Kharcha Expense Tracker

An expense tracking app offers a convenient solution for individuals who struggle with manual spending tracking and budgeting. It automates expense tracking, provides spending insights, and facilitates budget adherence, helping users avoid overspending and achieve their financial goals.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Features
• System Requirements
  • Hardware Requirements
  • Software Requirements
• Installation
• Usage
• Contributing

Introduction

Kharcha: The Expense Tracker is a simple yet effective application designed to help users manage their expenses efficiently. By automating the tracking of expenses, providing insights into spending habits, and assisting with budget management, this application helps users avoid overspending and reach their financial goals.

Features

• Automated Expense Tracking: Automatically record and categorize expenses.
• Spending Insights: Gain insights into spending patterns and habits.
• Budget Management: Set budgets and track adherence to financial goals.
• User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
• Database Integration: Utilizes MySQL for efficient data storage and retrieval.

System Requirements

Hardware Requirements

• RAM: 1 GB or more
• Storage: 100 MB or more
• Internet Connection: Required

Software Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 7 and above
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
• NetBeans IDE Version 15

Installation

To set up and run the Java-Based Expense Tracker, follow these steps:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/expense-tracker.git
   cd expense-tracker

2. Set up the MySQL database:

   -Install MySQL Server and MySQL Workbench. -Create a new database named expense_tracker. -Import the provided expense_tracker.sql file to set up the required tables.

3. Configure the database connection:

   -Open the project in NetBeans IDE. -Locate the database configuration file (e.g., dbconfig.properties). -Update the database URL, username, and password to match your MySQL setup.

4. Build and run the project:

   -Open NetBeans IDE and load the project. -Build the project using the "Build" option. -Run the project using the "Run" option.

Usage

Once the application is running, you can start tracking your expenses by following these steps:

1. Add a new expense:

   Navigate to the "Add Expense" section. Enter the details of the expense (e.g., amount, category, date). Save the expense.

2. View spending insights:

   Navigate to the "Insights" section. View graphical representations of your spending patterns.

3. Manage your budget:

   Navigate to the "Budget" section. Set your monthly budget and track your spending against it.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please open an issue or submit a pull request for any changes or enhancements.