Expense Tracker with Analytics

A comprehensive Java Swing-based desktop application for tracking personal expenses with visual analytics and budget management capabilities.

Features

Core Functionality

• Add, Edit, and Delete Expenses - Manage your expenses with an intuitive interface
• Expense Categorization - Organize expenses by custom categories
• Date-Based Filtering - Filter expenses by specific dates using an interactive date picker
• Persistent Storage - All data is saved automatically using JSON format
• Monthly Budget Management - Set and track your monthly spending limits

Analytics & Visualization

• Pie Chart Visualization - Visual breakdown of expenses by category with color-coded legend
• Category Totals - Automatic calculation of spending per category
• Expense Insights - Identifies your highest spending category
• Real-Time Updates - Charts update automatically as you add or modify expenses

Budget Tracking

• Budget vs. Spending - Track remaining budget in real-time
• Visual Indicators - Color-coded remaining balance (green for positive, red for overspending)
• Low Balance Warnings - Automatic alerts when remaining budget falls below ₱500
• Budget Validation - Prevents setting budgets lower than existing expenses

Requirements

Dependencies

• Java SE 8 or higher
• Gson Library (com.google.gson) - For JSON serialization/deserialization
  • Download from Maven Repository
  • Or add via Maven: com.google.code.gson:gson:2.10.1

System Requirements

• Windows, macOS, or Linux with Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
• Minimum 512 MB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1280x720 or higher recommended

Installation

1. Clone or download the project files

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd expense-tracker

2. Add Gson library to your project

   • Download the Gson JAR file
   • Add it to your project's classpath
   • If using an IDE (Eclipse/IntelliJ), add it as an external library

3. Compile the project

   javac -cp .:gson-2.10.1.jar Main.java Expense.java

4. Run the application

   java -cp .:gson-2.10.1.jar Main

Usage Guide

Setting Your Budget

1. Click the "Add Your Budget" button in the top-left section
2. Enter your monthly budget amount
3. Click "Save Budget"
4. Your budget will be displayed in the top-right corner along with remaining balance

Adding Expenses

1. Click "Add / Edit Expense" button
2. Fill in the expense details:
   • Description: What you spent on (e.g., "Grocery shopping")
   • Amount: Cost in pesos (e.g., "1500")
   • Category: Type of expense (e.g., "Food", "Transport", "Entertainment")
3. Click "Add Expense"

Editing Expenses

1. Select a row in the expense table
2. Click "Add / Edit Expense" button
3. Click "Edit Expense" in the dialog
4. Modify the details as needed
5. Click "Update Expense"

Deleting Expenses

1. Select a row in the expense table
2. Click "Add / Edit Expense" button
3. Click "Delete Expense"
4. Confirm the deletion

Filtering by Date

• Use the date picker in the top-right corner to select a specific date
• The table and pie chart will automatically update to show only expenses from that date

Viewing Analytics

• The pie chart displays automatically below the expense table
• Shows percentage breakdown of spending by category
• Includes a legend with exact amounts per category
• Displays your highest spending category

Data Storage

The application stores data locally in JSON format:

• expenses.json - Contains all expense records
• budget.json - Stores your monthly budget setting

These files are created automatically in the application's directory and persist between sessions.

Project Structure

expense-tracker/
├── Main.java           # Main application class with GUI
├── Expense.java        # Expense data model class
├── expenses.json       # Auto-generated expense data
├── budget.json         # Auto-generated budget data
└── README.md          # This file

Key Classes

Main.java

The main application class containing:

• GUI components and layout management
• Event handlers for user interactions
• Data persistence methods (save/load)
• Budget tracking logic
• PieChartPanel - Inner class for rendering the expense analytics chart

Expense.java

Data model class representing a single expense with:

• Description
• Amount
• Category
• Date

Color Scheme

• Primary Background: Light Blue (#ADD8E6)
• Panel Background: Light Blue Gradient (#C8E6FA)
• Add Button: Blue (#007ACC)
• Edit Button: Orange (#FFA500)
• Delete Button: Crimson (#DC143C)
• Budget Button: Green (#228B22)

Tips & Best Practices

1. Consistent Categories - Use the same category names for better analytics (e.g., always use "Food" instead of mixing "Food", "Groceries", "Eating")

2. Regular Updates - Add expenses daily for accurate budget tracking

3. Budget Planning - Set realistic budgets based on your income and essential expenses

4. Review Analytics - Regularly check the pie chart to identify spending patterns

5. Backup Data - Periodically backup your expenses.json and budget.json files

Troubleshooting

Issue: Application won't start

• Solution: Ensure Java is properly installed and Gson library is in the classpath

Issue: Data not saving

• Solution: Check file permissions in the application directory

Issue: Budget warning appears repeatedly

• Solution: This is intentional when balance is below ₱500. Increase budget or reduce expenses

Issue: Pie chart not displaying

• Solution: Add at least one expense to generate the chart

Future Enhancements

Potential features for future versions:

• Export data to CSV/Excel
• Monthly/yearly expense reports
• Multiple budget categories
• Recurring expense templates
• Dark mode theme
• Cloud sync capabilities
• Mobile companion app

License

This project is open-source and available for educational purposes.

Support

For issues, questions, or contributions, please open an issue in the project repository.

---

Version: 1.0
Last Updated: December 2025
Author: Teleron, Jamero, Monencillo, Ragutero

Troubleshooting Issue: Application won't start

Solution: Ensure Java is properly installed and Gson library is in the classpath

Issue: Data not saving

Solution: Check file permissions in the application directory

Issue: Budget warning appears repeatedly

Solution: This is intentional when balance is below ₱500. Increase budget or reduce expenses

Issue: Pie chart not displaying

Solution: Add at least one expense to generate the chart# Expense Tracker with Analytics

A comprehensive Java Swing-based desktop application for tracking personal expenses with visual analytics and budget management capabilities.

Features

Core Functionality

• Add, Edit, and Delete Expenses - Manage your expenses with an intuitive interface
• Expense Categorization - Organize expenses by custom categories
• Date-Based Filtering - Filter expenses by specific dates using an interactive date picker
• Persistent Storage - All data is saved automatically using JSON format
• Monthly Budget Management - Set and track your monthly spending limits

Analytics & Visualization

• Pie Chart Visualization - Visual breakdown of expenses by category with color-coded legend
• Category Totals - Automatic calculation of spending per category
• Expense Insights - Identifies your highest spending category
• Real-Time Updates - Charts update automatically as you add or modify expenses

Budget Tracking

• Budget vs. Spending - Track remaining budget in real-time
• Visual Indicators - Color-coded remaining balance (green for positive, red for overspending)
• Low Balance Warnings - Automatic alerts when remaining budget falls below ₱500
• Budget Validation - Prevents setting budgets lower than existing expenses

Requirements

Dependencies

• Java SE 8 or higher
• Gson Library (com.google.gson) - For JSON serialization/deserialization
  • Download from Maven Repository
  • Or add via Maven: com.google.code.gson:gson:2.10.1

System Requirements

• Windows, macOS, or Linux with Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
• Minimum 512 MB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1280x720 or higher recommended

Installation

1. Clone or download the project files

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd expense-tracker

2. Add Gson library to your project

   • Download the Gson JAR file
   • Add it to your project's classpath
   • If using an IDE (Eclipse/IntelliJ), add it as an external library

3. Compile the project

   javac -cp .:gson-2.10.1.jar Main.java Expense.java

4. Run the application

   java -cp .:gson-2.10.1.jar Main

Usage Guide

Setting Your Budget

1. Click the "Add Your Budget" button in the top-left section
2. Enter your monthly budget amount
3. Click "Save Budget"
4. Your budget will be displayed in the top-right corner along with remaining balance

Adding Expenses

1. Click "Add / Edit Expense" button
2. Fill in the expense details:
   • Description: What you spent on (e.g., "Grocery shopping")
   • Amount: Cost in pesos (e.g., "1500")
   • Category: Type of expense (e.g., "Food", "Transport", "Entertainment")
3. Click "Add Expense"

Editing Expenses

1. Select a row in the expense table
2. Click "Add / Edit Expense" button
3. Click "Edit Expense" in the dialog
4. Modify the details as needed
5. Click "Update Expense"

Deleting Expenses

1. Select a row in the expense table
2. Click "Add / Edit Expense" button
3. Click "Delete Expense"
4. Confirm the deletion

Filtering by Date

• Use the date picker in the top-right corner to select a specific date
• The table and pie chart will automatically update to show only expenses from that date

Viewing Analytics

• The pie chart displays automatically below the expense table
• Shows percentage breakdown of spending by category
• Includes a legend with exact amounts per category
• Displays your highest spending category

Data Storage

The application stores data locally in JSON format:

• expenses.json - Contains all expense records
• budget.json - Stores your monthly budget setting

These files are created automatically in the application's directory and persist between sessions.

Project Structure

expense-tracker/
├── Main.java           # Main application class with GUI
├── Expense.java        # Expense data model class
├── expenses.json       # Auto-generated expense data
├── budget.json         # Auto-generated budget data
└── README.md          # This file

Key Classes

Main.java

The main application class containing:

• GUI components and layout management
• Event handlers for user interactions
• Data persistence methods (save/load)
• Budget tracking logic
• PieChartPanel - Inner class for rendering the expense analytics chart

Expense.java

Data model class representing a single expense with:

• Description
• Amount
• Category
• Date

Color Scheme

• Primary Background: Light Blue (#ADD8E6)
• Panel Background: Light Blue Gradient (#C8E6FA)
• Add Button: Blue (#007ACC)
• Edit Button: Orange (#FFA500)
• Delete Button: Crimson (#DC143C)
• Budget Button: Green (#228B22)

Tips & Best Practices

1. Consistent Categories - Use the same category names for better analytics (e.g., always use "Food" instead of mixing "Food", "Groceries", "Eating")

2. Regular Updates - Add expenses daily for accurate budget tracking

3. Budget Planning - Set realistic budgets based on your income and essential expenses

4. Review Analytics - Regularly check the pie chart to identify spending patterns

5. Backup Data - Periodically backup your expenses.json and budget.json files

Troubleshooting

Issue: Application won't start

• Solution: Ensure Java is properly installed and Gson library is in the classpath

Issue: Data not saving

• Solution: Check file permissions in the application directory

Issue: Budget warning appears repeatedly

• Solution: This is intentional when balance is below ₱500. Increase budget or reduce expenses

Issue: Pie chart not displaying

• Solution: Add at least one expense to generate the chart

Future Enhancements

Potential features for future versions:

• Export data to CSV/Excel
• Monthly/yearly expense reports
• Multiple budget categories
• Recurring expense templates
• Dark mode theme
• Cloud sync capabilities
• Mobile companion app

License

This project is open-source and available for educational purposes.

Support

For issues, questions, or contributions, please open an issue in the project repository.

---

Version: 1.0
Last Updated: December 2025
Author: Expense Tracker Team