Adding First Transaction in UI

This guide walks you through adding your first transaction using Beancount.io’s web and mobile interfaces. Whether you’re on desktop or mobile, you’ll learn how to quickly record your expenses and income.

Web Application​

How to Add a Transaction​

1. Click the "+" button in the editor section to add a new entry.
2. Select Transaction from the tabs at the top.
3. Enter the transaction date using the calendar picker.
4. Fill in the payee (e.g., "UberEats") and description (e.g., "Lunch Meal").
5. Enter the accounts affected. A lunch charged to a credit card is an expense (a debit, entered as a positive amount) funded by more credit-card debt (a credit, entered as a negative amount):
   • Debit side: Expenses:Misc — positive amount, e.g., 12.95 USD (the expense increases)
   • Credit side: Liabilities:CreditCard — negative amount, e.g., -12.95 USD (what you owe increases)
6. Click Save to record the transaction. The two amounts sum to zero, which is what makes the entry valid.

Whichever interface you use, the entry the UI saves is an ordinary Beancount transaction whose two amounts sum to zero:

2025-01-02 * "UberEats" "Lunch Meal"
  Expenses:Misc              12.95 USD   ; debit: the expense increases
  Liabilities:CreditCard    -12.95 USD   ; credit: the balance you owe increases

Mobile App​

How to Add a Transaction​

1. Tap the Quick Add button from the home screen.
2. Enter the transaction amount (e.g., $12.95).
3. Choose the two accounts the money moves between. In Beancount's signed convention a debit is a positive amount and a credit is a negative one:
   • For a card expense: the category (e.g. Expenses:Misc) is debited (positive) and Liabilities:CreditCard is credited (negative)
   • For income: the Income category is credited (negative) and the receiving Assets account is debited (positive)
4. Use the number pad to confirm the amount, then tap Next.
5. Enter the payee (e.g., "UberEats").
6. Add a description (e.g., "Lunch Meal").
7. Tap Done to save your transaction.

Tips for Success​

• Categorize transactions consistently for clearer reports.
• Use specific descriptions for easier searching and reporting.
• Review your net income regularly to track spending patterns.
• Explore advanced features like custom reports and budgeting as you get comfortable.
• Typing a whole month of history by hand is slow — convert a statement export with the CSV to Beancount converter instead, then paste the result into the editor.

If you have questions or want to learn more, check out the full Getting Started guide or the Syntax Reference.