Look at the month.
One record at a time.

Choose a starting point.

Start with one month's expenses and use categories you recognise: home, food, transport, health and leisure, for example. Too many categories can make the habit hard to keep.

Record regularly.

Add expenses as they happen or at a fixed time each week. Include small expenses and check recurring transactions. Keep enough context to understand each purchase.

Avoid counting twice.

Check whether a manually entered purchase was added again by scanning a receipt. If you track accounts and cards, distinguish the original expense from a transfer between your own payment methods. Keep your approach consistent.

Compare like with like.

A difference between months may come from annual insurance, an unusual expense or incomplete records. Identify these factors before concluding that you are spending more.

If expenses are missing, a positive recorded balance does not mean that money is available in your bank account.

End the month with one small decision.

Choose one concrete adjustment: review a subscription, prepare for an annual bill or adjust a category limit. Discover expense tracking in Ravnu and the budget calculator.

A week of records.

This total describes four expenses; it is not a complete week's spending and should not be automatically multiplied to predict the month. Mark the period and check for missing rent, instalments, cash payments or purchases not yet recorded.

A ten-minute review

Choose one day of the week. Compare records with receipts, identify duplicates and use consistent categories. If a total looks odd, return to the transactions that make it up. The review is for finding missing information, not judging every purchase.

Mistakes to avoid.

Do not record a purchase and its card payment as two expenses for the same purchase. Do not mix refunds with new income without a note explaining the source. Fewer records in a month do not prove lower spending.

A common question.

Take the method with you.

Try the related calculator to check the example. For a paper review, use Print this guide.

Sources and method.

Editorial content: Ravnu team. Our own examples and templates, with calculations you can reproduce using the website's tools. We do not claim review by professionals or qualifications that have not been confirmed.

• Todos Contam — building a budget: income, expenses and planning

The sources support budgeting and reserve concepts. Examples are not personalised recommendations. Referencing an organisation does not imply a partnership with or endorsement of Ravnu. For tax retention of receipts, check the rules for your circumstances with the relevant authority.

About this guide.

Examples are illustrative. Adapt the figures to your situation and verify information before deciding. This content does not replace financial, tax or investment advice.