Personal Book Keeper for Household?

Exploring the Option of Hiring a Personal Bookkeeper for Household Finances

Is Hiring a Personal Bookkeeper Possible?

As busy professionals with three children, managing household finances can often become overwhelming. We’re finding it increasingly challenging to keep track of our expenses, especially with multiple family members having access to funds through platforms like Apple Pay and gas cards.

Our Financial Management Goal

Our aim is to employ a bookkeeper on a monthly basis to help us categorize discretionary versus non-discretionary transactions and better understand key expense and income streams.

Seeking Solutions

Is this a service that can be outsourced, or should we be focusing on enhancing our banking app’s automation features? We typically handle around 500 transactions each month, so efficient management is crucial.

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  1. Certainly! Balancing a hectic professional and personal life can be overwhelming, and hiring a personal bookkeeper can be a great solution for managing your household finances effectively. Here’s a detailed guide on how you can potentially hire a personal bookkeeper or leverage technology to meet your needs:

    Hiring a Personal Bookkeeper

    1. Determine the Scope of Work:
    2. Classify transactions as discretionary and non-discretionary.
    3. Analyze key categories of expenses and income streams, such as groceries, utilities, kids’ expenses, salary, investments, etc.
    4. Provide monthly financial reports or insights.

    5. Finding the Right Bookkeeper:

    6. Use professional networking sites like LinkedIn or platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to find experienced bookkeepers.
    7. Consider local Accounting firms that offer Bookkeeping services.
    8. Ask for recommendations from friends or colleagues who might have employed similar services.

    9. Interview Potential Candidates:

    10. Verify their experience with personal finances.
    11. Discuss their familiarity with tools like QuickBooks, Xero, or other financial software.
    12. Ensure they understand financial privacy and confidentiality.

    13. Consider Credentials:

    14. Look for candidates with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Bookkeeper (CB) or similar credentials.
    15. Check references and past client reviews if available.

    16. Set up an Agreement:

    17. Establish a clear and concise contract outlining responsibilities, fees, payment schedules, and confidentiality agreements.
    18. Decide on working arrangements – whether in-person meetings once a month, virtual check-ins, or asynchronous updates.

    Leveraging Financial Technology

    1. Banking and Budgeting Apps:
    2. Mint or YNAB (You Need a Budget): Both apps can automatically categorize transactions, set budgets, and provide insight into spending patterns.
    3. Personal Capital: Offers comprehensive financial planning tools, including expense tracking, investment analysis, and more.

    4. Accounting Software:

    5. Quicken: A popular software for managing personal finances that allows categorization of expenses, tracking bills, and generating reports.
    6. QuickBooks Self-Employed: While more tailored for freelancers, it can be adapted for household finances if you want automated categorization and easy integration with your bank accounts.

    7. Credit Card and Bank Features:

    8. Many banking apps now feature built-in budgeting or spend-tracking tools that automatically categorize expenses.
    9. Enable transaction alerts to

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