For basic number crunching on an iOS device, Free Spreadsheet does the job. But I wouldn’t do anything more than that on this app; it would be way too tedious.

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

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

Traditional spreadsheet proficiency, while foundational, doesn’t cut it in an era of massive data influxes and the pressing need for real-time, insightful analysis.