2013-11-17 GnuCash IRC logs
00:09:27 *** nafg has quit IRC
00:10:21 *** nafg has joined #gnucash
00:11:48 *** fell_ has quit IRC
00:13:23 *** fell_ has joined #gnucash
00:32:21 <raeburn> I've got a question on entering historical data… The question asked by "xjordanx" in October on the -user list sounds a lot like my situation…
00:32:46 <raeburn> I'm starting to learn Gnucash, setting up a new data file, figuring on starting accounts with current balances from current statements so I can start entering transactions, but I have old receipts and downloaded qfx files I'd like to use to fill in some historical data, but I don't want to have to complete that process before I can start adding new info.
00:33:46 <raeburn> The reply from Colin Law basically said, when importing older data (older than the "beginning balance") from the financial institution, just figure out how much it's going to change the balance, and add an offsetting transaction or update the starting balance.
00:35:08 <raeburn> But, from my initial experimentation, it looks to me like if that historical data includes payments from bank account to credit card #1, payments to credit card #2, payments to mortgage, etc., then lots of accounts may have balances updated.
00:37:50 <raeburn> And to make it more fun, the "beginning balance" on various accounts may not correspond to the same day, since not all account statements end on the same day, so whether it's back-filling historical data (and thus shouldn't affect the current balance) may be different for the two accounts between which the money is being transferred.
00:39:11 <raeburn> And based on Colin's answer it sounds like no help automating that determination can be expected from Gnucash itself. Is filling in historical data really the tedious manual process it sounds like? Or am I missing something?
00:42:06 <raeburn> (For context: The original question on the list and its response are at http://lists.gnucash.org/pipermail/gnucash-user/2013-October/050677.html .)
00:43:44 <raeburn> Or should I be taking this to the list? :-)
00:49:00 *** David_L_Carlson has joined #gnucash
01:29:27 *** nafg has quit IRC
02:53:10 *** David_L_Carlson has quit IRC
03:12:56 *** David_L_Carlson has joined #gnucash
03:26:05 *** gjanssens has joined #gnucash
03:26:05 *** gncbot sets mode: +o gjanssens
03:51:35 *** fell_ has quit IRC
03:59:44 *** David_L_Carlson has quit IRC
04:09:54 *** john_afk has quit IRC
04:11:41 *** David_L_Carlson has joined #gnucash
04:56:38 *** snarf has joined #gnucash
04:57:50 <snarf> i have a split transaction from a grocery store against my credit card
04:58:09 <snarf> a day later, i went back to the grocery store and returned one of the items i bought for a refund
04:58:24 <snarf> how should i enter the refund in to gnucash?
04:58:35 *** David_L_Carlson_ has joined #gnucash
05:00:55 *** David_L_Carlson has quit IRC
05:01:03 *** David_L_Carlson_ is now known as David_L_Carlson
05:29:50 *** aqua___ has joined #gnucash
05:34:18 <snarf> what's the "Action" field in a split transaction for?
05:34:28 <snarf> is it just a comment?
05:34:32 <snarf> or does it have a function?
05:37:43 <gjanssens> snarf: you enter a new transaction for your refund
05:37:51 <gjanssens> was is refunded in cash ?
05:38:19 <gjanssens> Then that would be a transaction increasing your cash account and decreasing your expenses:groceries account
05:38:58 <gjanssens> regarding the action field: I think this is mostly informational. I don't think it's used internally in gnucash
05:39:14 <gjanssens> unless perhaps for investments, but I don't use that part so I'm not sure
05:48:45 *** David_L_Carlson has quit IRC
06:07:42 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
06:19:32 *** casimono has quit IRC
06:19:54 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
06:29:30 *** casimono has quit IRC
06:29:52 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
06:36:54 *** casimono has quit IRC
06:37:16 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
06:39:27 *** fell_ has joined #gnucash
06:39:28 *** gncbot sets mode: +o fell_
06:44:29 *** casimono has quit IRC
06:44:51 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
06:48:25 *** fell has quit IRC
06:51:50 *** snarf has quit IRC
06:52:54 *** snarf has joined #gnucash
07:03:26 *** casimono has quit IRC
07:03:48 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
07:10:56 *** casimono has quit IRC
07:11:19 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
07:18:19 *** casimono has quit IRC
07:18:42 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
07:21:03 *** andygraybeal has joined #gnucash
07:24:33 *** john3voltas has joined #gnucash
07:29:58 <john3voltas> greetings folks. i'm a n00b using gnucash 2.4.13 from portableapps.org.
07:34:09 <john3voltas> i can download a csv from my homebank internet account. with some minor tweaking i can import the data to gnucash. but the csv import wizard asks me to which account I want to import my data. which account should i use for that?
07:35:55 <john3voltas> shouldn't that go into a generic account that I would afterwards thoroughly select the items and move them to specific accounts like food, wardrobe, utilities, etc?
07:41:05 *** casimono has quit IRC
07:41:28 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
07:50:29 *** casimono has quit IRC
07:50:51 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
07:57:52 *** casimono has quit IRC
07:58:15 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
07:59:51 *** aqua___ has quit IRC
08:05:17 *** casimono has quit IRC
08:05:39 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
08:12:39 *** casimono has quit IRC
08:13:02 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
08:19:52 *** David_L_Carlson has joined #gnucash
08:25:13 *** casimono has quit IRC
08:25:36 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
08:35:40 *** casimono has quit IRC
08:37:14 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: hi
08:37:40 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: csv import goes like this: first you select the account to which all the transactions belong (your bank account).
08:38:43 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: then for every transaction in the generic import matcher you select (by double clicking) the second account (some of the Expenses usually, and sometimes your Income).
08:39:55 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: GnuCash automatically creates a split transaction (with only two "legs", so it's actually the most common kind of transactions), adding one part to your bank account and another to the account you selected.
08:50:51 *** Jimraehl1 has left #gnucash
08:51:55 <john3voltas> PaulFertser: thanks for your reply. unfortunately i still don't get it. what is my "bank account"? i can't see it in the accounts that are created by gnucash's initial wizard...
08:52:52 <john3voltas> i can see a checking account. is that it?
09:02:21 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: you should have one account that corresponds directly to the bank account you've got your csv file for.
09:02:54 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: if it's not created, you can create it. Usually people have many different bank accounts (usually associated with a debit or credit card).
09:03:05 <john3voltas> PaulFertser: but gnucash doesn't create that one automatically, does it?
09:03:27 <john3voltas> oh, but i don't have credit cards
09:03:33 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: i think it creates one "credit card account" if you use the wizard
09:04:34 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: the idea is that every separate place you can have money in should have its own Assets:... account. If it's a bank account it should have "bank" type (in the properties).
09:04:52 <PaulFertser> If that's an account associate with your check book, then it should have "Check" type.
09:05:03 <PaulFertser> s/ciate/ceated/
09:07:47 *** Jimraehl1 has joined #gnucash
09:07:51 <john3voltas> i think i still don't get it. for instance, i only get money working for an employer. they deposit my wages in my bank account which has an associated debit card. which assets gnucash accounts should i create in my case?
09:08:46 <john3voltas> i'll be off my keyboard for a while but i'll be back. hope someone can help me with my confusion ;)
09:09:01 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: One, for your debit card (it should have type set to "Credit card").
09:16:52 <gjanssens> PaulFertser: I'm not sure your last suggestion is correct.
09:17:00 <gjanssens> A debit card is not a credit card.
09:17:31 <gjanssens> I would create an account of type "Bank" to be assiociated with the bank account.
09:17:55 <gjanssens> The csv files are from the homebank internet account, so are IMO related to the bank account
09:24:42 <john3voltas> gjanssens: thanks for joining us.
09:25:21 <john3voltas> i am still puzzled as why the file>new wizard doesn't create a bank account.
09:25:32 <john3voltas> shall i create it myself?
09:26:08 <gjanssens> john3voltas: the file->new wizard is only a starting point
09:26:19 <gjanssens> everybody has different accounting needs
09:26:26 <gjanssens> so, yes, create one yourself
09:26:43 <john3voltas> well, i'd say most people these days have a bank account...
09:27:15 <gjanssens> It also depends which account template you selected in the account wizard
09:27:28 <john3voltas> imho, the common accounts wizard should create one bank account.
09:28:51 <gjanssens> The English template does: it's called the "Checkings account"
09:29:21 <john3voltas> ah, that's what i was asking earlier, if the checking accounts was my bank account
09:29:43 <gjanssens> Hmm, I probably missed that part of your question
09:30:20 <gjanssens> So if you have that one, you have a bank account set up and ready to use
09:30:28 <gjanssens> You can rename it for your convenience if you like
09:30:37 <john3voltas> i see
09:31:14 <john3voltas> so all bank csv imports go in there, right?
09:32:15 <john3voltas> then i open that account and assign stuff to other accounts, like food, wardrobe, insurance, taxes, etc, right?
09:38:14 *** Topcat has joined #gnucash
09:38:44 <PaulFertser> gjanssens: what's the real difference between a credit card and a debit card? Isn't debit card just a subtype of a credit card?
09:40:51 <PaulFertser> gjanssens: of course you're right, the official manual says debit cards should have type "Bank". But still+
09:40:54 <PaulFertser> ?
09:41:59 <PaulFertser> btw, is there a document that would fully clarify how account type affects the functionality?
09:42:52 <john3voltas> so, checking account, debit card account, credit card account, as long as they are of type 'Bank' that's where my imports should go, right?
09:44:31 <gjanssens> PaulFertser: IANAA, but here in Belgium a debit card is linked directly to your bank account.
09:44:36 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: I think you're supposed to use Credit Card type for credit card accounts.
09:44:58 <PaulFertser> gjanssens: how does typical credit card differ from that?
09:45:07 <gjanssens> If I make a payment with my debit card, the money goes from my bank account immediatly
09:45:40 <gjanssens> If I pay with my credit card otoh, I receive a separate credit card statement at the end of the month
09:45:56 <gjanssens> and only then all credit card payments from the past month are taken from my bank account
09:46:02 <john3voltas> gjanssens: nowadays in portugal that doesn't _always_ work immediately on a debit card.
09:47:05 <gjanssens> in simple terms, a credit card gives me "credit"
09:47:13 <gjanssens> I can expend money I don't really own with it
09:47:16 <john3voltas> otoh it could well be due to banks using credit cards as if they were debit cards. my debit card is actually a credit card forced to work as a debit card.
09:47:23 <gjanssens> as long as I can pay it at the end of the month
09:47:32 <john3voltas> makes sense
09:47:34 <PaulFertser> gjanssens: hm, interesting. I'm used to think that a usual credit card is just like a debit card but with some overdraft limit and at some point of time they withdraw additional interest for the amount you were credited for.
09:48:19 <gjanssens> PaulFertser: that's interesting, but certainly not how it works here
09:48:36 <gjanssens> My debit card has an overdraft limit
09:48:46 <gjanssens> and I have to pay interest on that if I use it
09:49:14 <gjanssens> My credit card allows me to spend money before I really have to have it on my bank account
09:49:15 <john3voltas> so, i use the "bank" account for csv import and then assign all the items in that csv with a more specific account like food, taxes, etc, right?
09:49:17 <PaulFertser> gjanssens: ah, so that's type of card I think of as "credit card"
09:49:21 <gjanssens> It doesn't have an overdraft though
09:49:35 <gjanssens> PaulFertser: I think so
09:49:38 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: yes
09:50:32 *** fell_ has quit IRC
09:50:39 <john3voltas> ok, so in the end i can make a month/quarter report specifying where my money is going, right?
09:50:45 <gjanssens> john3voltas: re your earlier question - in general your csv import should go into an account that matches what you are trying to import
09:51:05 <gjanssens> if you kept your cash expenses in excell and want to import those via csv
09:51:12 <gjanssens> you'd have to select your cash account
09:51:55 <john3voltas> gjanssens: all my imports will come from my homebanking exports to xls/csv.
09:51:55 *** fell has joined #gnucash
09:51:56 *** gncbot sets mode: +o fell
09:52:30 <gjanssens> john3voltas: then indeed you can use one of the accounts available
09:52:38 <john3voltas> i don't even know what exactly the word "cash" means. to me it sounds like money.
09:52:48 <gjanssens> But if you have multiple bank accounts in your homebanking system,
09:53:02 <john3voltas> i mean, bills and coins
09:53:11 <gjanssens> you will want to make sure you have set up an account of type "Bank" for each of them in gnucash
09:53:27 <gjanssens> cash is indeed bills and coins
09:54:11 <gjanssens> some people keep track of how they spend such money
09:54:13 <john3voltas> how would i have more thank 1 bank account? like a debit card account and a house mortgage account?
09:54:21 <PaulFertser> gjanssens: heh, so I was tricked by russian specifics, thanks for correcting me!
09:54:33 <gjanssens> PaulFertser: no problem :)
09:54:46 <john3voltas> PaulFertser: are you Russian?
09:54:58 <john3voltas> or living in Russia?
09:55:08 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: both
09:55:08 <gjanssens> john3voltas: maybe you can't have more than one bank account where you live, but in other countries that's quite common
09:55:45 <gjanssens> For example: I have several checkings accounts in different banks
09:55:53 <gjanssens> and several savings accounts
09:55:54 <john3voltas> i can easily have more than 1 bank account but on separate banks(institutions).
09:56:01 <gjanssens> That helps me organize my money
09:56:29 <gjanssens> Here in Belgium, you can even have multiple bank accounts in one bank
09:57:10 <john3voltas> gjanssens: more than 1 account in the same bank is not for the ordinary portuguese human being lol
09:57:18 <gjanssens> :)
09:57:23 <john3voltas> ok
09:57:32 <gjanssens> I have one for bussiness and one for private money
09:57:54 <john3voltas> so afterwards how can i make a report of where my money is going to (expenses wise)?
09:58:15 * gjanssens is not good at reports :(
09:58:42 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: just try different pre-configured standard reports, you'll see what you need.
09:58:44 <john3voltas> ok. never mind, i think i found it.
09:59:05 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: and check the options of the particular report you want, they're quite flexible.
09:59:19 <john3voltas> BTW what the heck is equity?
10:00:39 <PaulFertser> john3voltas: this type of account can be used in transactions where money came "from nowhere" (e.g. you're just creating your cash account and need to specify the current amount you have).
10:01:13 <john3voltas> oh, you mean "for starters"?
10:11:59 *** Topcat1 has joined #gnucash
10:16:19 *** Topcat has quit IRC
10:17:33 *** fell_ has joined #gnucash
10:19:58 <warlord> raeburn: gnucash is designed to look backwards by moving forwards. Once you start it's expected that you move forwards, not backwards. You can certainly be entering transactions now and enter previous transactions too, but once you set your opening balances you're generally locked in.
10:20:42 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
10:21:04 <warlord> snarf: The Action field is generally just a comment.
10:21:51 <warlord> john3voltas: It's expecting the csv to be a list of transactions from a specific account; and then you match the other side to the Income/Expense accounts they correspond to.
10:23:55 <warlord> PaulFertser: Debit Cards are like e-checks -- it pulls the money from your account immediately. Credit cards build up a balance and you pay it at the end of the month.
10:24:59 *** aqua___ has joined #gnucash
10:25:41 <warlord> john3voltas: yeah, you use equity pretty much solely to start up.
10:25:57 <john3voltas> thanks warlord
10:26:07 <warlord> income and expense are also kinds of equity, so you use those to mark "changes in equity".
10:26:25 <warlord> Some people like to "close the books" to roll up income/expenses back into an Equity account, but it's not required.
10:27:01 <john3voltas> close the books 'yearly' you mean?
10:28:18 *** aqua___ has quit IRC
10:28:40 <warlord> yes, but like I said it's not required.
10:30:27 <john3voltas> warlord: any advantage in doing so? like, can't i just run reports from 01/01 to 31/12 of any given year that I want?
10:32:15 *** snarf has quit IRC
10:40:28 *** Topcat has joined #gnucash
10:44:44 *** Topcat1 has quit IRC
10:46:24 <warlord> john3voltas: the only advantage is that when looking at the Chart of Accounts, the balances are for the current period. But yes, you are right, you can run a report for any period to get the period balances.
10:46:32 <warlord> That's why I said it's not required.
10:47:07 *** jmd has joined #gnucash
10:53:09 *** Topcat1 has joined #gnucash
10:53:27 <PaulFertser> warlord: yes, got it now :) Funny, but I have never learned anything about e-checks, so that's a bad example for me :)
10:57:36 *** Topcat has quit IRC
10:58:36 *** Topcat1 has quit IRC
11:07:47 *** casimono has quit IRC
11:08:09 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
11:15:10 *** casimono has quit IRC
11:15:33 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
11:24:39 *** casimono has quit IRC
11:25:02 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
11:32:04 *** casimono has quit IRC
11:32:26 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
11:38:00 <john3voltas> i think i grasp the basics now. will come back when/if i have more doubts. thanks everybody.
11:38:07 *** john3voltas has quit IRC
11:54:53 *** casimono has quit IRC
11:55:16 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
12:02:19 *** gjanssens is now known as gjanssens_
12:07:50 *** casimono has quit IRC
12:08:12 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
12:15:06 *** snarf has joined #gnucash
12:15:28 <snarf> does anyone have any advice for how to enter reimbursements?
12:15:39 <warlord> snarf: what kind of reimbursements?
12:15:40 <snarf> let's say i buy a widget for my company, paying for it with my credit card
12:15:49 <snarf> i enter a regular credit card transaction
12:16:15 <snarf> a month later, my company sends me a check for the cost of the item
12:16:20 <snarf> and i deposit that
12:16:48 <snarf> what do i do in gnucash for that?
12:18:17 <snarf> i guess it should be a regular deposit to my checking account... but it shouldn't count as income, right?
12:18:59 <snarf> also, while the reimbursement hasn't come in, i guess it should go in accounts payable or something
12:20:45 <warlord> When you enter the txn to your credit card use Assets:Reimbursibles as the category (instead of an expense account). Then when you get reimbursed you go from A:Reim.. -> Checking
12:21:03 <warlord> No, not payable..
12:21:10 <snarf> ah
12:23:43 <snarf> thanks
12:32:12 *** casimono has quit IRC
12:32:34 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
12:38:51 *** David_L_Carlson has quit IRC
12:44:37 *** casimono has quit IRC
12:45:00 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
12:52:01 *** casimono has quit IRC
12:52:23 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
12:58:23 <snarf> how do i find out what the keyboard shortcuts are for toolbar items like "Blank" and "Split" ?
12:58:29 <snarf> and can i set my own?
12:59:05 <warlord> If it's not in the menu then there is no keyboard shortcut. Yes, you can set your own using the standard gtk methods.
13:01:47 <snarf> what are the standard gtk methods for customizing shortcuts?
13:03:18 <warlord> depends on your platform and Gtk version. Google for the right answer.
13:03:27 <snarf> i'm using gnucash on windows :(
13:07:57 <snarf> i see there's a little info about it here: http://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Keyboard_Shortcuts
13:08:00 <snarf> near the bottom
13:08:14 <snarf> "The accelerator map can also be edited on Windows (where it's somewhere like C:\Users\USERNAME\.gnucash\accelerator-map in the case of Vista)"
13:14:43 *** casimono has quit IRC
13:15:06 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
13:22:07 *** casimono has quit IRC
13:22:29 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
13:24:18 *** john has joined #gnucash
13:24:19 *** gncbot sets mode: +o john
13:25:38 <warlord> snarf: see :) I knew you could find sometihng.
13:30:13 *** TradeBorG has joined #gnucash
13:31:46 *** fell_ has quit IRC
13:36:36 <snarf> let's say i buy 2 widgets, for $1 each, for a total of $2
13:36:56 <snarf> is there a way to enter the transaction in as $1 * 2 somehow?
13:37:18 <snarf> or do i need to enter it either as $2 or enter two separate transactions?
13:37:23 *** fell has quit IRC
13:37:35 *** fell has joined #gnucash
13:37:36 *** gncbot sets mode: +o fell
13:38:24 <snarf> question would probably make more sense if i bought 10000 widgets for $1 each for a total of $10000... obviously, making 10000 entries would be impractical
13:38:34 *** jmd has quit IRC
13:38:54 <warlord> snarf: read the docs on "stocks"
13:39:41 <snarf> would those docs apply even if i'm not buying stocks but tangible items? (something that would go under expenses, usually)
13:39:50 <warlord> Yes
13:39:55 <snarf> thanks
13:40:44 *** snarf has quit IRC
13:41:26 *** snarf has joined #gnucash
13:48:45 *** casimono has quit IRC
13:49:07 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
13:56:07 *** casimono has quit IRC
13:56:30 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
14:03:30 *** casimono has quit IRC
14:03:53 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
14:13:25 *** casimono has quit IRC
14:13:47 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
14:21:13 *** casimono has quit IRC
14:21:36 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
14:25:49 <snarf> when i pay sales tax, should i consider that an expense?
14:27:05 <warlord> Personally I dont split out sales tax
14:31:37 <snarf> but if you did, it'd go under expenses, right?
14:32:06 <warlord> Depends on why you were splitting it out.
14:32:27 <snarf> just to keep track of where my money's going
14:32:29 <warlord> E.g. if you split it out because you are collecting it to pay the govt, then it would be a liability.
14:32:46 <snarf> nah, i'm not collecting it.. i'm paying it
14:32:49 <warlord> Why do you care how much you spend on sales taxes?
14:32:51 <snarf> on stuff i buy
14:32:56 <snarf> i'm just a consumer
14:33:03 <warlord> it's a fixed %age of your total expense.
14:33:09 <snarf> i'm curious
14:33:23 <snarf> also, i think sales tax varies from place to place
14:33:33 <warlord> true, Depends on the locale
14:33:37 <snarf> so just wondering how much i'd save if i bought stuff elsewhere
14:33:44 <snarf> and just plain curious anyway
14:35:29 <warlord> To answer your question, yes, you probably want to use an expense account.
14:35:42 <snarf> ok, thank you
14:42:33 *** casimono has quit IRC
14:42:56 *** casimono has joined #gnucash
14:47:52 *** casimono has quit IRC
16:30:22 *** wizkid238 has quit IRC
16:36:51 *** Topcat has joined #gnucash
16:59:13 *** Topcat has quit IRC
16:59:36 *** Topcat has joined #gnucash
17:06:36 *** Topcat has quit IRC
17:06:58 *** Topcat has joined #gnucash
17:12:25 *** TradeBorG2 has joined #gnucash
17:19:01 *** Topcat has quit IRC
17:19:24 *** Topcat has joined #gnucash
17:19:24 *** TradeBorG has quit IRC
17:21:38 *** TradeBorG2 has quit IRC
17:26:43 *** Topcat has quit IRC
17:27:05 *** Topcat has joined #gnucash
17:34:05 *** Topcat has quit IRC
17:34:27 *** Topcat has joined #gnucash
17:36:20 *** Topcat has quit IRC
21:46:40 *** kpreid has quit IRC
21:47:27 *** kpreid has joined #gnucash
22:18:53 <snarf> not directly gnucash related, but...
22:19:06 <snarf> let's say you're eating out at a restaurant and pay with a credit card
22:19:12 <snarf> but leave a cash tip
22:19:30 <snarf> the receipt is only for the price of the meal, without tip
22:19:57 <snarf> just out of curiosity, do any of you make a note of the tip you left on the reciept?
22:20:07 <snarf> (for bookeeping purposes)
22:26:10 <snarf> you know you've been entering receipts for too long when you start to get curious about that...
22:44:02 <snarf>
22:44:50 <snarf> i have some receipts for credit purchases i made in the last month, but not every receipt
22:45:05 <snarf> so i'm not going to be able to fully reconcile my credit card statement
22:45:46 <snarf> so i guess gnucash is always going to show that not everything in my ledger has been reconciled, right?
22:46:18 <snarf> is there anything to be done about that short of using a new file for future transactions?
23:21:27 <kpreid> snarf: you should enter all transactions, not just those you have receipts for
23:21:53 <kpreid> that is, if I understand correctly that you have entries on your CC statement that you don't have transactions entered for
23:22:12 <kpreid> you should fix that by creating the transactions
23:23:04 <kpreid> snarf: and what you should definitely _not_ do is reconcile with the wrong ending balance, because that defeats the point of reconciliation
23:25:08 <snarf> hmm
23:25:35 <snarf> but let's say i don't have a receipt for a given transaction, but it appears on my credit card statement
23:25:50 <snarf> and it looks legit, so i enter it in to gnucash
23:26:19 <snarf> then, when i go to reconcile the statement, i shouldn't reconcile that one transaction, should i?
23:26:31 <snarf> since i don't have a receipt for it, it's not a true reconciliation, right?
23:26:35 <kpreid> no
23:26:51 <kpreid> reconciliation is matching _your bookkeeping_ against _the credit card company's bookkeeping_
23:26:55 <snarf> right
23:27:06 <snarf> so there'll be that transaction left unreconciliated
23:27:17 <kpreid> I said _your bookkeeping_, not _your receipts_!
23:27:24 <kpreid> receipts are just info for you
23:27:32 <snarf> oh
23:27:57 <kpreid> you should always enter in gnucash your best understanding of what actually happened
23:28:05 <kpreid> receipts are information, so's your cc statement
23:28:21 <snarf> i see.. so reconciliation is just to make sure i've got all the entries in gnucash that are in my CC (and other) statement(s)
23:28:34 <kpreid> it's to make sure there is not a disagreement
23:28:53 <kpreid> if you find a disagreement, then it could be your error, or it could be their error
23:29:29 <snarf> well, if i'm just copying what i see in my CC statement without a receipt, then i can't really know if it's their error
23:29:42 <kpreid> right, that's why you use receipts
23:29:54 <kpreid> but there's no rule that you cannot enter something which isn't on a receipt
23:30:37 <kpreid> for example, when I buy things online I enter the transaction right away. I get a "receipt" in email, but I don't take that as the primary source, I write down what they said when I was checking out
23:31:22 <kpreid> if I get something from a vending machine, I enter that transaction too, even though it didn't provide a receipt. I may have to take a note, but that's an aid to memory, not a magic document
23:32:04 <kpreid> there is only one significance to a receipt beyond helping you remember: it documents _to the store_ that you bought something, in case you come back to return it or something
23:34:51 * snarf nods
23:36:11 <snarf> thanks, kpreid
23:52:31 <snarf> if i've started and then postponed a reconciliation action, how do i resume that postponed reconcilliation?
23:53:01 <kpreid> just reconcile again
23:55:54 <snarf> thanks
23:56:09 <snarf> another question: what's a reversing transaction?
23:57:05 <kpreid> I would assume it's one with the exact opposite effect as a previous transaction
23:57:16 <kpreid> (but I haven't actually read a definition)
23:57:47 <kpreid> the point of doing such things is to refrain from modifying 'old' data