Most people that are familiar with SharePoint have seen the default lists and libraries that are available but there is one that is often overlooked.  SharePoint allows you to create a custom list that is essentially a blank canvas.

To create a custom list, choose Create from the Site Actions dropdown:

Then select Custom List from the available list options:

With a custom list (just like any list or library) you can then add additional columns:

Select “Create column” on the list settings page:

And then choose what column type you would like to use:

So, what kind of data would you store in a custom list?  Just about anything that could go into a spreadsheet would work well in a custom list.  You can even use the Edit in Datasheet feature to update the list like you would a spreadsheet: