of an organization, you can use the dropdown menu to specify if it can be shared with anyone or only people in your organization. If you are a single user, though, the form will always be shareable with anyone. </p><p><strong>4.</strong> Choose the method of sharing you prefer.</p><ul><li><strong>Link</strong>: Copy this link and share it any way you like (email, text, etc).</li><li><strong>QR code</strong>: Copy and share the QR code. Anyone who receives it can open the form by scanning the code with the camera on their mobile device.</li><li><strong>Embed code</strong>: You can use this HTML snippet in a webpage.</li><li><strong>Email</strong>: This opens your email client with the link to the form already inserted.  </li></ul><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 8" height="1195" width="2016" wfid="1898941"></div><h2>How to see responses and results</h2><p>After you have shared your form and people start to respond, results will be compiled automatically, so you can review the data at any time. </p><p><strong>1.</strong> In <a href="https://forms.office.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Forms</a>, find and click your form to open it. </p><p><strong>2.</strong> At the top of the page, you should see the "Questions" and "Responses" tabs. The Responses tab indicates how many results you have received. </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click "Responses."</p><p><strong>4.</strong> Here you can see a complete summary of all results, including graphs that illustrate the distribution of answers for multiple choice questions.</p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 9" height="1523" width="1998" wfid="1898942"></div><p><strong>5.</strong> For any question, click "More Details" to see additional details about the answers, such as the complete set of answers given for that question. </p><div type="image" title="How_to_use_Microsoft_Forms 10" height="1000" width="2527" wfid="1898944"></div><p><strong>6.</strong> To export the responses to a spreadsheet, click "Open in Excel." Your browser will download an Excel file which you can click to open in Excel or save to your hard drive. </p><h2>Advantages of Microsoft Forms</h2><p>Microsoft Forms was initially created for the needs of educators, but it has a lot of applications for individuals and business users as well. </p><ul><li>If you're a trainer or teacher, you can create multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank text quizzes that grade themselves automatically.</li><li>You can make polls and surveys to assess coworker preferences or solicit structured feedback on joint projects and activities. </li><li>You can add pictures and video to your polls and quizzes and build questions around the content of those visual elements. </li><li>Branching questions can be used to personalize a form based on how a user answers questions, or even be creatively used to make a "choose your own adventure" style story. </li><li>You can use Forms to create math quizzes that include mathematical symbols.</li><li>It's easy to share polls and quizzes, and you have a choice to restrict access to people in your organization (if you are at a company or school) or make it open to anyone with a link to the form. </li><li>Form templates can be shared with other users to make it easy for coworkers or teachers to create similar forms that share the same theme and style. </li><li>You can see results from your polls or quizzes as they are submitted, and you can export the data to Excel for more detailed analysis or inclusion in other content. </li><li>You can share polls and quizzes in whatever format works best for your audience, from links in emails to QR codes that can be scanned on a mobile phone. </li></ul><a data-type="6066468537de2e64813641b7">How to start a newsletter with Microsoft Outlook and share information with your subscribers</a><a data-type="606ddf2b69de4a09286b8ec2">How to use Microsoft Family Safety to manage your family members' app usage, screen time, and more</a><a data-type="601c39429614fd4f1635cbc4">15 Microsoft Word tips and tricks that will help any user work more efficiently</a><a data-type="601acabddaf40c07b95c7b8c">How to create and organize notes with Microsoft OneNote and seamlessly manage all your projects from one app</a><div type="image" title="Advertisement" height="1" width="1" wfid="1898945"></div> <img />

How to use Microsoft Forms to create a poll, survey, or quiz for school or work

<ul class="summary-list"><li>You can start a <keyword id="621414" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Newsletter">newsletter</keyword> with <keyword id="467036" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft-Outlook">Microsoft Outlook</keyword> for free, using the service's tools to help you customize it.</li><li>Once you've made your first newsletter, you should save an Outlook <keyword id="1270726" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="template">template</keyword> that contains the fonts, styles, and format.</li><li>Sending the Outlook newsletter is as easy as creating a contact group and placing it in an email.</li></ul><p>There are many ways to create an <keyword id="11036773" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="email-newsletter">email newsletter</keyword>. To get the most professional results with the least effort, you can subscribe to a paid newsletter service like <a href="https://mailchimp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mail Chimp</a> or <a href="https://www.constantcontact.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Constant Contact</a>.</p><p>If you want to do it yourself but have the broadest array of tools for formatting and styling the newsletter, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-do-a-mail-merge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can use Microsoft Word and merge your contacts from Excel</a>.</p><p>But perhaps the simplest way to create your own newsletter is by using Microsoft Outlook.</p><h2>How to start a newsletter with Microsoft Outlook</h2><h3><strong>Creating a newsletter template</strong></h3><p>The first step is to create a template that can serve as a consistent backbone for your newsletter each time you need to send it. The template will define the background and font selection as well as the overall structure of the newsletter, so you only need to replace the text and images each time. </p><p><strong>1. </strong>In Microsoft Outlook, click "File" and then in the fly-out pane on the left, choose "Options."</p><p><strong>2. </strong>In the Outlook Options window, click the "Mail" tab.</p><p><strong>3. </strong>Click "Stationary and Fonts."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_start_a_newsletter_with_Microsoft_Outlook 1" height="1197" width="1554" msid="81876815" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>4. </strong>Click "<keyword id="50138" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Theme">Theme</keyword>."</p><p><strong>5. </strong>Browse the themes and find the one you want to use. Some themes have custom background images, while others only customize the font style and color. When you find a theme, click "OK" to exit each dialog box and return to the main Outlook window. </p><p><strong>6. </strong>Click "New Email." The blank email should open with the theme attributes you just specified. </p><p><strong>7. </strong>Now use this new email message window to craft your email template. Create headings, sections, body text, and insert images as needed - it's up to you whether you want to create your first newsletter in its entirety or just use boilerplate temporary text. Either way, create a backbone that you can modify with fresh text each time you want to send a new newsletter.</p><p><strong>8. </strong>When your template is done, click "File" and then "Save As."</p><p><strong>9. </strong>In the "Save as type" dropdown, choose "Outlook Template."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_start_a_newsletter_with_Microsoft_Outlook 2" height="1373" width="2086" msid="81876816" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>10. </strong>Give your newsletter template a name and click "Save." </p><p>You'll probably want to return to Outlook's Options and reset the theme to the default, or all future emails you send will use the same theme you just selected for the email newsletter.</p><h3><strong>How to open and fill in a newsletter template</strong></h3><p>Once you've saved your template, you can use it every day, week or month to send a new newsletter. </p><p><strong>1. </strong>In Outlook, click "New Items" from the "New Email" tab and then, in the dropdown menu, choose "More Items," then "Choose Form."</p><div type="image" title="How_to_start_a_newsletter_with_Microsoft_Outlook 3" height="999" width="1576" msid="81876817" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>2. </strong>In the Choose Form dialog box, click the dropdown menu for Look In and choose "User Template in File System." You should now see a list of all templates you've created and saved in Outlook. </p><p><strong>3. </strong>Choose the template you want to use and click "Open."</p><p><strong>4. </strong>Now modify the boilerplate text and images you entered when creating the template.</p><h2><strong>How to create a mailing list for your newsletter</strong></h2><p>If you create a newsletter using Microsoft Word, you need to merge your contacts from Excel because Word doesn't have the ability to manage email addresses on its own. But it's much easier in Outlook, because as an email app, it already has a database of contacts.</p><p>You simply need to create an email group so you can send the newsletter to the right group of people quickly and easily.</p><p><strong>1. </strong>In Outlook, click the Contacts icon at the bottom left of the window. Outlook should switch to the Contacts view.</p><div type="image" title="How_to_start_a_newsletter_with_Microsoft_Outlook 4" height="564" width="987" msid="81876818" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>2. </strong>In the "New Contact" tab, click "Contact Group."</p><p><strong>3. </strong>In the untitled contact group window, click "Add Members" in the ribbon, then choose "From Outlook Contacts."</p><p><strong>4. </strong>In the list of contacts, double-click each name you want to add to the group. You should see the name appear in the field at the bottom.</p><div type="image" title="How_to_start_a_newsletter_with_Microsoft_Outlook 5" height="1328" width="2104" msid="81876819" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>5. </strong>When you've added all the contracts to your group, click "OK."</p><p><strong>6. </strong>At the top of the contact group window, type a name for the group (such as "Newsletter Mailing List") and then click "Save &amp; Close" in the ribbon.</p><h3>How to send your newsletter to a mailing list</h3><p>Now that you've created your mailing list, sending the newsletter is simple: In the Bcc field at the top of the email window, type the name of the group you created. As you type, you should see it appear as an auto-suggestion. Select it and then click "Send."</p><p>You should always put the mailing list on the Bcc field so the recipients can't see each other's email addresses. This is good newsletter etiquette because it preserves your mailing list's privacy.  </p><div type="image" title="How to start a newsletter with Microsoft Outlook 6" height="723" width="1285" msid="81876820" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>How to create a recurring newsletter reminder</strong></h2><p>If you plan to send a newsletter regularly - whether it's daily, weekly, monthly or on some other schedule - Outlook can remind you automatically about the impending date. You simply need to set up a recurring event in your Outlook calendar. </p><p><strong>1. </strong>At the bottom left corner of Outlook, click the Calendar icon. </p><p><strong>2. </strong>In the ribbon, click "New Appointment."</p><p><strong>3. </strong>Fill out the untitled appointment window. Enter a title, such as "Monthly newsletter." Enter the first start date and time.</p><div type="image" title="How_to_start_a_newsletter_with_Microsoft_Outlook 7" height="1275" width="1589" msid="81876821" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>4. </strong>In the ribbon, click "Recurrence"</p><p><strong>5. </strong>In the Task Recurrence window, specify how often you should be reminded. Select whether it should be daily, weekly or monthly, for example, and set when the event should repeat. When you're done, click "OK." </p><p><strong>6. </strong>When the reminder is all configured, click "Save &amp; Close." Now Outlook will let you know when it's time to prep your newsletter.</p><h2><strong>Tips and tricks for your newsletter</strong></h2><ul><li><strong>The subject line of your newsletter is important.</strong> It often determines whether someone chooses to open the email at all. Make sure the headline is interesting and can be read on small screens, such as mobile devices. You can use tools like<a href="https://legacy-zurb.netlify.app/playground/testsubject"> Zurb's Test Subject</a> website to see how a given subject line will fit on a phone display, or you can simply send yourself test emails using your newsletter template. </li></ul><div type="image" title="How_to_start_a_newsletter_with_Microsoft_Outlook 8" height="1359" width="1738" msid="81876823" hostid="261"></div><ul><li><strong>Make it easy to scan</strong>. Don't build your newsletter in big blocks of text - you want to make it easily scannable so readers can pick out important elements without reading everything. One way to do that is to organize your newsletter into sections, with large headers breaking up each part of the newsletter. You can also use images to visually break up the newsletter, though that won't work for every reader - see the next tip. </li><li><strong>Be thoughtful about images</strong>. While images can make your newsletter easy on the eyes, many email clients disable images by default and so a lot of people never see the photos or illustrations you included. That means you should include them, but don't make viewing images essential to enjoying the newsletter. </li><li><strong>Consider formatting with tables</strong>. One way to add advanced formatting to an email newsletter is to put text within a table. You can use that to create the impression of two columns of side-by-side text, for example. </li></ul><div type="image" title="How_to_start_a_newsletter_with_Microsoft_Outlook 9" height="1510" width="1991" msid="81876824" hostid="261"></div><ul><li><strong>If you add a table to your newsletter, you can make table borders invisible</strong>. Select the table, right-click and choose "Table Properties." Click the Table tab and then choose "Borders and Shading…" Then click "None."</li><li><strong>You can shade cells within a table to add some background color</strong>. Select the entire cell - not just some of the text in the cell - and then select the table, right-click and choose "Table Properties." Click the Table tab and then choose "Borders and Shading…" Click the Shading tab and choose the background color you like. </li><li><strong>Keep your text short and straightforward</strong>. Resist the urge to include long preambles or lengthy articles. For the best chance of engagement, don't waste your reader's time. Keep the text short and simple. </li></ul><a data-type="5edff174f34d05038e731154">How to export emails from Microsoft Outlook on a PC or Mac computer so that you can import them to a different account</a><a data-type="5e7a55ba0c2a624f121c3a0e">How to add Zoom to your Outlook account to video conference with your contacts</a><a data-type="5ee13004f0f41971c6227724">How to add an email account to Microsoft Outlook on a PC or Mac computer</a><a data-type="5eb08cc13dac9a294b525045">How to use Bcc in Microsoft Outlook to send emails privately to multiple people</a>

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