Rewire your spending habits.

SpendLight is the only spending journal that helps you understand and improve your spending behavior.

+ Add Record
{{item.rating_label}}
#GOOD
DECISIONS
@TraderJoe's
TODAY
You
$
247
DEBIT
#groceries#online
{{item.rating_label}}
#POOR
DECISIONS
@CircleK
YESTERDAY
You
$
13
CREDIT
#snacks#impulse#unhealthy
{{item.rating_label}}
#GREAT
DECISIONS
@Amazon
Jun 15
You
$
45
#household#onsale
{{item.rating_label}}
#FAIL
DECISIONS
@Library
June 14
You
$
5
You: Had to pay a late fee
{{item.rating_label}}
#GREAT
DECISIONS
@BestBuy
TODAY
You
$
45
#groceries#online

How It Works

A spending journal is a simple but effective tool for improving your spending habits.

Account Setup
Pick topics for your journal.
#groceries
#online
#impulse
#fastfood
#subscriptions
#restaurants
#coffee
#clothing
#entertainment
#gifts
#health
#recreation

#1 Pick relevant targets

Decide what areas of spending you can improve. Fixed expenses like rent, mortgage, and utilities aren't typically ripe for improvement. So pick discretionary spending categories thare are most likely to move the needle. Those are the best topics for your journal.

Spending Journal
Your most recent spending
good decisions
#GOOD
DECISIONS
@TraderJoe's
TODAY
You
$
247
DEBIT
#groceries#online
poor decisions
#POOR
DECISIONS
@CircleK
YESTERDAY
You
$
13
CREDIT
#snacks#impulse#unhealthy
great decisions
#GREAT
DECISIONS
@Amazon
Jun 15
You
$
45
#household#onsale
fail decisions
#FAIL
DECISIONS
@Library
June 14
You
$
5
You: Had to pay a late fee
great decisions
#GREAT
DECISIONS
@BestBuy
TODAY
You
$
45
#groceries#online

#2 Track decisions in context... not just dollars

When you spend, record your sentiment with a few notes about the circumstances. This can help you identify thought patterns that enable yoru overspending habits.

Weekly Summary
Reveal habits & adjust behavior
This Week
Spending Summary
Total: $714
1
#FAIL
DECISIONS
$
76
3
#POOR
DECISIONS
$
163
4
#GOOD
DECISIONS
$
418
2
#GREAT
DECISIONS
$
57
Users
Jack × 8$433
Jill × 2$281
Payment
Debit × 7$357
Credit × 2$281
Venmo × 1$76

#3 Review your spending weekly

Every week you’ll get a crisp summary of your spending decisions. This is your chance to reflect on your decisions and make adjustments for the week ahead. It's this cycle that will help you improve your spending habits over time.

Our Unique, Brain-Rewiring Approach

Creating a budget isn't easy, but sticking to the plan is even harder. SpendLight builds a mindset that yields better choices.

  • Self-evaluation

    Was it awesome or a complete fail? Rate your spending to develop a habit of mindfulness.

  • #NOSPEND FTW!

    The best way to save money is to not spend it. Track your zero days to build momentum.

  • Don't fly solo!

    Add a spending buddy for accountability. Or add a loved one just to stay on the same page.

  • Weekly feedback loop

    Discretionary spending often follows a weekly cycle. Track progress and adjust accordingly.

  • Celebrate your wins

    Mark the meaningful steps you take to tame your spending habits.

  • No install necessary

    A simple SMS message is all it takes to record your spending. 100% browser-friendly as well.

Create a spending journal today

It's easy to start your journey. In a few minutes you'll be on the path to become a better spender.

Trust and safety

At SpendLight, we respect our customers and their financial data. Our approach to privacy may not be conventional, but we believe it is the right way to do business.

Our commitment to you includes:

  • Never selling your data or allowing affiliates to subsidize our services. You pay a fair price for a great tool.
  • Never connecting to your bank or auto-importing transactions. This hands off approach keeps our relationship straightforward.
  • Never holding your data captive. You can import, export or delete your spending records at any time. And we ensure you don't have to jump through any hoops to do so.

By making these promises, we aim to build trust and transparency with our customers. We want you to feel confident using SpendLight to track your expenses and manage your finances.

Pricing Plans

We think our spending journal is a bargain at any price.

What? No 1-month plan?
Improving your spending habits won't happen overnight.

Paper Edition

FREE

If you prefer the feel of pen and paper over yet another app, our paper spending journal is the perfect solution.

  • Printable PDF
  • Email reminders (optional)
Download

Household Edition

$15 / quarter

You're ready to get serious about improving your spending habits. Get after it as a couple, family or trusted friends.

  • Shared journal for 1 to 4 users
  • SMS and web input
  • Buddy notifications
  • Social-friendly reports
  • Data import/export
Sign Up

Community Edition

$40 / quarter

There's strength in numbers. Get support and encouragement as you all stay on track and achieve your financial goals together.

  • Individual journals for 2 to 10 users
  • Everything in the Household Edition
  • Group notifications and encouragement
  • Weekly challenges & leaderboard
Coming Soon