How to keep a shagun record in a spreadsheet

Most desi families keep a notebook of who gave what at each wedding, so that when it's their turn they can give back the right amount. A spreadsheet does the same job, and it can add up the totals by family.

Set up the log

Put one gift on each row:

• Date
• Event (wedding, engagement, mehndi, baby shower, housewarming, Diwali)
• Whose event
• Family
• Given or received
• Cash amount
• Gift, and what it was worth
• Notes

Leave the currency sign off the amounts, so the same sheet works for rupees, dollars or pounds.

Shagun amounts usually end in 1, like 101, 501 or 1,101. Type them exactly as given so your record matches what's in the envelope.

Add totals by family

On a second tab, list each family once. Then, with the family in A2:

• Received from them: =SUMIFS(Log!F:F,Log!D:D,A2,Log!E:E,"Received")
• Given to them: =SUMIFS(Log!F:F,Log!D:D,A2,Log!E:E,"Given")
• Difference: =B2-C2
• Last event together: =MAXIFS(Log!A:A,Log!D:D,A2)

Plan what you'll give

Add an Upcoming tab for the weddings and events ahead, with what you plan to give. Look up the family's row first, so you can see what they gave at your last event.

Keep it private

Share the sheet only with the people who need it, like a spouse or a parent. In Google Sheets, use Share and add them by email instead of turning on link sharing.

If you'd rather not build it

The Shagun and Gift Log has all of this set up, with events from weddings and mundans to Lohri and Raksha Bandhan, totals by family and by year, and a tab for upcoming events.