<title>Learn about creating accurate reports and charts</title>
<category>report</category>
<klink type="prcdr">Tell me about creating accurate reports and charts</klink>
</index>
<content>
<p>Money's reports and charts show you where your money is coming from and where it's being spent. They are only as accurate, however, as the information in your accounts. To have the most meaningful reports and charts, include the correct amount, payee, and category for each transaction as you enter it into Money.</p>
<ul>
<li><emph>Amount: How much are you making and spending?</emph> Enter the amount of each check, fee, deposit, and other transaction.</li>
<li><emph>Payee: Where are you making or spending it?</emph> Money can report how much money you've given to each person or business. Use consistent spelling so that each payment is recorded for the correct recipient. To make it easier, when you begin typing a payee name you've used before, Money uses the AutoComplete feature to automatically display the full name in the field so you don't have to type it all.</li>
<li><emph>Category: What are you spending it on?</emph> Enter a category (and subcategory if applicable) to each transaction to identify your income sources and expenditures. You can see how much you're spending on food versus clothing, for example, or how your spending on dining out has changed over a period of time.</li>
</ul>
<p>You can use subcategories with categories to help track income and expenses. For example, in the Automobile category you can use subcategories to track expenses such as gasoline, maintenance, and car payments. As with payee names, Money uses the AutoComplete feature to fill in category and subcategory names when you begin typing them.</p>
