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Monee puts you back in control of your finances.

🥳 Monee has won the TheAppNote.com-Award "Best Budget & Expense Tracker App 2025"

Enter the amount, choose a category, and optionally add a note — done in seconds!

Quick & Easy Entry

See exactly where your money is going with monthly summaries of your income and expenses.

Insightful Overview

Invite others and manage shared finances easily — perfect for families or roommates.

Shared Household

Create as many separate accounts as you need — for different people, goals, or projects.

Unlimited Accounts

Add as many income and expense entries as you like. No limits.

Unlimited Transactions

Automatically track repeating income or expenses with ease.

Recurring Transactions

Organize your finances your way with categories you define.

Custom Categories

Find exactly what you're looking for by filtering transactions by type, frequency, or people involved.

Powerful Filters

Use any currency you want — perfect for travelers or international users.

Worldwide Currencies

Export your financial data whenever you need it.

Export Data

Use Monee on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac — with your data synced smoothly across all devices.

Seamless Across Devices

Keep your data secure with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

Biometric & Code Protection

Set the beginning of your financial month to any day you prefer.

Flexible Monthly Start

Carry over your remaining balance to the next month with ease.

Balance Transfer

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All features included at no cost — no subscriptions, no in-app purchases.

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Monee - Budget & Expense Tracker

Apart from the fact that a household ledger is a super-useful and important thing, I think the developer has scored a real coup with Monee! It’s clearly laid out, intuitive and easy to use, all the essential functions are included and of course there’s an analysis of income and expenses. I don’t need any other app anymore… and the whole thing is completely free and ad-free. Respect and many thanks to the developer!!!

Great app!!

I used another app to record my expenses for six years and switched to this one a few weeks ago: it’s far prettier, leaner, more modern and much easier to use. And in today’s update the developer even fulfilled my wish to be able to use the app solo. ❤️ I’m absolutely thrilled! 🙏🏻🤩 The app is fantastic and the developer responds very quickly to questions. Top!

Brilliantly clear and beautifully designed!

We´ve been using the app for over a year now and are very satisfied. The app is free, gets updated frequently and new features are added all the time. You can automate recurring expenses or income, add categories and later filter everything so you know exactly how much you’ve spent in any given category. You can really see the effort behind it!

Perfect app for tracking expenses and income

Seriously: the app offers everything you need, it’s well made and anything I’d personally do differently isn’t worth deducting a star for. It costs nothing, no sign-up, MFA or other annoying stuff. Really good app! Man, I like it a lot! THANK YOU! 🙏🏻

Really good app! Man, I like it a lot!

You really have to say this is a first-class app. And the fact that it’s completely free and ad-free deserves more than just a courteous bow. 🙂

Better than paid apps

I’ve been using Monee for a while and am absolutely delighted! The app is intuitive, well organized and makes it incredibly easy to keep track of my finances. I especially like the clear category layout, automatic synchronization and helpful analyses. Thanks to Monee I always have my income and expenses under control—without complicated spreadsheets or tedious calculations. If you’re looking for a reliable, modern finance app, this is the one. Clear recommendation!

Monee - Top finance app for everyday use!

It’s rare to find free apps that actually do something—let alone without ads. I find the layout clear and pleasant to look at, and it’s easy to use. Thanks to the publisher!

Rarely been so excited about an app

Love this app. I tried many and none convinced me—too expensive, too cluttered, too many functions. This one is beautifully structured and clear, yet simple and free with no unnecessary frills. Keep it up, THANK YOU!

Clear and simple

Finally an app that gets by without a lot of frills yet still delivers everything you need! Child-easy operation, recurring payments in different rhythms, categories easy to maintain, analyses that clearly show what’s going on—and all of it free <3 Many thanks! :-)

Perfect household budget app

I’ve tried several apps and this is definitely the best! Completely free and ad-free… I was actually expecting a catch… but there isn’t one. Easy to use and adapt to your own needs because you can create custom categories for everything. It doesn’t get better!!

Best app!!

With the new functions “clear all filters at once” and “assign single expenses to specific people,” the app now has everything you need! No frills, nice and slim, focused on the essentials—great! Not to forget the super-fast and very friendly support! If only there were such great, selfless apps for everything, our lives would be easier. Many thanks to the developer!!!

Everything you need!

Clear; enough categories, yet you can add more and edit them, plus a graphic overview for analysis and plenty of space in the comment field for further notes. Conclusion: a great app without frills that immediately helps you record costs, visualize money traps and later categorize them. Thanks!

Awesome, thanks - a big help

A brilliant app if you’re looking for a simple tool to record your expenses and/or if you live in a shared flat or partnership. Everyone can enter and categorize what they bought. Later you can analyze costs monthly or yearly. I’m impressed and can recommend this completely free and ad-free app. Thanks 🙏🏼 to the developer!

Brilliant

I’m a UI designer and was looking for something very minimal that we could use as a family—bam! Bull’s-eye. Kudos to the developer for making it look so good as well. My husband and I are very happy: the app gets by without fuss and gives us a good overview of our finances, and all that for free. Greetings from Hamburg to Hamburg, dear Stephan :).

Great app!

The app itself offers all the functions I need for a household ledger. When I ran into a problem during setup, the developer helped me immediately via the feedback function. Never experienced anything like it—5*!

Great app with fast service

Monee is the perfect app to keep track of your finances quickly and easily—without ads, subscriptions or unnecessary ballast. Clear presentation, intuitive operation and full control over income and expenses. Absolutely recommended!

Clear and straightforward

Finally a free app without frills that lets you keep an eye on your finances easily! Great! Thanks for your work! 👍🏼

Does what it's supposed to!

I downloaded the app at the beginning of 2025 and am very satisfied with it. Customizing categories and entering income and expenses is clear, and the generated charts are interesting. I love using the app.

Very clear and helpful

I’ve been using Monee for a while now and am very satisfied. It’s simple and clear yet has everything you need. Highly recommended!

Delivers what it promises

I looked for a suitable finance app for a long time and this is it! Just expenses and income—no account linking or total-wealth tracking. Each month I can see exactly how much I spent and earned. Exactly what I wanted: a simple app without frills!

Simple layout and operation

I’m thrilled. Apps like this have become rare, which makes it all the more valuable: it does what it should—nothing more. Looks good, very usable, collects no data and tries to sell nothing extra. Created by someone with knowledge and motivation, not a dubious overseas company.

Modern, simple, good, free

I was looking for a simple system to track our renovation work and new purchases at a glance without day-to-day expenses. After several failed attempts, Monee was the first free, clear program. I can reassign or delete mis-categorized items afterward, which was very important to me. I’ve only been using it for a week and hope everything stays just as it is.

Clear with many options

I previously used another app that was far too overloaded and therefore confusing. This app gets by without a lot of frills, is self-explanatory and yearly payments are automatically prorated, so I immediately know how much I need to set aside each month. I’m enthusiastic 🙂

Great app

I was looking for a simple way to monitor and categorize my expenses accurately. This app meets my needs, is very easy to use, quick to understand, free of unnecessary frills and wonderfully ad- and cost-free. I’m extremely happy I found this app and thank the developer. Respect for the fact that in three months of use there hasn’t been a single outage.

Very user-friendly


For the past few years, I've been pouring my heart into building Monee; a budgeting app that actually makes sense for real families juggling real life. And today, I'm thrilled to announce that Monee is finally available on Android.

If you've been following along, you know Monee started as an iOS-only app. As someone who lives in the Apple ecosystem, that felt natural. But every week, I'd get messages asking "When is it coming to Android?" From parents managing household expenses, couples splitting costs, and people who simply wanted financial clarity without the bloat.

Well, the wait is over.

## What Makes Monee Different

Monee isn't trying to connect to your bank accounts, analyze your investment portfolio, or sell you financial products. It does one thing exceptionally well: helps you track where your money actually goes.

Here's what you get:

**Quick entry that doesn't interrupt your day.** When you're at the grocery store, the last thing you need is a complicated expense tracker. Monee gets it — amount, category, optional note. Done.

**Monthly overviews that tell the real story.** See exactly how much went to groceries, kids' activities, or those random online purchases that somehow add up to hundreds each month.

**Built for shared households.** Whether it's you and your partner or a house full of roommates, everyone can log expenses. No more "Who spent what?" conversations.

**Unlimited everything.** Transactions, categories, accounts—track however makes sense for your situation. Want separate accounts for vacation savings and everyday expenses? Go for it.

The features that have made iOS users happy are all there: recurring transactions (because rent happens every month), custom categories (everyone's spending is different), powerful filters, and data export when you need it.

## Why Android Took So Long

Honestly? Time. Between work, two small kids, and the constant feature requests from existing users, porting to Android kept getting pushed back. But the demand was clear, and frankly, it felt wrong to keep half the world waiting.

The Android version isn't a quick port — it's been built to feel native on Android while maintaining everything that makes Monee useful.

## The Things That Matter

Monee remains completely free. No ads, no tracking, no surprise subscription fees. I built this because I wanted a budgeting app that respected both my time and privacy. 

You don't need to register or hand over your email. Open the app, start tracking. Your data stays on your devices, synced through your own cloud accounts.

And yes, it works across devices now. Everything stays in sync.

## Give It a Try

If you're tired of budgeting apps that feel like homework, or expense trackers that want to control your entire financial life, Monee might be what you're looking for.

It's available now on the Google Play Store — [Get Monee on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.monee). Download it, spend five minutes setting up your categories, and start tracking. No tutorials needed — if you can text, you can use Monee.



I've been thinking about budgeting frequency a lot lately—mostly because I've been going back and forth between weekly and monthly approaches myself.

The thing is, there's no universal answer to whether weekly or monthly budgeting works better. It really depends on your life situation, your personality, and honestly, what you can actually stick to. But I can share what I've learned from my own experiments and from talking to other parents who are trying to keep their finances on track while juggling everything else.

## The Monthly Budget: The Classic Approach

Most people start with monthly budgeting because it feels natural. Your rent is monthly, your salary probably comes monthly, and most bills follow that same rhythm. It's the default setting of adult financial life.

**The good stuff about monthly budgeting:**

You get a nice overview of your entire financial month. It's easier to see the big picture—where your money comes from and where it needs to go. For fixed expenses like mortgage, insurance, and subscriptions, monthly planning just makes sense.

It's also less work. You sit down once a month, plan everything out, and then (theoretically) you're done until the next month rolls around. For people with steady incomes and predictable expenses, this can work really well.

**Where monthly budgeting gets tricky:**

Here's the problem I kept running into: a month is a really long time when you're trying to control spending. By week three, I'd completely forgotten what I'd budgeted for groceries. By week four, I was doing mental gymnastics to justify that "small" Amazon purchase because, hey, we still had money left in the account.

The psychological distance is real. When you budget $800 for groceries at the beginning of the month, spending $200 in the first week doesn't feel like a big deal. But if you keep that pace, you're looking at $800 just for groceries by day 20.

And when life happens a monthly budget can feel completely derailed. You're stuck waiting until next month to "start fresh."

## Weekly Budgeting: The Agile Approach

Weekly budgeting is like the agile methodology of personal finance. Shorter sprints, more frequent check-ins, quicker course corrections.

**Why weekly budgeting can be brilliant:**

The numbers are smaller and less intimidating. Instead of trying to manage $800 for groceries over a month, you're managing $200 per week. It's psychologically easier to stick to smaller amounts.

You catch problems early. If you blow through your weekly grocery budget by Wednesday, you know immediately that something's wrong. You don't wait three weeks to discover you're way off track.

Each week feels like a fresh start. Had a bad spending week? No problem—you get to reset in a few days instead of waiting for the calendar to flip to a new month.

**The challenges with weekly budgeting:**

It requires more frequent attention. You need to check in with your budget every week.

Some expenses don't fit neatly into weekly chunks. Your monthly rent doesn't care about your weekly budget rhythm. You need to mentally set aside money each week for those bigger monthly bills.

There's also the risk of the "I'll make up for it next week" trap. The flexibility can become an excuse if you're not disciplined about actually making those adjustments.

## My Personal Experience (And What Actually Works)

I've tried both approaches extensively. Pure monthly budgeting left me feeling disconnected from my spending. By mid-month, I'd lost track of where we stood, and by month-end, I'd be surprised by how much we'd actually spent.

Pure weekly budgeting felt like I was constantly managing money. Every Sunday became budget day, and sometimes that felt exhausting.

What works for my family now is a hybrid approach. We budget monthly for fixed expenses—rent, insurance, savings transfers, debt payments. But for variable expenses like groceries, entertainment, and those random kid-related purchases, we use weekly limits.

So we might budget $800 monthly for groceries, but we break that into roughly $200 per week. This gives us the stability of monthly planning for big items while keeping the day-to-day spending more controlled.

## How to Switch (If You Want to Try Something New)

### From Monthly to Weekly

If monthly budgeting isn't working for you, here's how to make the switch:

**Start with your income.** Take your monthly take-home pay and divide by 4.3 (since there are about 4.3 weeks in a month). This gives you a more accurate weekly income than just dividing by 4.

**Break down your monthly expenses.** Fixed monthly bills like rent get divided by 4.3 too—not because you'll pay rent weekly, but because you need to "reserve" that money each week so it's there when rent is due.

**Focus on variable expenses for weekly tracking.** This is where weekly budgeting really shines. Instead of $600 monthly for groceries, make it $140 per week. Instead of $300 monthly for entertainment and miscellaneous spending, make it $70 per week.

**Choose your tracking method.** You could use cash envelopes (old school but effective), or adjust your budgeting app if it supports weekly periods. Some people just use a simple note on their phone.

**Pick your reset day.** Sunday works for many people, but choose whatever day makes sense for your schedule. The key is consistency.

### From Weekly to Monthly

Maybe weekly budgeting feels too intensive. Here's how to scale back:

**Combine your weekly categories** into monthly totals. Add up four weeks of grocery budgets, four weeks of entertainment spending, etc.

**Set up mid-month check-ins.** The biggest risk with monthly budgeting is losing track. Schedule a quick review around the 15th of each month to see how you're tracking.

**Keep some weekly elements** for your trouble categories. If dining out always blows your budget, consider keeping a weekly limit just for that category while managing everything else monthly.

## What Works for Different Situations

**Weekly budgeting tends to work better if:**
- You get paid weekly or biweekly
- You've struggled to stick to monthly budgets
- You have irregular income
- You're trying to break bad spending habits
- You have young kids (because grocery and miscellaneous spending can be unpredictable)

**Monthly budgeting tends to work better if:**
- You have very steady income and expenses
- You're good at self-monitoring without frequent check-ins
- You prefer to think about money less frequently  
- Most of your expenses are fixed

**Hybrid approaches work well when:**
- You want the stability of monthly planning but need more control over variable spending
- You're transitioning between methods
- Different expense categories have different rhythms in your life

## The Real Key: Finding Your Rhythm

After years of trying different approaches, I've realized that the "best" budgeting frequency is the one you'll actually use consistently. A perfect weekly budget that you abandon after a month is worse than an imperfect monthly budget that you stick with for years.

The most important thing is tracking your income and expenses—however often works for you. Whether you check in weekly or monthly, the act of paying attention to where your money goes is what creates change.

And remember, you can always adjust. I started with monthly budgeting, switched to weekly, then settled on my current hybrid approach. Your needs might change as your life changes, and that's completely normal.

Start with whatever feels most manageable right now. You can always refine your approach as you go. The perfect budget system is the one that helps you spend intentionally on what matters most to your family—whether you check it every week or every month.


After years of using budgeting apps, I've learned one fundamental truth: tracking every expense truly matters. In 2025, with rising costs and unpredictable economic shifts, understanding exactly where your money goes has become essential for financial stability.

## The Reality of Family Budgeting

With two young children (ages 5 and 2), our household runs on controlled chaos. Between daycare, groceries, unexpected repairs, activities, and surprise expenses, maintaining financial clarity requires intention and discipline.

While we're fortunate to earn a decent income, we've learned that mindful spending isn't about restriction — it's about clarity. Understanding your money flow enables better decisions, reduces stress, and aligns your spending with your values.

## The Case for Tracking

Recent data from the Financial Health Network shows that more than 20% of households spent beyond their means last year. With inflation affecting essentials like food and fuel, many families face increasingly tight budgets. Financial experts consistently emphasize that disciplined budgeting has become more critical, not less.

Research by Zhang et al. (2023) demonstrates that people who actively log expenses significantly reduce discretionary spending. This translates to fewer impulse purchases, forgotten subscriptions, and more money available for priorities like family experiences or emergency savings.

While tracking every expense requires effort, the benefits substantially outweigh the investment—especially when approached thoughtfully and deliberately.

## Why Manual Tracking Beats Automation

Many budgeting apps offer automated expense tracking through bank account integration. While convenient for time-pressed users, research suggests automated tracking often reduces financial awareness. Manual logging forces internalization — you remember that extra coffee, the spontaneous online purchase, or the takeout dinner after a long day.

This direct engagement with spending behaviors promotes conscious decision-making rather than guilt. Manual tracking provides clarity not just on where money goes, but where you'd prefer it to go instead.

## Finding Balance

Meticulously tracking every tiny purchase can feel overwhelming for busy families. Financial planning experts note that obsessive penny-tracking often proves impractical and unsustainable.

The solution lies in finding balance. We track comprehensively but use flexible categories like groceries, children's activities, and savings. Rather than splitting hairs over every cent, we ensure each expense fits somewhere meaningful. It's about building habits, not achieving perfection.

## Building Trust Through Transparency

An often-overlooked benefit: expense tracking as a couple builds trust. Sharing a joint account and making financial decisions together, tracking becomes about transparency and shared goals rather than control. Fewer money disagreements arise when both partners stay informed. Clear financial visibility creates simple, powerful trust.

## Real-Life Benefits

Since implementing intentional expense tracking, we've experienced:

- **Significant reduction in spontaneous purchases**
- **Discovered budget room for children's activities** like swimming and climbing
- **Eliminated wasteful recurring subscriptions** we'd forgotten about
- **Less stressful vacation planning** with accurate budget estimates
- **Improved grocery efficiency** with realistic monthly projections, reducing waste

## Practical Implementation

While manual tracking remains my recommendation, practical tools matter. Many apps offer simple category tracking, quick entry features, and helpful reminders. Some people prefer spreadsheets or traditional notebooks.

Simplicity drives success. We spend approximately ten minutes each evening logging expenses — just another routine like any daily habit.

## Tracking as Your Financial Compass

Financial advisors emphasize that expense tracking reveals overspending patterns so clearly that course corrections become intuitive. We've experienced this firsthand: recognizing our spending triggers allows gentle adjustments without feeling overly restrictive.

## Making It Sustainable

Here's how we've maintained consistent expense tracking with young children:

**Set Clear, Flexible Categories:** Use broad categories like groceries, activities, essentials, discretionary, and savings.

**Daily Quick Check-Ins:** Ten minutes nightly beats monthly panic sessions.

**Focus on Purpose:** Remember your goals—vacation savings, emergency preparedness, or debt reduction.

**Prioritize Consistency Over Perfection:** Missing occasional entries doesn't derail long-term patterns.

## Financial Clarity in Uncertain Times

In an era where financial uncertainty feels constant, clarity provides invaluable peace of mind. Expense tracking isn't merely about saving money — it's about understanding your position and making informed decisions aligned with your family's actual priorities.

We don't track expenses to micromanage our lives. We track them to confidently invest in what we truly value: experiences for our children, quality food, and freedom from financial stress.

Money represents more than numbers — it's a tool for building your desired life. Knowing precisely where it goes ensures you're constructing something genuinely worth having.


When you're running a family budget, it's easy to miss the little expenses that quietly drain your account each month. Sure, we all track the obvious costs—groceries, rent, daycare—but it's usually the sneaky ones that trip us up. Here’s a quick rundown of expenses many families overlook and some tips on keeping an eye on them.

## Subscriptions and Memberships

Subscription services like Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, and Amazon Prime have become second nature. Add fitness apps, cloud storage, and a random online course subscription (that you totally forgot about), and suddenly you're leaking money everywhere.

**How to avoid it:**

* Set a reminder every three months to review your subscriptions. Cancel anything you haven't used recently.
* Consider family plans—they usually save you money and simplify management.

## Kid-Related Activities

Activities add up fast. It's easy to overlook registration fees, equipment, clothing, and especially those unexpected snack bar visits.

**How to avoid it:**

* Factor in all related expenses upfront. If your kid starts soccer, budget for shoes, team fees, and post-game snacks right away.
* Consider gently used gear. Kids grow quickly, and secondhand sports equipment is usually just as good.

## Special Occasions and Gifts

Birthdays, anniversaries, and kids' friends’ parties sneak up and can throw budgets off balance. We once realized we'd attended six birthday parties in two months.

**How to avoid it:**

* Set a clear annual budget for gifts and special occasions. Divide by twelve and set aside that amount monthly.
* Keep a small stash of universal gifts or buy quality toys on sale and store them for upcoming parties.

## Home Maintenance and Repairs

You might be prepared for big emergencies (a broken washing machine or a leaky roof), but the smaller ongoing costs like gardening, pest control, or minor plumbing fixes often go unnoticed until it's too late.

**How to avoid it:**

* Budget monthly for a general "home maintenance" fund. Even \$50-\$100 a month adds up and softens the blow when things inevitably break.

## Health Expenses

Beyond insurance premiums and regular doctor visits, don't forget about co-pays, dental work, glasses, or contact lenses.

**How to avoid it:**

* Include a separate budget category for medical expenses. Tracking these expenses manually helps you better anticipate future costs.

## Impulse Buys (Especially Online)

One-click purchases are dangerously convenient. I've fallen for that "great deal" way too often.

**How to avoid it:**

* Impose a "24-hour rule" on yourself for online purchases. Usually, the urge fades quickly.
* Regularly check your purchase history to confront yourself with reality. It helps me keep impulse buys in check.

---

Keeping track of your expenses manually—no matter how tedious it may seem—is the key to financial clarity. It might feel annoying at first, but I promise: understanding exactly where your money goes reduces stress and frees you up for more enjoyable things, like ice cream after soccer practice.


When life gets busy it’s easy to let financial habits slide. My wife and I noticed recently that fixed costs were eating away more of our monthly budget than we'd like. The thing is, fixed costs are sneaky. You set them up once, and suddenly they're automatic, slipping silently out of your account each month.

Here's how we tackled our fixed costs practically and simply. No nonsense, no spreadsheets with ten tabs—just a clear approach anyone can follow.

## Step 1: Know What You're Dealing With

First things first: figure out exactly what you're paying for monthly. My wife and I sat down together for about an hour (during a rare quiet afternoon nap for the kids!) and went through our bank statements.

* Rent or mortgage
* Utilities (electricity, internet, mobile phones)
* Insurances (health, car, liability)
* Streaming services
* Subscriptions (apps, magazines)

You might be surprised—I certainly was—to see all those little recurring charges stack up.

## Step 2: Ask Yourself the Hard Questions

Now the uncomfortable part: questioning each expense. Our mantra became, "Do we really use this?" and, "Is this worth it to us?" Not all decisions were fun, but honestly, it felt great to cut back on stuff we didn’t truly value.

We kept Netflix but canceled an extra streaming service. I had an app subscription for coding I hadn’t touched in months—gone. My wife had a fitness subscription she'd forgotten about—also gone.

## Step 3: Get Better Deals Without Stress

Reducing doesn’t always mean eliminating. Sometimes, it’s as simple as switching providers or negotiating a better rate.

* **Insurance:** We quickly compared insurance rates online, and saved a surprising chunk of money just by switching our car insurance provider. (Pro tip: do this annually.)
* **Mobile and Internet:** One short call to our current provider resulted in a lower monthly rate. Turns out companies are quite willing to give discounts if it means keeping you as a customer.

## Step 4: Automate Saving the Difference

We decided that any money saved from reducing fixed costs goes straight to our ETF investments. It's a good feeling: instead of thoughtlessly spending that cash, it's quietly growing in our MSCI World fund, working toward financial independence without extra effort.

## Step 5: Make it a Habit, but Keep it Chill

Regular check-ins are important. We now do this once or twice a year. It doesn’t feel tedious; it's just part of our routine, like checking tire pressure or sorting through old toys.

Fixed costs aren't bad by definition—they're essential. But periodically reviewing and adjusting them keeps your money working for you instead of slipping quietly away.

In the end, cutting fixed costs isn't about being cheap. It's about consciously choosing what's valuable to you and your family. Because let's face it, life's expensive enough already.


"How do you actually get your finances under control?" A friend asked me this the other day over a beer, and honestly, it's a fair question. Especially when everyday life feels like a series of small emergencies with kidsand work.

For me, the first big step was realizing how much clarity I got from just tracking my money. It sounds dull—I get it—but knowing exactly where your money goes is like switching on a flashlight in a dark room. Suddenly you see all the stuff scattered around that you didn't realize was there.

My wife and I started simply: pen, paper, and brutal honesty. Later we moved to spreadsheets, and eventually, I built my own budgeting app? The main point isn’t the tool, though; it's the habit. When you manually write down every expense, you're forced to acknowledge your decisions. Believe me, it hurts a bit when you see how much you've spent on random online buys or impulsive grocery store extras. But that discomfort is exactly what helps you change.

Next, it helps to simplify. My financial mantra is straightforward: "Not needing is better than having." It doesn't mean living like a monk—trust me, with a five-year-old and a two-year-old at home, simplicity often feels like a distant dream. But it means being aware.

When it comes to long-term financial stability, we don't overcomplicate things. Our money goes into ETFs (mainly MSCI World). Nothing flashy, nothing complicated—just regular, boring investments that work over time. And because our investments are straightforward, there's more mental space for things we truly care about, like family trips somewhere warm and sunny or eating good food together.

One crucial thing I've learned: financial control doesn't mean constant restriction. It means understanding priorities. Yes, our car isn't impressive, but it's reliable. It gets us to kindergarten, swimming pools, and occasionally a friend's barbecue without fuss. Status symbols might impress someone else, but honestly, our circle of friends couldn't care less.

Finally, financial control in our family isn't about control at all—it's about trust. My wife and I share a joint account, and every decision we make is together. No secret stashes, no hidden expenses. It works because we have the same mindset. It's not always smooth sailing, but mutual trust goes a long way toward keeping things balanced.

So, how do you get your finances under control? Start by looking honestly at what you're spending, keep things simple, and talk openly with your partner. Oh, and keep a little humor about the whole thing—because life's too short to stress about every penny.


As someone who's spent countless evenings tweaking our family budget—usually once the kids are asleep—I know the importance of tracking expenses clearly and simply. Whether you prefer a notebook or an app (disclaimer: I'm biased, having developed a budgeting app myself), what matters is actually doing it. But what's better: digital or analog?

## Analog bookkeeping – pen and paper still work

**Pros:**
* **Simplicity:** No apps to install, no software updates, just grab your notebook and go. My wife prefers this method because she likes seeing things clearly laid out in her own handwriting. There’s something satisfying about physically checking off expenses at the end of the month.
* **Mindfulness:** Writing down each expense manually can make you pause and reconsider your purchases. It's harder to ignore overspending when you’ve written "coffee and croissants (again) - €12" three times this week.
* **Flexibility:** You create your own system. No predefined categories.

**Cons:**
* **Time-consuming:** Writing things down takes time—something my evenings often lack after bedtime routines. And if you skip a few days, catching up feels daunting.
* **Errors:** Summing up numbers manually? Mistakes happen. You might find yourself recounting receipts.
* **Backup:** Lose your notebook, spill coffee, or let your 2-year-old near it, and months of data vanish.

## Digital bookkeeping – efficient, but watch out for pitfalls

**Pros:**
* **Convenience:** Apps and spreadsheets automate the math, saving you valuable minutes—perfect when your free time feels like it barely exists.
* **Accessibility:** Your budget is in your pocket, easy to update while waiting at daycare pick-up. Plus, cloud backups keep data safe.
* **Analysis:** Want to quickly know how much you spent on groceries last year? Done in seconds. I personally appreciate this clarity—it aligns perfectly with our philosophy: financial simplicity.

**Cons:**
* **Less mindful:** The ease of one-click purchases can spill over to one-click budget entries. Sometimes, the act of manually noting an expense helps reinforce awareness of spending.
* **Privacy concerns:** While most budgeting apps are secure (mine certainly is), digital always means some level of online exposure. You need to trust your tools.

## Our family’s approach

We’ve settled on digital for day-to-day tracking (yes, partly because it's my app), but analog check-ins at month's end. We spend 20 minutes reviewing our numbers together, making sure our joint account stays transparent and aligned with our values.

The best method? The one you’ll stick to.

I'd recommend trying both. Write manually for a month, then try digital for another. See what works best for your family—because in the end, it's not just about budgeting. It's about creating clarity, simplicity, and trust around your money.


Budget planning as a couple can sometimes feel a bit like assembling IKEA furniture together—occasionally frustrating, but satisfying once it’s done. The key? Patience, clarity, and good communication. My wife and I have been budgeting together for years, juggling two young kids, a mortgage, and everyday expenses. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make budgeting simpler, clearer, and genuinely useful.

## Step 1: Pick Your Tools

There’s nothing wrong with old-school paper and pen or a spreadsheet—what matters is that it works for both of you. We personally like using apps (okay, yes, I'm biased here as a developer of a budgeting app myself). But seriously, choose whatever you're both comfortable using consistently.

## Step 2: Record Your Income Together

First up, figure out exactly how much money you both bring home each month. Include everything: salaries, child benefits, or side gigs. It’s surprising how many couples overlook something small but recurring. Doing this together keeps everything transparent—crucial for mutual trust.

## Step 3: List Your Expenses Honestly

Break down your expenses into categories:

* Fixed costs: rent or mortgage, insurance, utilities, childcare, subscriptions
* Variable costs: groceries, eating out, activities for kids, leisure, clothes
* Occasional costs: holidays, birthdays, emergencies, car repairs

Be realistic. We often underestimate variable and occasional costs—like how quickly expenses for swimming lessons, climbing gyms, and kids' bikes add up!

## Step 4: Set Goals as a Team

Budgeting isn't about restricting yourself—it's about aligning your spending with what's genuinely important to both of you. For us, it's great food, outdoor activities, and investing long-term in simple ETFs like MSCI World. Decide what matters and allocate money accordingly.

## Step 5: Track Regularly (But Don't Obsess)

Regular tracking is the cornerstone of financial control. I genuinely believe manually recording expenses helps us understand our spending habits better. But don’t obsess. Life happens, and budgets sometimes flex. Just stay aware, learn, and adapt.

## Step 6: Monthly Check-ins

We do a quick monthly check-in to review and adjust our budget. It doesn't need to be formal or stressful—make it relaxed and brief. We usually chat about this over coffee when the kids are briefly entertained.

## Step 7: Adjust and Refine

Life changes, and so should your budget. Got a raise? Great, decide together where that goes. Childcare costs increased? Adjust other expenses to balance it out. A budget isn't static; it's a living tool that should reflect your real life.

## Step 8: Enjoy the Results

Finally, remember why you're budgeting: peace of mind, less financial stress, and more room for things you truly value—like an afternoon at the climbing gym or a cozy family movie night at home.

Budgeting isn’t about perfect numbers—it's about clarity, simplicity, and trust. And honestly, there’s nothing more rewarding than knowing you and your partner are on the same page financially, making life simpler and better for your family.



When my wife and I first moved in together, we faced a question almost every couple encounters sooner or later: Should we have joint accounts or stick to separate finances?

We didn't make a quick decision—it just naturally evolved over time. Initially, we had separate accounts because, honestly, it seemed simpler. Each person pays their bills, we split rent, groceries, and restaurant checks down the middle. But as our lives merged—buying furniture, paying for vacations, and eventually having kids—we noticed something interesting.

## Separate accounts were making life complicated.

We found ourselves constantly transferring money back and forth. "You pay the electricity bill, I'll pay daycare," became an exhausting routine of balancing out. Not to mention the headaches when one of us forgot to transfer or we simply lost track of who owed what. Clearly, simplicity was not part of this picture.

That's when we made the switch. One joint account, two debit cards, and a single place for all our expenses. We felt an immediate relief: no more awkward calculations at the grocery store, and best of all—transparency became automatic. It wasn't about control or checking on each other, but rather about trust and simplicity.

Of course, this only works if your attitudes towards spending and saving align pretty well. Luckily, my wife and I share the same values: quality time, experiences over things, and no interest in showing off with expensive toys. Our car gets us from A to B, we splurge occasionally on great food and activities for the kids, and we're happy with vacations that involve a lot of beach and very little glamour.

But let's be honest—joint accounts aren't a magic solution. Yes, they simplify things, but they also mean openness. Every little impulsive online purchase (looking at myself here, buying gadgets I hardly use) is instantly visible. Good? Mostly yes. Annoying? Occasionally, absolutely.

If openness feels scary, consider starting small. Maybe just one joint account for household bills and daily expenses while keeping personal spending separate. This way, each partner maintains a bit of personal space and independence, yet you share the essentials.

For us, fully merging our finances turned out to be the best choice. It keeps us aligned and clear-headed about money. No sneaky debts, fewer impulse buys, and a stronger sense of "we're in this together."

If you're unsure about what's best, remember: the goal isn't to pick the "right" method. It's finding what matches your shared values and daily life. Clear communication, trust, and simplicity—these are the real keys, whatever your account setup looks like.

Blog

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