How to Build Your Own Litbuy Spreadsheet: DIY Guide (2026)

Step 1: Choose Your Platform

The first decision is where to build your spreadsheet. Here are the best options ranked by ease of use and capability:

• 1Google Sheets — Free, cloud-synced, and easy to share. Best for beginners who want a simple, accessible solution.
• 2Microsoft Excel — More powerful for advanced formulas and data analysis. Best for users who already own Microsoft Office.
• 3Notion — Combines spreadsheet functionality with note-taking and databases. Best for users who want an all-in-one workspace.
• 4Airtable — Database-spreadsheet hybrid with rich media support. Best for users who want a professional-grade solution.

Step 2: Design Your Structure

Every good deal tracker needs the same core columns. Here is the recommended structure for your custom litbuy spreadsheet:

• 1Product Name — Clear, descriptive name for easy searching
• 2Category — Shoes, Hoodies, T-Shirts, Jackets, etc.
• 3Brand — Manufacturer or designer name
• 4Original Price — The manufacturer suggested retail price
• 5Current Price — The discounted price you found
• 6Discount % — Calculated column showing savings percentage
• 7Retailer — Where the deal is available
• 8Date Found — When you discovered the listing
• 9URL — Direct link to the product page
• 10Status — Available, Sold Out, Price Changed, Purchased

Step 3: Populate Your Data

Now comes the fun part: filling your spreadsheet with real deals. The most efficient approach is to use litbuy spreadsheet as your primary discovery tool, then copy relevant listings into your personal tracker.

Set a routine: browse litbuy spreadsheet every morning, identify deals that match your criteria, and manually add them to your spreadsheet. For each entry, record the product name, original price, current price, retailer, and URL.

Within two weeks, you will have a personalized database of deals that reflects your exact preferences. Over time, this becomes a powerful reference that helps you recognize when prices truly are exceptional versus merely average.

Step 4: Add Smart Formulas

The magic of a spreadsheet is automation. Here are the essential formulas to add:

• 1Discount percentage: =(Original Price - Current Price) / Original Price — formats as percentage to instantly see deal depth
• 2Days since discovery: =TODAY() - Date Found — helps track how long a deal has been available
• 3Savings total: =SUM(Discount Amount column) — shows your cumulative savings over time
• 4Category count: =COUNTIF(Category range, "Shoes") — tracks how many deals you have found per category
• 5Best deal flag: =IF(Discount % > 0.5, "HOT", "") — automatically flags deals over 50% off

Step 5: Maintain and Refine

A neglected spreadsheet quickly becomes useless. Build habits that keep your tracker accurate and valuable:

• 1Review and update statuses every Sunday — mark sold-out items and verify active listings
• 2Archive old deals monthly — move expired listings to a separate "History" sheet to keep your active view clean
• 3Add new columns as needed — seasonal notes, shipping costs, or personal ratings help refine your system
• 4Compare your tracker against litbuy spreadsheet regularly to catch deals you might have missed in your manual process

Step 6: When to Use Official vs DIY

Building your own tracker is rewarding, but it is not always the best choice. Here is how to decide:

• 1Use the official litbuy spreadsheet for daily browsing — it updates automatically and covers more retailers than you can track manually
• 2Use your DIY tracker for long-term wishlist items — personal trackers excel at monitoring specific products over weeks or months
• 3Use the official tool for discovery — the official litbuy spreadsheet surfaces deals you would never find on your own
• 4Use your DIY tracker for analysis — custom spreadsheets can calculate personalized metrics that the official tool does not track