Start with double-entry accounting on paper, until you don't learn anything new going through the process. Then you'll be in a position to pick an automation s

Start with double-entry accounting on paper, until you don't learn anything new going through the process. Then you'll be in a position to pick an automation system that works with your process. You'll need two notebooks: Start with a transaction journal, where you record your purchases -- amount, how you paid, what you bought, etc. For most things, this is as simple as taping the receipt in. Your account book has one page per account (method of payment or expense category). Once a week, subtotal all the new transactions by account. Make sure the subtotals balance (sum(expenses) = sum(payments)), and add a line to the relevant page in your account book -- Dates of transactions covered (to crossreference with the journal), subtotal amount, running total.