CAinCA
CAinCA GRM+ Memberand Dork
11/21/24 2:18 p.m.

I've never been good at tracking our spending. Currently 95% of our spending goes on a credit card that gets paid down every couple weeks. So, I know roughly what we are spending, but I'd like a simple way to track what we are really spending and what we are spending it on.

 

Any suggestions?

chandler
chandler MegaDork
11/21/24 2:24 p.m.

I use YNAB, it does everything I ask it to

WonkoTheSane
WonkoTheSane GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
11/21/24 2:29 p.m.

If you're spending 95% on a credit card, the easiest way is to just review the credit card statement..  That'll get you 95% of the way there :)  Mine even breaks out the category.

 

Duke
Duke MegaDork
11/21/24 2:51 p.m.
WonkoTheSane said:

If you're spending 95% on a credit card, the easiest way is to just review the credit card statement..  That'll get you 95% of the way there :)  Mine even breaks out the category.

This.  If you have / start an online account with your credit card company, nearly all of them have data analysis tools available on your account information page.

 

TravisTheHuman
TravisTheHuman MegaDork
11/21/24 3:04 p.m.

export to .CSV and use excel or google sheets

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/21/24 6:36 p.m.
TravisTheHuman said:

export to .CSV and use excel or google sheets

This!!  

WonkoTheSane
WonkoTheSane GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
11/21/24 6:45 p.m.

If you're looking for more general financial planning than just "where did my money go?". I have a budget Excel spreadsheet that I've referenced a few times on here called WithInYourMeans that I found years ago and my wife and I used to get our financial life on track.

It breaks up your income into three categories: payments/expenses, savings, and replacements.  After filling in all the income and expenses, it helps you figure out how to fill those three categories.  Payments/expenses is pretty early explanatory, savings as well, but the replacements was a major one for us.  You inventory everything you own that has a life span (roof, water heater, cars, oven, etc., etc.) and then set aside enough to afford a replacement when it's needed.

Here's the spreadsheet, I'm happy to help if you need a hand with it.  It does take a lot of time to get set up, I think we spent 3 or 4 nights to get going.

https://www.mymoneyblog.com/images/0703/withinyourmeans.xls

Johnboyjjb
Johnboyjjb HalfDork
11/22/24 1:04 a.m.

I use really old YNAB that was purchased instead of subrscription model.

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