Your Money, on Paper: Starting a Simple Spending Journal

It’s easy to remember a large purchase. The smaller ones—a coffee, a delivery fee, or a subscription renewal—can be harder to recall.

A spending journal brings those everyday transactions into one place. It can be a notebook, spreadsheet, or a simple note on your phone.

Keep the entries simple

For each purchase, record the date, item, and amount. You might also add a category, such as groceries, transport, entertainment, or household expenses.

Start with a format you can comfortably maintain.

Include the ordinary expenses

A useful journal reflects real life. Record routine bills alongside occasional treats, without labelling every purchase as good or bad.

If you share household costs, note which expenses are shared so your records remain clear.

Set aside time to review

After a week or two, look back through your entries. Which costs were expected? Were there any you had forgotten about? Which purchases felt worthwhile to you?

Use it as a starting point

Your journal doesn’t need to solve every money question. It gives you a clearer record to refer to when thinking about your spending and priorities.

Begin with observation. You can decide what, if anything, you want to change later.