What would you recommend to keep track of spending?

[SAWYER]

I want to set up a Google doc spreadsheet or maybe download an app that I can enter in any purchases I make. I just want to have something I can look back on to see what I am spending. This isn't for bills, just stuff I buy.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Dump it all on a credit card. Go to the online site and there should be a way to break down/display your purchases - or, copy/paste your charges into a spreadsheet to categorize as you see fit.

And, what you can't buy with a credit card, keep the receipts and dedicate one day a month (or week) in categorizing them.

 

[SAWYER]

I don't use credit cards

 

[drebo]

I don't use credit cards

Well, you're dumb.

That said, my wife and I just started using an app called Family Fortune. Super simple where we can just enter in our expenses and it syncs our budgets between phones. Bonus is that it's free.

 

[Markbnj]

A wife.

 

[Paratus]

These guys:

They won't let you forget what you owe..... If yous know what I mean.

 

[slippysoup]

Mint.com

 

[boomhower]

Mint.com

same here

 

[OutHouse]

Mint.com. it's awesome and free.

 

[OutHouse]

Well, you're dumb

Oh, you are one of those reward slaves.

 

[TridenT]

I used to use mint.com but ultimately it wasn't good enough for me. It failed to integrate with my bank well enough. It might have improved over the years.

One thing I didn't care about it though was that it just couldn't categorize every purchase correctly. It was just impossible since some of the charges didn't have much info to go with them.

Tracking with receipts for all purchases is the most accurate method. Get a receipt scanner and hopefully you can use some text recognition program that will put the data in a spreadsheet for you (with it categorized, hopefully). I'm sure the software exists.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Oh, you are one of those reward slaves.

It's paying for my Europe vacation so slave away.

 

[Jaepheth]

I find that math works pretty well

 

[UglyCasanova]

I just track my bank account and use excel to budget.

 

[Muse]

This may sound weird, but I don't feel the need... yet. My conscience rules my spending. I'm frugal, if I do any spending that's not consistent with my philosophy, I'm 100% aware of it. Now, this might not be the wisest way to keep a leash on your spending, but it's worked for me. To give myself a longer leash I figure I need to increase my spending power, and for me that means growing my liquid assets. That project and my spending habits aren't really harmonious exactly.

Anyway, this thread has my attention, partly because I get these paper receipts in stores and very often something gnaws at me when I contemplate whether or not to toss them into the trash. "What if somebody tries to game me," or "what if they make some mistake in their processing of my purchase, will I catch it, will I need proof of the transaction?" is my thinking.

In any case, I'm anything but hounded by debts.

 

[kranky]

I use Quicken, many people use Mint (although Mint reporting is terrible).

 

[zmaster]

walle (an app for iphone)

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Oh, you are one of those reward slaves.

Wasn't aware free money made me a a slave

 

[z1ggy]

Mint.com or just use an excel spread sheet.

 

[sdifox]

Poor people track expeses

 

[purbeast0]

if you are financially responsible and not using a credit card to get rewards, you're dumb. but if you know you aren't financially responsible (and may be a reason to need an application to track spending habits) then i can completely understand.

 

[soulcougher73]

Oh, you are one of those reward slaves.

More like the CC is my slave. Never any interest and they give me money. Whats not to like?

 

[cbrunny]

YNAB

 

[SAWYER]

I am very responsible and don't spend much, I just want to be able to look back and see what I have spent

 

[PricklyPete]

if you are financially responsible and not using a credit card to get rewards, you're dumb. but if you know you aren't financially responsible (and may be a reason to need an application to track spending habits) then i can completely understand.

This. Don't push your lack of self control on me.

I use Mint to siphon all of our transactions into one place, but I do not use their software to budget.

Currently I have my own spreadsheet that I use for budgeting. It also has all of our investment balances. I send a snapshot to my wife each day so she knows where we stand. At the beginning of the month we "preload" expenses for the upcoming month to ensure we don't get surprised by an upcoming expense we were aware of. For instance, if we have family visiting at the end of the month, we will set aside a certain amount in anticipation. The spreadsheet calculates how we are doing and gives a red/yellow/green indicator on how we are doing. It also has various other indicators (like $ per day left). We have been doing this for years and it has been really helpful. It is not as extreme (or affective) as assigning each dollar to an expense each month (a la Dave Ramsey), but it is more than enough for my wife and I to keep on top of our spending.