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Expense tracking: notebook, spreadsheet or app?
No method fits everyone. Pick by the size of the home, how often costs come up and your housemates' habits.
| Method | Strength | Weakness | When? |
|---|
| Notebook / paper | No setup; everyone understands | Gets lost, maths by hand, remote people can't see | Very few costs, two people |
| Excel / Google Sheets | Flexible and customisable | Needs someone who knows formulas, clumsy on phones, no alerts | If someone likes doing the maths |
| Group chat | Everyone already uses it | Gets buried; no running total | Short-term, one-off costs |
| App (e.g. Ev Ortağım) | Automatic splits, debt simplification, reminders, confirmations | Everyone has to install it | Three or more people, regular costs |
Try the free who owes whom calculator first, or download the Excel expense tracker. When choosing, also read 7 things to look for.
