This page has moved to a new address.

Big Spender

Me and My Munchkin: Big Spender

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Big Spender

Please note that this is NOT a sponsored post. I simply found a great tool that helps me out and would love to share it with you!

I am a bit of a spender when it comes to my money. I always have been, and I am always looking for ways to curb my spending, and remember my bills. I'm the person that pays for a paper bill, rather than email because I can never remember to pay them otherwise. I despise direct debits because I have to remember to make sure there's money in the account.

I posted last month about the system I use for my budget. Although this system works well, I still found that I was spending so much money, and I had no idea what on. Bills were starting to get forgotten, or only partly paid. 

So I headed to the app store on my iPad in search of an answer, and my purse is thanking me that I found one!

The app is called ExpenSense HD and I paid $0.99 for it (though it may not stay at this price). I am using it in conjunction with my current budget system. 


It is so simple to use, with an easy way to add an expense, or purchase, or an income. You can also input recurring incomes or expenses. I love this function, because it means that the app really runs itself, and I only need to put in any purchases that I make.


You can see a full screen of your accounts. I have put in all of my accounts, including my credit card and car loan (these can be in the minus, so that when you transfer money into them, you can see what you have outstanding). I also have a cash account. You can transfer money from one account to the other, so when I take cash out, I just transfer it from my everyday account to the cash account on the app so I always know how much cash is left. 

Every purchase you make needs to be entered into the app. It really is so easy and I just ensure that I collect receipts for everything, and then spend 5 minutes at the end of the day going through them and entering them.


Entering recurring expenses, incomes and transfers is easy and takes very little time.


This is my absolute favourite feature. It will give you a chart showing where your money is going for the month. It is very visual so you can see exactly what you are spending your money on. 

It also has a budget function that I don't really use as it is monthly, and I budget fortnightly.

So has it worked? Well, last pay has gone on exactly what it was supposed to. All of the bills are paid, my car has been paid for and everything else. I know how much spare cash I have left, and what still needs to be paid for. This app has become a huge part of my budget system!

Do you use technology for your budgeting, or pen and paper?
How does your budget work for you?

Linking up with Jess at Diary of a SAHM for IBOT


Labels: ,

30 Comments:

At 24 July 2012 at 07:17 , Blogger Beck said...

I love this app. Big fan!
I am big on budgets. Going to sound completely nutty but I love that feeling of balancing a budget or getting to a goal. :)

 
At 24 July 2012 at 07:20 , Blogger Tara @ Mum-ments said...

Ohhh loving this app hun! Definitely think i'll give it a go for sure.
Im a paper budgeter & it works but id love to be able to take me budget anywhere my notebook just gets in the way.
Great post! Glad its working for you too xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 07:26 , Anonymous Lara at This Charming Mum said...

This looks like a great idea. Thanks for sharing it!

 
At 24 July 2012 at 07:31 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

Oh no Beck, if you read my last budget post it'll tell you I love budgets! In fact, I love them so much I'm studying accounting! Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 07:33 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

It really is great! I'm still using my old pen and paper method, this is just used as well to help me see where my spending is going. Though you could use it on it's own if you wanted to, I just like to cover all bases! Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 07:33 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

It really is, and I've only been using it a week!
Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 07:34 , Blogger Rhianna said...

I am in desperate need of this as well. I tried a budget planner app or something a while ago but it didn't really work as well as I hoped. Maybe this one will.

Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses #TeamIBOT

 
At 24 July 2012 at 07:48 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

I have done the same and found they were either way too complicated and took too long to maintain, or too basic and didn't have the functions I needed. I'm using this one in conjunction with my current budget system, and finding it great. The only thing is you really need to regularly maintain it for it to work.
Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 10:39 , Anonymous Penny said...

I love budgeting but I've never done it on an app. What a great idea. Do you think it would be available on an android version?

 
At 24 July 2012 at 11:13 , Blogger Melissa Antolovic said...

I know you haven't been using it long but does it have a feature to report your actual spendings for different period (probably like the monthly thing but 6 monthly or yearly)

 
At 24 July 2012 at 12:17 , Blogger Yvette Bowyer said...

eeeep I just got an iphone (be it the oldest version possible) it has opened me up to amazing apps...!!!!!

 
At 24 July 2012 at 12:29 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

I'm not too sure Penny, I've always had iPhones never had any experience with android. It is available on both iPhone and iPad so I'd look into android!
Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 12:37 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

Hi Melissa, it does have the option to view different areas of your spending (car, food, miscellaneous) and the various subcategories within them (for example, in car: fuel, repairs, maintenance) over a 4 monthly period. So there is a graph to show your spending within that category over the last 4 months. Hope this helps!

 
At 24 July 2012 at 12:39 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

There are some great apps out there! I got this one on the iPad, though it is available on the iPhone too!
Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 13:34 , Blogger The Kids Are All Right said...

That looks fantastic. I'm going to give it a go. Thanks for the post.

 
At 24 July 2012 at 16:35 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

Good luck! I'm finding it very helpful in tracking where my money is being spent!

 
At 24 July 2012 at 19:57 , Blogger Footprints Australia said...

I got me a smart phone but apps ... haven't worked them out yet ... sounds like I should make the effort!

 
At 24 July 2012 at 20:08 , Blogger EssentiallyJess said...

I really like this idea. I'm always keen to track my spending, but find it hard to do. Inputting straight into my phone would be ideal, so thanks!

 
At 24 July 2012 at 20:30 , Blogger Crash Test Mummy said...

I've been looking for a good app that's not too complicated. This one looks awesome. I shall be checking it out :). Must have a look at your budgeting post too!

 
At 24 July 2012 at 20:48 , Blogger Life Love and Hiccups said...

Oooo looks like a good app for me to try. I hate anything too complicated and lord knows I need to track my spending ;)

 
At 24 July 2012 at 20:51 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

Some of them can really be a great tool... and then some of them can be a pain in the butt, so I've done a little of the hunting for you here!
Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 20:52 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

It is heaps easier, And I love that it's available on iPad and iPhone. Just great!
Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 20:52 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

They can get so complicated and I just don't have the patience for them so I was pretty happy to finally come across one!
Chrissie xx

 
At 24 July 2012 at 20:54 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

Yes I am so bad for spending! A week after payday it's like "where has all my money gone? Surely there's been a mistake?" But no, no mistake, as I have discovered this last week. And I can't do complicated. I get frustrated and give up!
Chrissie xx

 
At 25 July 2012 at 05:45 , Blogger Redcliffe Style said...

Hear the word budget and my mind fuzzes. Nope, not going to happen and it really should. Rachel x

 
At 25 July 2012 at 08:43 , Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing.
I might just have to check this app out!

 
At 25 July 2012 at 14:21 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

Hehe as much as some hate it (for some reason I'm one of the crazy ones that love it) it really is a necessary evil!
Chrissie xx

 
At 25 July 2012 at 14:22 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

Go for it! Seriously recommend it!
Chrissie xx

 
At 25 July 2012 at 21:55 , Blogger Julie said...

I'm more a pen and paper type. It doesn't always work for me though! Thanks for sharing what works for you.

 
At 26 July 2012 at 07:06 , Blogger Chrissie Me and My Munchkin said...

Whatever works for you! I am very much a pen and paper type! I simply thought that there is always a way I can improve so I went on the hunt, and this is what I found!
Chrissie xx

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home