Expense Log

Overview

The Expense Log is the fastest way to capture money going out the door without falling into spreadsheet ceremony. Type the amount, pick a category, add an optional note, and the entry is saved with today's date. Use it on the move at the coffee counter, after a takeaway lunch, when the petrol pump prints a receipt, and the log becomes an honest record of where the month actually went, not where you guessed it went.

Paired with the Budget Tracker, each entry counts against its category limit so overspending becomes visible the moment it happens. On its own, the log is still useful as a behaviour mirror: reading back a week of entries is often enough to change a habit, especially when small repeated charges add up to a number you did not expect.

How it works

Each entry stores amount, optional category, optional note, and date (defaulting to today). The list shows entries in reverse chronological order with totals per category for the current month. Adding an entry is a single form submit; the form clears for the next capture so you can log several receipts in a row without friction.

Category names match those in the Budget Tracker by string equality, so consistent spelling matters. Notes are free-form text and are searchable in the list, which is helpful when reconciling against a bank statement at the end of the month.

Examples

• Log a $4.85 coffee under Dining the moment you walk out of the cafe so the cumulative weekly total stops being invisible.
• Capture a $62 fuel fill-up under Transport with a note for the odometer reading, doubling the entry as a mileage marker.
• Record a $129 grocery run under Groceries with a note for the store name, which makes month-end reconciliation against the debit card statement straightforward.
• Enter a $20 cash tip after a meal with a note so the line item matches the credit card pre-auth in your bank app.

FAQ

Does it categorise expenses automatically?
No. You pick the category at entry time. Manual categorisation forces a brief moment of reflection, which is part of why expense logging changes spending behaviour.

Can I edit a past entry?
Delete and re-add. The log keeps entries simple by design so you do not spend more time editing than you saved by capturing.

How does this work with the Budget Tracker?
The Budget Tracker sums expenses for the current month grouped by category name and compares them against your limits. Spell the category the same on both tools.

Can I import bank transactions?
No, by design. Manual entry is the point; an automated import would re-create the "money disappeared" feeling that the log is meant to fix.

What happens to entries from previous months?
They remain in the log forever and can be browsed, but they no longer count against the current month's budgets.

Try Expense Log