The CalmExpense blog
Calm, practical writing on money, privacy and getting your finances in order.
How to Export DBS, OCBC, and UOB Transactions to Google Sheets
How to Export DBS, OCBC, and UOB Transactions to Google Sheets Last updated: 1 October 2026 Singapore banks will hand you your own transaction data as a CSV file, and Google Shee
The 15-Minute Monthly Money Review in Google Sheets
Most budgets don't fail at setup. They fail at month three, when the spreadsheet still exists, the formulas still work, and nobody has opened the file since the day it was built. T
Sinking Funds in Google Sheets: The Exact Setup for Annual Bills
A S$1,200 annual bill is about 60% of a median month's spending. How to build a sinking fund tab in your CalmExpense Google Sheet, with the three formulas that smooth it out.
YNAB vs Google Sheets: Which Budgeting Setup Actually Fits Your Workflow?
If you are looking for a YNAB alternative, you have probably already decided that you want more control over your money. The real question is not whether YNAB works. It clearly doe
My Emergency Fund Is 4 Months of Expenses, Not 6. Here's the Math
Everyone says you need six months of expenses in the bank. I ran the numbers on my own situation and settled on four. This post shows the exact math, what changed my mind, and why
Why I Won't Paste My Bank Statement Into an AI Chatbot
--- I got a DM last week from someone who pasted their entire bank CSV into ChatGPT and asked it to find "wasteful" spending. The AI found some. It also invented a $4,800 purchase
I Track Planned vs Actual Spending in Google Sheets. Here Are the Exact Formulas
I gave myself $600 for food in July. By the 23rd, I had spent $712.40, and I only found out when I sat down to check. My bank balance looked fine. My budget did not exist, because
I Automate My Expense Tracking in Google Sheets Without Linking My Bank. Here’s How
I used to spend about 40 minutes a month typing transactions into a spreadsheet. Now I spend about 15. The difference wasn't a fancy app that connects to my bank. It was a handful
I Categorized 1,200 Transactions in Google Sheets. Here Are the Exact Formulas
I spent a whole evening categorizing 1,200 transactions by hand. It was miserable. Then I found a formula that does it in about two minutes, and I've never gone back. Here's the t
My Savings Rate Was 4%. Here's the Exact Math to Calculate Yours
My Savings Rate Was 4%. Here's the Exact Math to Calculate Yours I thought I was a good saver. Then I did the math and found out my savings rate was 4%. Not 40%. Not even 20%. Fou
I Was Paying $219 a Month in Subscriptions I Forgot About. Here's How I Found Them
I Was Paying $219 a Month in Subscriptions I Forgot About. Here's How I Found Them The average household pays about $219 a month in subscriptions and thinks it's spending $86. Tha
CalmExpense vs YNAB: What You Actually Pay, Own, and Share
CalmExpense is a $29.90 one-time purchase that lives in your Google Drive and never touches your bank login. YNAB is a $109/year subscription that requires Plaid. Here is what you actually pay, own, and share with each.
From CSV Chaos to Clarity: A Step-by-Step Guide
A raw bank CSV looks intimidating. This walkthrough takes you from a messy export to a clean, tagged overview you actually understand, one calm step at a time.
How to Track Your Spending Without Giving Away Your Bank Login
You do not need to connect your bank to see where your money goes. Here is a practical, privacy-safe workflow using the CSV export almost every bank already gives you.
The Real Cost of Budgeting Apps: YNAB vs Monarch vs Spreadsheets
Subscription budgeting apps are genuinely good, and genuinely expensive over time. Here is an honest look at YNAB, Monarch, and a plain spreadsheet on price, privacy, and control.
Why Your Financial Data Should Stay in Your Google Drive
Most budgeting apps ask you to hand your bank login to a company you have never met. There is a quieter, safer way: keep your money data in a place you already own.