Choose the accounts and dates

“What did I spend this month?” needs a different scope from “What went on this card last week?” Choose the account or currency group and period that fit your question.

  1. Open Reports and choose Expenses by Category.
  2. Select the account or available account group.
  3. Select the period and check the displayed start and end dates.
  4. Read the category amounts as well as the chart.

Read amounts alongside percentages

Read amounts alongside percentages. Housing is £242.00 out of £404.81 in this GBP sample, about 60% of the displayed total. A large share does not by itself mean the expense is a problem.

Inspect the underlying transactions if the result is unexpected. Use the same accounts, currency and comparable periods when comparing reports.

Compare like with like

Use the same accounts, currency and comparable periods when comparing results. A partly completed month will usually differ from a full month. Transfers between your own accounts should not be mistaken for new purchases.

If a category looks wrong, open its detail and check the underlying entries. A duplicate, missing transaction or wrong date is a record problem to correct before changing your spending plan.