I'd recommend using an online tool that does this already rather than creating one yourself. JMO

sounds like sumif or a pivot table might work

mint.com is what you are looking for

I agree with Ryan, why recreate the wheel? I personally prefer ynab over mint but there is an annual fee to use it.

Check out You Need a Budget.

Use Mint or something else is also my suggestion.

However, if you really want to make your own spreadsheet, look at the sumifs function.

I made a pretty extensive one using sumproduct. Each month of the year has a tab and it pulls for corresponding categories and dates from the account registries of our checking account and credit cards on separate tabs. You select a category from a dropdown for each transaction. I can send it to you as an example if you want it.

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I agree with Ryan, why recreate the wheel? I personally prefer ynab over mint but there is an annual fee to use it.

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You can still get the standalone version for the $60. I don't think they offer any discounts anymore. I still think its superior until they get somethings figured out.

You could create an additional tab and on it just list the categories you want to track.

The on the tabs where you log expense, create a category column. Select:

Data--> Data Validation --> Data Validation --> from the drop down select list --> for source navigate over to your category tab and select the range with your categories --> click ok.

Now you can copy that cell all the way down.

So now you can easily select your categories from a preset list.

Then just use SUMIF or SUMIFS to keep track of everything.