Finance blogs in 2026 keep recommending the same idea: fewer categories, clearer decisions. Forty tags feel productive for a week, then nobody tags anything.
A defensible default list
- Groceries
- Food & dining
- Transport / fuel
- Utilities & rent
- Healthcare & insurance
- Education
- Shopping
- Subscriptions
- Entertainment & travel
- Personal transfers (family / friends)
- EMIs & loans
- Savings & investments
How to use them
- Map payees once (Swiggy -> Food). Next SMS inherits the rule.
- Review one question monthly: "Which category surprised us?"
- Keep "Misc" tiny - if it grows, split it.
Kharch Log stores categories with your Sheet rows so exports stay readable years later. See expense category and reports.