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New to OtterLedger? Read the Documentation
45 Guides Available Quick Start Guide
Learn AI Categorization View Guide
Have Questions? Check the FAQ
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Spending by Category

Guide 29: Spending by Category

See where your money goes

Overview

The Spending by Category report breaks down expenses by category, showing where your money goes each month.

Running the Report

  1. Go to Reports → Spending by Category
  2. Set date range
  3. Choose Personal / Business / Both to filter which transactions to include
  4. Click Run

Report Features

Pie Chart

Visual breakdown showing category percentages.

Category Table

Category Amount % of Total
Housing $1,500 35%
Food $600 14%
Transportation $450 10%
Utilities $300 7%

Drill Down

Click any category to see:

  • Individual transactions
  • Subcategory breakdown
  • Daily spending pattern

Personal / Business Filter

Use the Personal / Business / Both toggle to focus the report on just personal spending, just business spending, or your combined totals. This is useful when you track both in the same file.

Exporting & Printing

Use the Export button to save the report as PDF or CSV. Select Print Preview to review the layout before sending to a printer.

Analysis Tips

  1. Find big categories - Focus on largest areas for savings
  2. Track trends - Compare months to see changes
  3. Spot anomalies - Unusual spending stands out
  4. Set goals - Use data to set realistic budgets

See also: Guide 19: Budgeting