# Period Comparison Template **URL:** \ **Category:** gSheets Templates\ **Tags:** tcs-period-comparison, tcs-gallery, showtell-votes\ **Created:** [June 26, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092 "2021-06-26T18:01:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![susandennis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/susandennis/32/13699_2.png) [@susandennis](https://community.tiller.com/u/susandennis)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/1 "2021-06-26T18:01:13Z")
I’d like to revive this in hopes of an actual Actuals comparison over months/years. What did I spend 1st quarter last year compared to 1st quarter this year? All the months last year compared to all the months this year? etc. Is there a way, for instance, to strip out Budgets from the Yearly Budget Sheet? Or, better yet, have one sheet where I can look at what I spent (by category is fine) compared to what I spent last year/month/quarter. Just the spending, no budget info at all. The Monthly Analysis and Monthly Budget do a bit of it but, of course, I want it all. Seems like this should be an easy do but, for the life of me, I cannot ‘do’! ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 1:34am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/2 "2021-06-29T01:34:54Z")
Hey @susandennis! This is a cool idea. I’ve wanted something similar too. I gave it a try this afternoon. Just ~~copy the `Period Comparison` sheet from this spreadsheet into your spreadsheet~~ install the Period Comparison template using the [Tiller Community Solutions add-on](https://community.tiller.com/t/how-to-use-the-tiller-money-labs-add-on/67). I haven’t done a ton of testing and the features are pretty sparing. Let me know what you think. Cheers, Randy ---
**Author:** ![susandennis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/susandennis/32/13699_2.png) [@susandennis](https://community.tiller.com/u/susandennis)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/3 "2021-06-29T01:58:13Z")
Randy, This is very cool. It’s pretty much exactly what I wanted! I deleted the budget and available columns because all I really wanted was to see the actuals and this makes that spot on easy to see them perfectly clearly. Thank you!! ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 2:29am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/4 "2021-06-29T02:29:11Z")
Glad to hear it is helpful, @susandennis. ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 12:53am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/5 "2021-06-30T00:53:49Z")
Just made an improvement where the Budget value will prorate partial months. The equation in `N3:N` is… unpleasant but serviceable. _(Since you deleted these columns, this won’t help you, @susandennis… but I did add some period dropdown selectors that you might appreciate.)_ ---
**Author:** ![susandennis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/susandennis/32/13699_2.png) [@susandennis](https://community.tiller.com/u/susandennis)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/6 "2021-06-30T01:27:17Z")
Ok those date drop downs are sexy!! Wonderful choices. Plus, it lets me hide the two columns I don’t need instead of having to delete them. This is just EXCELLENT. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/7 "2021-06-30T04:14:30Z")
I’m glad you like it, @susandennis. Only warning… The custom period start and end dates reveal themselves in the columns you hid. Be sure to unhide those columns if you want a custom period. ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:22am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/8 "2021-06-30T04:22:49Z")
Thinking that it would be cool with a third set of columns that show and are sorted by the net between the two periods… 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![susandennis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/susandennis/32/13699_2.png) [@susandennis](https://community.tiller.com/u/susandennis)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/9 "2021-06-30T14:06:59Z")
Yes!! That would be a really nice addition. I love seeing my finances this way but I’m also learning a great deal about past spending which is going to be valuable going forward. Really, thank you so much. ---
**Author:** ![alkrongold](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/alkrongold/32/317_2.png) [@alkrongold](https://community.tiller.com/u/alkrongold)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/10 "2021-06-30T21:49:47Z")
I’ve been waiting for this as well. Going to check it out. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 6:14am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/13 "2021-07-01T06:14:36Z")
I added some new sorting and comparison features, have a look, @susandennis & @alkrongold. ---
**Author:** ![susandennis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/susandennis/32/13699_2.png) [@susandennis](https://community.tiller.com/u/susandennis)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/14 "2021-07-01T14:52:48Z")
Better and even better! The delta bars are a great addition as is the category sorting that goes with them. I’m actually kind of shocked at how looking at the data this way makes such a difference in how I think about it. I abandoned the hiding of the columns and, instead just made the data white so it’s out of view but there still. I really do like this tab. A lot. Thank you!! ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/15 "2021-07-01T21:48:20Z")
One final update… I just published the new Period Comparison template into the [Tiller Money Labs add-on](https://community.tiller.com/t/how-to-use-the-tiller-money-labs-add-on/67). If you have already installed it manually, I’d recommend deleting it and reinstalling via the add-on so Tiller Money Labs can track the version and let you know when there are updates. Thanks for the ideas and the inspiration, @susandennis. ---
**Author:** ![susandennis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/susandennis/32/13699_2.png) [@susandennis](https://community.tiller.com/u/susandennis)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/16 "2021-07-01T22:20:38Z")
Installed as instructed and I am just delighted. Thank you so very much. ---
**Author:** ![rollmeaway](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/rollmeaway/32/252_2.png) [@rollmeaway](https://community.tiller.com/u/rollmeaway)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/17 "2021-07-10T15:49:32Z")
Would be nice to have this for the Envelope Budgeting but the Period Comparison is not compatible. A workaround I’ve looked at using is the Category Rollup Report. I create a six-month and an annual report, re-naming in between. Then I create an average for each main category in each sheet. It’s a bit cumbersome going back and forth for viewing. I’m considering developing a sheet that will pull in those values for ease in viewing. While the Envelope Monthly Budget shows “Previous” spending what I’d like to see (instead of what I described above) is an extra column where I could see average spending based on a (drop-down specified) period (Previous Quarter, Six Months, Annual). ---
**Author:** ![adekunledauda](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/adekunledauda/32/749_2.png) [@adekunledauda](https://community.tiller.com/u/adekunledauda)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2021, 2:07am UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/18 "2021-07-11T02:07:30Z")
How do I obtain or fill in the budget for the previous year? since category sheet provide for current budget only, it means there won’t be comparison budget for the last year? Maybe I’m missing something here. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/19 "2021-07-29T18:17:43Z")
I’m not certain I understand your question, @adekunledauda, but I think you are saying that you overwrite the budget categories in your `Categories` sheet at the start of a new year. Another workflow is to add 12 columns to the right and keep your previous-year budget. (This is what I do.) ---
**Author:** ![charlotte](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/charlotte/32/502_2.png) [@charlotte](https://community.tiller.com/u/charlotte)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/20 "2021-07-29T19:22:40Z")
This is great, thanks @randy! Is there a way to get it to skip categories marked as “hide” on the category sheet? I see a reference to the Hide column but don’t see it used in any of the formulas. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/randy/32/16_2.png) [@randy](https://community.tiller.com/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/21 "2021-07-29T20:04:54Z")
Great idea, @charlotte. Just added this feature. Give it a try and let me know what you think. ---
**Author:** ![charlotte](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tiller.com/charlotte/32/502_2.png) [@charlotte](https://community.tiller.com/u/charlotte)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092/22 "2021-08-04T16:57:36Z")
Thanks @randy , very helpful. Another suggestion: add options for “Last Year to Date” and “This Year to Date” to the drop downs. I know I can do it by using custom, but having pre-built would be helpful. [Next page](https://community.tiller.com/t/period-comparison-template/9092.md?page=2)