Update Cell Value that was just used in a Formula

[AF1HS]

I'm trying to do the following:

I have a currency value in B1. I want to subtract a value each month (B1-C1, B1-D1, etc.) and update the value in B1 with the new result so that it becomes available for the following month's entry (B1-E1).

This would be similar to a budget problem where B1 is the outstanding balance and each month's payment is subtracted from the balance updating the outstanding amount. Is this possible?

A newbi,
AF1HS

[JBeaucaire]

Formula based answer, I'd expect each new use to be an ever-increasing SUM range.

1: =B1-C1
2: =B1-SUM($C$1:D1)
3: =B1-SUM($C$1:E1)
4: =B1-SUM($C$1:F1)

[AF1HS]

Thanks for the reply, Jerry. I tried the very first line and it gives me a "Circular Reference Warning" since the B1 cell is trying to be replaced by the result of the (B1-C1) subtraction. Would it be possible to store the B1 value in some intermediate cell and use that cell for the math before updating the B1 cell?

[JBeaucaire]

Hah, my apologies, I missed that this formula was going IN B1, I assumed this formula was going elsewhere.

Yes, the simplest answer is to store the "starting value" in another cell somewhere safe, then adapt the formula to refer to that cell, then drop it in B1.

[AF1HS]

Thanks, Jerry - I should have thought of that earlier. Thanks again!!

AF1HS

[JBeaucaire]

If that takes care of your original question, please select Thread Tools from the menu link above and mark this thread as SOLVED. Thanks.