This is the third article in the Creating a Price Book series, which includes:
- How to Set Up a Price Book
- Create Price Book Pages by Hand or with Online Printables
- This article.
- Electronic Price Books - Spreadsheets, PDAs and SmartPhones
Word Processed Price Book
Most computers come with word processing software such as Microsoft Word, and you can use word processing software to create pages for your price book.
The easiest way to produce a price book with word processing software is to create a one-page form, then print out several copies and fill in the item for each page by hand. This sounds like a lot of work upfront, but do not overwhelm yourself by creating all price book pages at once. Instead, start your price book by adding just a few pages/items each week.
If you do not have word processing software on your computer, download OpenOffice which includes Writer, a legal, free and fully featured word processing application.
Printer Set Up
Before opening your word processing software, be sure your printer will print on the size of paper or index card you want to use. Not all printers can accommodate 3" x 5" index cards but most will print on a minimum size of 4" x 6" paper or cards.
If you are not using the default page size for your printer (e.g. 8-1/2" x 11" in the U.S.), set the page size in your word processing software to match the size paper or index card you will use.
Set margins with extra space on the left for binding. Those using a method other than binding to hold note cards (see below) can skip this step.
Create Your Price Book Form
- Tab over to the upper-right corner of the page and type a line. You will write the item being tracked on each page on this line when starting new price book pages.
- Create rows and columns using the table or columns feature in your word processor, using the seven headings given below as column headings.
- Date
- Store Name
- Brand
- Size
- Price
- Unit Price
- Notes
- Print out several pages, filling in the item on the line at the top right and dates, prices and other data in each row.
More Options for Price Book Pages
Using word processing software to make price book pages is very simple, but there are other options for making pages. You can keep an electronic price book in a spreadsheet on your computer, and PDAs and Smartphones have spreadsheet or list software that will do the job on handheld computers.
You can go relatively low tech if you prefer and create a price book page form by hand or download a printable page from the Internet.
Discuss setting up a price book in the Personal Budgeting Forum.
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