Some people love spreadsheets. Some people would rather do almost anything else. If you’re in the second group, you’re not broken.
The mistake: trying to track perfectly
Perfect tracking sounds responsible. It’s also the fastest way to quit.
Instead, aim for good enough consistency. You’re trying to see patterns, not write a biography of every banana.
The low-effort method
If you want a simple approach:
- Track groceries and dining out separately.
- Don’t worry about categorizing everything.
- Look weekly or monthly, not daily.
That’s it. You’ll still learn a lot.
What to look for (that actually helps)
- Are we eating out more than we think?
- Are grocery runs getting more frequent?
- Are a few items driving most of the increase?
- Do certain weeks always spike (busy weeks, travel, etc.)?
The takeaway
Tracking is only useful if it makes your life better. If it becomes another chore, strip it down until it’s sustainable.
Even a small amount of consistent data beats a perfect system you abandon.