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3 Benefits of Manually Tracking Spending in a Spreadsheet

Auto-categories are useful in many finance apps and tools (including Tiller-powered Google Sheet templates) but there are several benefits to manually categorizing transactions.

One of the design decisions we made about Tiller from the beginning was to not auto-categorize transactions by default.

In the age of machine learning, this may seem like a step backward. However, there are real benefits to manual categorization.

budget-categories-sheet

1. Build awareness

Manual categorization encourages us to pay attention. Take the water bill, for example. It would seem to be a great candidate for an auto-categorization algorithm, right?

Perhaps, but by taking a fraction of a second to categorize it manually, I might notice that our water bill spiked this month. Maybe a leaky toilet or an irrigation leak? If I didn’t have to touch that transaction again in Tiller, I might not have noticed the change.

2. Align with your spending intent

Third, manually categorizing allows us to reflect on our purchase intent rather than simply describing the merchant.

Take a simple visit to the local coffee shop. Tiller doesn’t know why I was there. On one occasion it might be a treat to grab a coffee and scone. The next time it might be a work-related meeting that’s deductible. That third trip could be for a gift, when I buy my favorite local coffee to give to a friend.

Each reflects a different intent that I may want to capture with a different category.

Transaction Categories Spreadsheet

3. More accurate

Finally, manual categories are accurate. We know that when we categorize, we get it right. At Tiller we’ve tried many tools that get auto-categories mostly right, maybe 80% of the time. Fixing the 20% that are wrong is a hassle. When the categories aren’t always right, we’re left wondering if a report or analysis is accurate. Bad data in, bad data out.

So we’re big believers in the benefits of manual categorization. We encourage Tiller customers to create their own categories that reflect their unique purchase intents.

  • Start with fewer categories, as simple is usually better.
  • Use unique first letters so keyboard shortcuts work faster.
  • Don’t worry about your historic data, focus on today, tomorrow, and the future.
  • Finally, take the time to categorize by hand.

If you have a dozen new transactions, it will take you five or 10 seconds. That small investment of time pays big dividends with engagement. You’ll pay attention and feel in control, and that’s a win all around.

Isn’t Manually Tracking Spending a Chore?

Manual categorization can be fast. For example, our Google Sheets Budget templates allow you to easily categorize transactions with a keystroke.

Simply hit the first letter of the category, hit return, and voila, the category is entered and you’re onto the next row.

Type Transaction Categories 2

Prefer Auto-Categorization in Your Spreadsheet?

If you prefer to auto-categorize some or all of your transactions, use AutoCat.

AutoCat allows you to quickly categorize transactions based on your own easily modified custom ruleset. It’s compatible with the Tiller Foundation Template, as well as most spreadsheets powered by Tiller Money Feeds.

AutoCat can batch-categorize transactions in a click, or it can run automatically whenever new transactions are added to your Tiller-powered Google Sheet.

Heather Phillips

Heather Phillips

Heather comes from a background of user experience design & customer support. She loves helping others learn, explore and discover better ways to use applications and products that improve their lives. When she’s not coaching customers on Tiller best practices, tweeting or writing blogs, she’s probably at a yoga class, out for a hike in the Blue Ridge, or off volunteering for a variety of non-profits.

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