The Bean Ledger

Introduction In the United States, retirement accounts are specialized investment vehicles designed to support long-term financial security during post-employment years. These accounts—primarily Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and employer-sponsored plans such as 401(k)s—offer significant tax advantages to incentivize consistent saving. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets and periodically adjusts contribution limits for these accounts to account for inflation. Given their unique regulatory and tax characteristics, retirement accounts differ from standard brokerage or investment accounts. When documenting them in Beancount, a plain-text double-entry accounting system, a structured approach is necessary to track both contributions and IRS-imposed limits. ...

Managing real estate investments involves tracking numerous financial activities, including property purchases, rental income, and eventual sales. This guide illustrates how to leverage Beancount, a plain-text double-entry accounting system, to accurately model real estate transactions. By structuring appropriate accounts for assets, liabilities, income, and expenses, readers will learn to document key financial events such as down payments, mortgage servicing, rent collection, and asset appreciation. Whether you’re an experienced investor or just beginning your property journey, this article offers a clear framework for maintaining transparent and comprehensive financial records. ...

Understanding the foundational principles of Beancount is essential for effective personal finance management. This post delves into the core concepts that underpin Beancount’s plain-text double-entry accounting system. You’ll explore how every transaction must be balanced, the five fundamental account types (Assets, Liabilities, Equity, Income, Expenses), and the role of commodities in tracking various assets. Additionally, the article introduces key financial statements like the balance sheet and income statement, illustrating how Beancount provides a clear and structured view of your financial health. Whether you’re new to Beancount or seeking to solidify your understanding, this guide offers a comprehensive overview of its conceptual framework. ...

As your financial records grow, maintaining clarity and efficiency becomes paramount. This guide presents a structured approach to organizing your Beancount files, moving beyond a single, monolithic ledger. By categorizing accounts by type and segmenting transactions based on their nature and time frame, you can enhance readability, simplify maintenance, and facilitate future adjustments. Whether you’re dealing with daily expenses, income streams, or investment activities, this methodology offers a scalable framework to keep your financial data organized and accessible. ...

In an age of overly complex personal finance tools, Beancount offers a refreshing alternative: a simple, transparent, and programmable plain-text accounting system. This post introduces the foundational concepts of Beancount, guiding you through setting up your first ledger, understanding its double-entry system, and visualizing your finances with Fava and advanced plugins. Whether you’re new to plaintext accounting or looking to deepen your understanding, this guide will help you get started with a modern, flexible approach to tracking your money. ...

In a landscape dominated by opaque financial tools and cloud-dependent apps, Beancount emerges as a refreshing alternative—a plain-text, open-source accounting system that prioritizes transparency, control, and extensibility. This post explores why Beancount stands out as a powerful solution for managing personal finances. You’ll discover how Beancount’s double-entry bookkeeping ensures accuracy, its plain-text format allows for version control and auditability, and its extensibility through Python scripting caters to complex financial scenarios. Whether you’re tracking daily expenses, investments, or rental income, this guide illustrates how Beancount can serve as the backbone of a robust, privacy-respecting financial system. ...