How can Mint rationally and easyly track credit card transactions and budget

[JoeMac1985]

I was just thinking... I don't understand how Mint could track both credit card spending and track it in the budget

Unlike checking accounts, when you spend with a credit card you're not spending money you have so nothing is being spent out of any of your accounts.

This is somewhat confusing...

Take an example, for instance if one uses a credit card to purchase groceries and restaurants and then pays it all off at the end of the month.

If Mint doesn't keep track of each purchase in the Transactions bar, then all you will see is the big lump sum credit card payment once a month in the Transactions bar. You couldn't see how much you're spending on groceries and restaurants in the Transactions tab and also in the budget area.

On the other hand, if Mint DOES keep track of each purchase in the transaction tab, then it will additionally add a the big lump sum credit card payment once a month in the Transactions bar. But this will mean a DOUBLE transaction on groceries and restaurants, since they will have shown up as all the individual purchases AND the credit card payment.

It simply doesn't work any way. Or, am I just crazy?

Thanks.

[mburdsall]

When you are tracking credit card purchases you categories the individual purchases on the card. When you make the lump sum payment to the credit card you mark that as a transfer and that payment is not included in your reports. Therefore, at the end of the month when you pay the credit card from you bank you will see a negative payment of -XXX in your bank and a +XXX on your credit cad. You would mark them both as transfers and they wold not be counted on your trends as spending. It is the same with all sites.