I am not realgood with computers, but can anyone tell me what spread sheets are

Spreadsheets are programs that help you to keep track of things like budgets, work hours or just about anything. I use the spread sheet in Microsoft Works that came with my computer and I find that it is a really great tool and once you get the hang of it, they are easy to create. Say you want to keep track of your hours at work: Your first column might list the kind of hours that you worked. Mine includes a heading, "Type of Hours" in square A1, then "Regular" in square A2, "Sick" in A3, "Holiday" in A4 and "Vacation" in A5 and "OT" (overtime) in A6. Type "Hours" in B1, "$ per hour" in C1, "Total Gross" in D1 and "Net Pay" in E1. Put how many regular hours you worked for the pay period in B2, type your gross hourly rate such as $10 in C2. In square D2, type "=SUM(B2*C2)". This equation multiplies your hours worked by your hourly pay. As a shortcut, highlight square D2 and hit "copy" then paste it in squares D3, D4, D5 and D6. Then as you type the hours worked in for each type of hour every week (you should keep the hourly rates in the C column). If your regular and sick time and vacation hours are all $10 put "=C2" in squares C3, C4 and C5. If you get paid time and a half for overtime, type "=SUM(C2*1.5) in square C6. By doing this, whenever you get a raise you only have to change the dollar amount in square C2. To figure out your take home pay divide the take home pay by the gross pay and it will give you a figure like .70 (your take home would be 70% of your gross in this example, [Mine is usually 72% because of deductions for benefit premiums.] In square E2, type "=SUM(D2*.70)" then copy square E2 into E3-E6. That will put the formula in each of those squares for that line. Notice after you paste square E6 will show "=SUM(E2*.70)". In square E7, type "=SUM(E2:E6)" and then square E7 will always show the total of squares E2-E6. It may sound scary, but once you are done, save the spreadsheet. Then every payperiod all you have to do is type in the hours that you worked for each catagory and the spreadsheet will do the rest. I use a couple of these so that I can keep the previous payperiod figures in case you get shorted on your check. Printing your spreadsheet for that week and taking it to work will show your calculations and should impress your boss.