How to Track Daily Expenses?

When traveling in China, managing your budget is key to ensuring a smooth trip. Below are several efficient methods to track your expenses:

1. Manual Recording Method

• Carry a Notebook for Accounting: Prepare a small notebook to record every expense in real-time (such as meals, transportation, admission tickets, etc.).
• Categorize Expenses: It’s recommended to divide expenses by category (e.g., "Accommodation," "Meals," "Transportation") and mark the date and location.
• Keep Receipts: Most merchants in China provide either paper or electronic receipts (especially hotels, scenic spots, and chain restaurants), which can be useful for later verification.

2. Use Mobile Payment Bills

• Automatic Accounting via Alipay/WeChat Pay:
  More than 90% of consumption scenarios in China support Alipay or WeChat Pay. After binding an international credit card, each transaction will automatically generate a bill that can be viewed and categorized within the app (Path: Alipay “Me-Bills” / WeChat “Services-Wallet-Bills”).
• Export Electronic Bills: You can export monthly expense details in Excel/PDF format for easy organization and analysis.

3. Use Budget Management Applications

The following internationally recognized apps are also well-suited for tracking expenses while traveling in China:

Recommended Budget Apps

Tools Commonly Used by International Travelers

1. Tripcoin
2. Features: Designed specifically for travel, it supports automatic conversion of multiple currencies (ideal for using both RMB and other currencies).
3. Functions: Offline accounting, category tags, real-time exchange rate updates.

4. Compatibility: No Chinese phone number required.

5. Trail Wallet

6. Features: Simple interface that allows setting daily budgets and sends reminders when overspending occurs.

7. Functions: Customizable categories, multi-trip management, data visualization charts.

8. Splitwise

9. Applicable Scenario: Ideal for group travel where costs need to be split (e.g., AA system for meal fees or shared car rentals).
10. Advantages: Automatically calculates how much each person owes, reducing manual calculations.

China Localized Tools

1. Alipay/WeChat Pay
2. Built-in Features:
   • Alipay “Accounting Book”: Automatically synchronizes spending data and provides monthly expenditure analysis.
   • WeChat “Accounting Book”: Accessible through the official account “WeChat Accounting Book,” allowing manual entry of cash expenses.

3. Language Support: Can switch to English interface (Alipay settings path: Me-Settings-General-Language).

4. Shark Accountant

5. Features: A popular Chinese accounting app with simple operations and consumption trend graphs.

6. Compatibility: Needs to be downloaded from Chinese app stores (such as Huawei App Market, Xiaomi Store) but supports manual input of multiple currencies.

7. Random Notes (SuiShou Ji)

8. Functions: Template-based accounting (e.g., “Travel Template”), supports uploading photos of receipts.
9. Language: Only Chinese interface, but icons are clear and easy to understand.

Notes to Consider

1. Mobile Payment Binding:

2. Foreign tourists can bind VISA/Mastercard credit cards through Alipay’s “Tour Pass” or WeChat’s “Foreign Card Service.” Some small transactions may incur a 3% handling fee.

3. Cash Reserve:

4. Although mobile payments are widespread, it is still recommended to carry a small amount of cash (approximately 500-1000 RMB per person) for use at street vendors or in remote areas.

5. Currency Exchange:

6. You can exchange currency at airports, banks (such as Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China), or hotels. The exchange rate is based on the day of the transaction.

7. Language Issues:

8. If using local Chinese apps, you can use mobile screenshot translation functions (such as Google Lens) to assist with operations.