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1. 

   orinoco
   

   Apprentice
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 74

   I imagine a lot of people on this forum are already tracking their spending, probably using a spreadsheet. I started off recording mine on a spreadsheet too but found it a bit cumbersome. So I wrote a simple online app which I've been using for 18 months now:

   http://www.orinoco.byethost9.com/index.php

   Simply record transactions - a date, an amount, whether it is an income or an outgoing, add some tags (just like threads on this forum), you can also add longer notes (useful for order/reference numbers etc.) & that's all you need to do.

   The tagging process is a really easy way of organising your costs. I was quite alarmed when I found out the true cost of my car!

   Please feel free to give it a go, it might be useful to you too.

   Any other bits of software that people use?

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   jacob
   

   Expert
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 3,297

   Actually, we mainly use those small yellow post-it notes (-:

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   JohnnyH
   

   Expert
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 1,363

   I've been using http://www.clearcheckbook.com for a few years. Simple, free, fast. I record all my spending in a little register in my wallet... Then once a month I add all transactions and update values.

   I'm sure there are better ways, but this takes me maybe 10 mins a month and meets my needs. I can export my transactions into a csv, so I can migrate easily, should I desire.

   I think I'm coming up on 3 years data. I spend a LOT on booze :)

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   AnonymouserX
   

   Novice
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 7

   I use mint.com. Free and simple.

   Posted 2 years ago #
5. 

   S
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 288

   I use mint as a high-level summary of all my accounts, but don't use the budget features. My husband has set up a budget spreadsheet in google docs we update as purchases are made. Tags would be a nice addition to what we have now.

   Posted 2 years ago #
6. 

   JohnnyH
   

   Expert
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 1,363

   Mint didn't have ways to import some of my more obscure accounts. And at the time I couldn't add anything manually. Is this still the case?

   I was fairly relieved as I'm a little leery of financial hubs security.

   Posted 2 years ago #
7. 

   Anonymous
   

   
   
   Posts: 20

   I use yodlee money center. It isn't pretty like mint but it does a better job categorizing or tagging, if you prefer. Also you can track almost any of your online accounts there. I track all of reward pts there, like my VirginAtlantic flying club miles and HiltonHonors points.

   Posted 2 years ago #
8. 

   Concojones
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 117

   I don't track my expenses, my card does that for me.

   Once a month, I consult my transaction history and add up the different types of expenses: housing, food, clothes, ... on a scrap of paper. Takes a few minutes. If you're a nerd like me you can type over the results into Excel.

   Key here is to reserve cash exclusively for "eating/going out", otherwise you'd have to - yuk! - track these expenses.

   Posted 2 years ago #
9. 

   JohnnyH
   

   Expert
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 1,363

   Manually inputting my expenses puts them in my face, and I like that.

   I used to use the credit card / Quicken method, but it did a really poor job of breaking things out... For example, CostCo-$100, is usually $60 food and $40 booze.

   Posted 2 years ago #
10. 

    Ralphy
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 191

    For some reason this thread reminds of a Joe Newton* quote -

    "I don’t know how the run the Internet. I don’t have a computer. I have a red pen, that’s it."

    http://archive.dyestat.com/?pg=us-Misc-Features-McCue-Features-Things-Ive-Learned-Newton

    As for me, I just graduated from a notebook to a spreadsheet last year.

    Posted 2 years ago #
11. 

    Kevin M
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 211

    I use Quicken. Sort of an inertia thing, I've got a lot of history there and it seems to work fine so I keep it. I can download most of my accounts so I really just have to manually split trips to Wal-Mart or Target. I like seeing my net worth report with a few clicks of the mouse.

    Posted 2 years ago #
12. 

    akratic
    

    Master
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 480

    I've tried a few things (Mint, MS Money, Quicken, Excel, rolling my own ruby on rails app, etc.) and I personally think a Spreadsheet within Google Documents cannot be beat.

    It takes a while to setup a good set of worksheets though.

    Posted 2 years ago #
13. 

    orinoco
    

    Apprentice
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 74

    @Akratic Would you be willing to share a blank version of your spreadsheet? I'd be interested to have a peek.

    Posted 2 years ago #
14. 

    akratic
    

    Master
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 480

    Yeah, I'd be willing to share a blank version of the spreadsheet I'm using, but it might take me a little while to have time to make a clean one. Maybe at the end of the weekend.

    Posted 2 years ago #
15. 

    Q
    

    Master
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 346

    Second a clean version.

    Also, I track using my credit card. I budget everything kinda in my head, cept booze - that gets some leeway...

    JohnnyH - I feel your "pain" :)

    Posted 2 years ago #
16. 

    Steve Austin
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 178

    JohnnyH "Walker", do you drink and charge? ;-)

    Posted 2 years ago #

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