Personal Finance
Towards a Healthier Financial Future
Topic: "Expense Tracking"
← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful
information about your money.
Budgeting
Trying to get your spending under control? Just like with dieting, it can help to add some structure by following a plan. There are just about as many approaches to handling your daily finances as there are to counting calories.
The WSJ Tested 5 of the Best Budgeting Methods. Here’s what they found →Saving
Sales Are Shams but Deals Are Real: Here’s How to Know the Difference
Wirecutter on spotting an overhyped “sale” that doesn’t provide a meaningful discount or an actual deal →Budgeting
The zero-based budget Sometimes called a zero-sum budget, is when your total income, minus your expenses, equals zero.
Zero-based budgeting: What it is and how it can help you hit your money goals →Did you know?
Making a penny these days costs more than one penny. That's right, the U.S. Mint estimates that the cost of each coin is about 1.7 cents.
Follow every penny, quarter and dollar you spend with our cashflow analysis →Word of the week
60/40 Budget
Richard Jenkins, financial journalist and author of A Simpler Way to Save: the 60% Solution advocates: 60% of your income goes to fixed expenses: - Housing - Utilities - Groceries - Transportation 10% to retirement savings 10% to long-term savings 10% to short-term savings 10% “fun money” for activities, trips, or other infrequent splurges
How to Make A Budget: The 60% Solution Explained →Did you know?
U.S. Cash in paper form is not "paper". American paper money is made of 75% cotton and 25% linen, which does not technically qualify as paper.
Learn how to start monitoring all your cash with Neontra →Neontra on TikTok
We believe financial planning should be simple, engaging and understandable for everyone. View Neontra on TikTok where we help simplify the complex world of personal finance.
Join 339k viewers of this Neontra TikTok →Did you know?
The first ATM (automatic teller machine) was built and installed in London in 1967 by British bank Barclays and it didn't charge a fee...
Track all your ATM fees along with other bank changes in one place →Fun stuff
"Can you pay my bills? Can you pay my telephone bills? Do you pay my automo' bills? If you did then maybe we could chill I don't think you do So, you and me are through"
Which artist is #1 on our Neontrack playlist this week?
Listen to our Neontrack playlist when you have music and money on your mind.
Did you know?
The word cash was originally used to describe the type of round bronze coins with square holes commonly used in the Tang Dynasty, called kai-yuans.
Track your kai-yuans and analyze your cash flow →Budgeting
Building a budget helps you manage how you spend your money. When you control your spending, it’s much easier to achieve your financial goals, whether that is to save, pay off debts or simply live within your means.
Building a Budget: Helpful Tips for Students →Word of the week
Essential Expenses
These are expenses that are necessary. Another way to identify these expenses is to determine if they are 'needs' rather than 'wants'. Essential expenses might include: - Rent/Mortgage - Groceries - Utilities - Medical Expenses Unlike, restaurants, and entertainment, that are 'wants' or non-essential expenses and do not need to be made.
Follow every dollar - Track and analyze your non-essential expenses →Budgeting
What Is Kakeibo? Kakeibo, pronounced “kah-keh-boh,” translates as “household financial ledger.” Invented in 1904 by a woman named Hani Motoko (notable for being Japan’s first female journalist), kakeibo is a simple, no-frills approach to managing your finances.
‘Kakeibo’: The Japanese method of saving money →Budgeting
Non-essential costs are probably getting in the way of your financial goals. - Take-out food - Restaurants - Alcohol - Uber/Lyft instead of public transportation - Subscriptions Do you know how much you spent in the last three months?
Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see where your money is going →Word of the week
Non-Essential Expenses
These are expenses that are not necessary. Another way to identify these expenses is to determine if they are 'wants' rather than 'needs'. Non-essential expenses might consist of: - Coffee - Entertainment - Subscription services (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) - Meal delivery services (Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc.) These are unlike rent, mortgage, and food which are 'needs' or expenses that must be met.
Follow every dollar - Track and analyze your non-essential expenses →Infographic of the week
The Most Expensive Starbucks Items in the World
Your daily coffee habit is probably costing you a lot more than you think. What if you skipped buying two coffees a week and invested that money?
The Price of (non-essential) Big Bucks Starbucks items in USD →Budgeting
One in four Canadians are unable to cover an unexpected expense of $500, according to StatsCan.
Budget planning can help you live a better financial life and save for unexpected expenses →Saving
"A $5,700 wedding dress for $64. Expensive baby items for a fraction of the price. Construction materials to renovate a home."
Podcast: Save money and the planet: How thrifting can help combat inflation →Infographic of the week
How Much Should You Tip In Each Country?
How much should you tip when traveling abroad? The answer can vary wildly depending on the country and what type of service you are using.
Servers and bartenders depend on tips to supplement wages →Saving
An epic standard in overpromising and underdelivering was reached when the big banks named their savings accounts.
Check your big bank savings account - you could be making ‘0.000 percent’ interest →Did you know?
The average price for electricity in Canada is around 17.4¢/kWh. If your apartment or house is averagely consuming around 1000kWh, your electric bill will be roughly $174. The average cost of utilities in Canada is $304.75 per month.
Learn how your spending compares to national averages with our NEOs →Saving
See your spending from a different perspective...
Saving starts with spending less on non-essential expenses. Learn how we can help →Did you know?
Asking rents in Canada increased 9.7% annually to an average of $1,984 in February. The annual rate of rent inflation has been moderating since reaching a high of 12.4% in November 2022.
Learn how much rent inflation has grown in your neighbourhood →Budgeting
We believe financial planning should be simple, engaging and understandable for everyone.
Why is budgeting an essential personal finance tool →Infographic of the week
How much do you spend on your daily coffee?
Mapped: The Price of Starbucks Coffee, by Country
Do you know how much you spend on daily coffee? See how you compare →