Is there a way to use the numbers I'm using as actual numbers?

Ye gotta be more specific, like what do you mean?

If you've stored a number in a string, T$, you can convert it to a number, N, using the VAL() function. N = VAL(T$) If your string consists of custom-defined characters, I imagine you would have to do some fancy string manipulation to convert them to the number characters before using VAL(). Or, you maybe it would be easier to just re-define the number characters using your custom characters.

To convert custom characters into numbers, just put them into string and use INSTR. :D