Sumif function on cells containing formulas or dropdowns

[snowy day]

I've created a budget sheet for each month where I'm using a drop down list of expense categories (ie, AUTO, CLOTHING, GAS, etc.). Each time I spend money during the month I select the category from my drop down menu and enter the amount spent. So for each month I can have several times where I've spent money on the same category (gas, or groceries, etc). I want to use the SUMIF function to sum the amount spent for each category for each month. How can I use the SUMIF function for my budget categories on a range of cells if those cells contain a formula, or drop down menu, and not text? Or maybe SUMIF isn't the best way? I've been searching all over on the forums for a solution. Thanks in advance for your help, and please let me know if you need more info or even a copy of the excel sheet.

 

[hutchisd]

If your categories are in column A and the corresponding dollar amounts are in column B, use this formula to sum for "Gas":

=sumif(A:A,"Gas",B:B)

Even better, reference your category from a cell. Let's say the word Gas is in C2:

=sumif(A:A,C2,B:B)

This will allow you to copy the formula down without re-typing it.