I don't know where my money goes
You do not need to categorize a year of history. One focused week usually tells the story.
Steps to work through
- 1Track every purchase for seven days, in any format you will actually use.
- 2At the end of the week, group the purchases into five or six simple buckets.
- 3Compare each bucket against what you expected to spend.
- 4Pick the one bucket with the biggest surprise and set a monthly limit for it.
- 5Repeat the exercise for a second week only if the first one felt useful.
These are educational organizing steps, not financial, legal or tax advice. For advice specific to your situation, speak with a qualified professional.