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Tracking Expenses with Companions

When sharing finances with a companion, it's helpful to track who spent what. Skwad makes this easy using splits and tags.

How It Works​

The workflow for tracking companion expenses:

  1. Split the transaction to separate your portion from your companion's portion
  2. Tag each split with the person who made the purchase
  3. View reports to see total spending by person for any time period

Step 1: Split Transactions​

When you or your companion makes a purchase, split the transaction to allocate the correct amounts.

For example, if you paid $100 for groceries:

  • Split 1: $100 (you paid)
  • Or if sharing costs: Split 1: $50 (you), Split 2: $50 (companion)

Learn more: How to split transactions

Step 2: Tag Each Split​

After splitting, tag each portion to identify who it belongs to. Use consistent tags for the same person across all transactions.

Pro tip: Create tags for each person in your household at the start:

  • "Me"
  • "Partner Name"
  • "Child Name"
  • etc.

Learn more: How to use tags. Don't forget to setup quick tags so you can easily tap (Q) on desktop or swipe right on the mobile app!

Step 3: View Reports by Tag​

Once your transactions are tagged, you can see spending totals:

  1. Go to Reports in your Skwad app
  2. Filter by tag to see spending for each person
  3. View totals by month, year, or custom date range
  4. Compare spending between companions or household members

Learn more: How to use reports

Example Report Scenarios​

Monthly spending by person:

  • Filter by tag "Skwaddie Captain" → See Skwaddie Captain's total spending this month
  • Filter by tag "Skwaddie Companion" → See Skwaddie Companion's total spending this month

Yearly comparison:

  • View annual totals for each companion
  • Identify spending patterns and trends

Shared expenses:

  • Tag shared costs like rent or utilities with "Shared"
  • Track joint expenses separately from personal spending

Tips for Success​

Split Right Away​

Split and tag transactions as soon as they come in to avoid a backlog.

Communicate​

Make sure both you and your companion understand the tagging system so it stays consistent.

Review Regularly​

Check your reports monthly to ensure everything is tagged correctly and catch any missing tags.

Common Use Cases​

Couples Tracking Personal Spending​

  • Tag: "Skwaddie Captain" for Skwaddie Captain's personal purchases
  • Tag: "Skwaddie Companion" for Skwaddie Companion's personal purchases
  • Tag: "Shared" for joint expenses

Roommates Splitting Costs​

  • Tag each person's name for their personal expenses
  • Tag: "House" for shared household costs
  • Review reports to settle up at month-end

Parents Tracking Kids' Expenses​

  • Tag: "Parent"
  • Tag: "Kid1", "Kid2" etc.
  • See how much is spent on each child

Need Help?​

Having trouble with splits or tags? Email us and we're happy to help.