Expense tracking gets easier when the system is lighter than your old guilt cycle.
Why people quit tracking
Tracking fails when every transaction feels like homework. If your categories are too detailed or your review routine is too frequent, the system becomes emotionally expensive.
Simplify categories
Most households do not need forty categories. Start with broader buckets and split only when a category truly needs more control.
Bottom line
A sustainable tracking system is not the most detailed one. It is the one you can keep using after a boring, messy month.