Tracking expenditures
Dec 15, 2012, 12:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3
Tracking expenditures
I am brand spanking new to this 'lifestyle' of financing my vacations using credit card rewards. So excited but overwhelmed! Thanks for your patience, time, and help. I am a nervous wreck paying most of my bills using 3-4 different credit cards and having no way of tracking/graphing my expenditures in order to manage my spending in different categories. What's a newbie to do???
Dec 15, 2012, 1:47 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: LAX
Posts: 301
Tracking expenditures
Mint.com will easily keep track of and graph all that fun stuff for you automatically when you input your account data. For on the go, I like the simplicity of the SpendingLite app for quick inputs of my outgoing spends 
Dec 15, 2012, 3:21 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: back to my roots in Scotland!
Programs: Tamsin - what else is there to say?
Posts: 47,843
morgaab welcome to FT.
I'm going to move this over to the forum for all things points and miles, Milesbuzz! where it is a bit more on-topic than here. Good question though!
Jenbel
Co-moderator, Communitybuzz!
I'm going to move this over to the forum for all things points and miles, Milesbuzz! where it is a bit more on-topic than here. Good question though!
Jenbel
Co-moderator, Communitybuzz!
Dec 15, 2012, 4:08 pm
#8
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,445
This is going to upset some people using a certain four letter word around here but I'm going to say it...
For fixed expenses where I've already negotiated the price and it's going to happen no matter what, I use a credit card.
For variable expenses I'm trying to closely budget, I use CASH. Only way to keep myself reliably under control.
I consider the loss of miles on those purchases a penalty for my low willpower.
For fixed expenses where I've already negotiated the price and it's going to happen no matter what, I use a credit card.
For variable expenses I'm trying to closely budget, I use CASH. Only way to keep myself reliably under control.
I consider the loss of miles on those purchases a penalty for my low willpower.
Dec 15, 2012, 4:29 pm
#11
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,445
Dec 15, 2012, 5:38 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 86
I use Quicken and track the sort of quantity like you do, but I find myself manually entering the transactions.
Dec 15, 2012, 5:42 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, PC Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 321
I meant between your personal and business expense when the categories match. Lets say Chase Sapphire for restaurants. That can be for noth personal and business or Amex for personal and business flight expense.
Dec 15, 2012, 6:07 pm
#14
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,445
It's not a major burden for me since my categories for personal tend to be different from business, and thus appear on different cards.
Dec 15, 2012, 8:12 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Northport, NY
Posts: 1,732
Maybe it's me, but I find the auto-update of quicken to be inconsistent in-working and delayed (probably due to the data in the feeds from the various banks not being there).
I use Quicken and track the sort of quantity like you do, but I find myself manually entering the transactions.
I use Quicken and track the sort of quantity like you do, but I find myself manually entering the transactions.