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Excel Spreadsheets are easy to use templates even for the inexperienced users, simply download the file, save it on your local hard-drive and open it with Microsoft Excel. After opening the spreadsheet, you be able to Enter your loan or finance details.

If you want to learn more on Excel visit

http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/excelformulas/ss/formula_begin.htm

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/excel-help-and-how-to-FX101814052.aspx?CTT=97

http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelArticles/

Customized Excel Spreadsheets could be very useful to track and calculate your loan / personal finance.

Here’s the list :

Loan amortization schedule & Payment Schedule

#1

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Excel version: Excel 2003 or later

Description: (from site) Use this loan amortization schedule to create a loan summary and payment schedule based on the terms of the initial loan.

Useful for : General use, personal loans, keeping track on your loan payment.

Download Here

#2 

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Excel version: Excel 2003 or later

OpenOffice, and Google Docs versions are also available.

Description: (from site) 

This spreadsheet-based calculator creates an amortization schedule for a fixed-rate loan, with optional extra payments. The payment frequency can be annual, semi-annual, quarterly, bi-monthly, monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly. Values are rounded to the nearest cent. The last payment is adjusted to bring the balance to zero.

Version 1.6 lets you make multiple copies of the Schedule worksheet within the same workbook, to compare different loans and scenarios.

Download Here

Mortgage Amortization Schedule & Mortgage Calculator

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Description: Use this mortgage amortization schedule to create a mortgage summary and payment schedule based on the terms of the initial loan; includes key figures.

Excel version: Excel 2003 or later

Download Here

Personal Finance

Personal Budget Excel Spreadsheet

Description: This sheet help you run your income and expense break down by almost any category you can think of. Such as daily living expense from clothing to pet food, and eating out, or home expenses like cable, water, gas, etc.

Very usefull tool to stay on budget, this is the tool to start if you want to know how you make and spend your money. Can help you on saving money be seeing where you spend and where you can cut some of your expense.

Excel version: Excel 2003 or later

OpenOffice, and Google Docs versions are also available.

 Download Here

Where you Can Find More Finance Excel Spreadsheets?

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/ - Free excel templates from Microsoft, you can find many  types of templates for personal and business finance.  Such as Collage budget, invoice for personal or business uses. All Free.

http://www.vertex42.com - An excel expert Jon Wittwer with many high-quality and very useful excel tools easy-to-use for personal (free) or commercial use. (paid) If none of the tools above was what you were looking for you most likely find it there, here is a link for all the tools on the site http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/

http://www.tvmcalcs.com/calculators/apps/excel_loan_amortization - another template that was not listed above with information on creating an amortization schedule. To download browse to the bottom of the page.

Popularity: 7%

You might submit your home loan application excitably. But your excitement can turn to disappointment as your lender denies your request for a mortgage. Failing to understand guidelines or requirements for getting a home loan can delay your purchasing plans. Understand what lenders look for, and then take steps to meet these qualifications.

1. Be employed for a minimum of two consecutive years. Avoid employment gaps. If you switch jobs during the home buying process, stay within the same line of work.
2. Provide proof of regular, steady income. Keep records of past tax returns, pay stubs, bank accounts, or W-2 forms to demonstrate stability.
3. Build your credit rating to 680 or higher by paying off debts and paying bills on time.
4. Reduce spending to save for your down payment – save at least 3.5 percent of the purchase price if applying for an FHA mortgage.
5. Know your options and learn about different home loan products. Use a broker, ask questions, read books, and do online research.
6. Keep debts low to maintain a low debt-to-income ratio. Lenders are strict with regards to debt payments, and they may reject your mortgage application if your debt payments exceed 36 percent of your gross income.
7. Use a co-signer or co-borrower if your score is below 680. Co-signers can also help you obtain a mortgage if you don’t have enough income to qualify for a specific amount.
8. Apply for a house that you can comfortably afford. As a rule, keep mortgage payments below 28 percent of your gross monthly income.
9. If your credit report reveals past issues, such as lateness, foreclosure, or bankruptcy, include an explanation on your credit report indicating the cause of delinquencies. For example, lateness might result from a past layoff or the inability to work due to illness.
10. Pay off old judgements, charge-offs, and collection accounts before applying for a home loan.

Popularity: 1%

Under federal tax laws, taxpayers are allowed to borrow money from 401(k) plans and these funds can be used for any legal purpose. Some people view retirement plan loans as the borrowing option of last resort but despite the psychological impact of drawing on one’s pension pot, 401(k) loans provide many borrowers with an inexpensive and easy to obtain loan option.

Plan participants can only obtain 401(k) loans if their employer’s retirement plan includes a loan option. The Internal Revenue service permits pension plan loans but does not require 401(k) sponsors to include loan provisions in these plans. Since 401(k) loans do not impact the plan sponsor’s bottom line, many plans include a loan provision. Additionally, 401(k) loans are easier to obtain than other types of loans since credit checks do not typically form part of the application process.

Generally, 401(k) plans are funded with employer contributions and employee elective salary deferrals. Retirement plans are subject to vesting schedules and vesting describes the process during which contributed funds become the property of the plan participant. Elective deferrals and earnings are immediately vested but in some instances employer contributions become vested over the course of six years. Vesting schedules are significant in terms of 401(k) loans because a plan participant can borrow the lesser of $50,000 or 50 percent of the vested balance of their account.

An employee can borrow money from a 401(k) in the form of a single loan or a series of loans. Loan terms can last for as long as five years and the loans are repaid with salary deductions. Significantly, 401(k) loans are normally funded with gross earnings while repayments are made with net earnings. Since 401(k) withdrawals are fully taxable this means that the borrower ends up paying income tax on the money prior to making a loan payment and again when the funds are eventually withdrawn from the account.

Interest rates on 401(k) loans are normally based upon the Wall Street Journal’s prime rate which reflects the average cost of borrowing for creditworthy clients at the nation’s leading banks. Home equity loan rates are also normally based upon prime rate. However, interest payments on an equity loan are paid to the bank whereas interest payments on a 401(k) loan are applied to the borrower’s own pension plan. This means that borrowers effectively pay themselves interest.

Retirement plan loans have to be repaid in full if the borrower stops working for the plan sponsor. In the event that the borrower fails to repay the loan, the loan is re-characterized as a pension plan withdrawal. The borrower has to pay ordinary income tax on the money and possibly state income tax. Furthermore, withdrawals from pension plans by people below the age of 59 ½ are usually subject to a 10 percent tax penalty.

People who take out 401(k) loans do not have to pay interest to lenders which means that these loans are a low cost alternative when compared with credit cards, personal loans and mortgage products. If the borrower remains employed for the duration of the loan term then the taxes are not a factor. However, job losses are not always foreseeable which means that anyone who takes out a 401(k) loan is taking a calculated risk.

Popularity: 2%