People and accounts

Each commitment can name one person it is for and one account it is paid from. Commitments can be filtered by both.

People

A person is anyone a commitment is for: family, household help, a landlord, a tenant or a vendor. An optional relationship gives their role, such as Family, Cook or Landlord.

Each person has a card with their commitments, charges and accounts, and their next payment. Add Commitment opens the form with that person chosen. Show All lists their commitments. Unassigned holds commitments that name no one.

A person is a name in your records, not a sign-in. They don't need a longbook account.

Accounts

An account is what pays a commitment: a bank account, a credit or debit card, UPI, a wallet or cash. Each account has one Owner (a person) or Shared.

Each account card shows its balance and date, its owner, the account it is linked to, and its next commitment with the total for the next 12 months. A card links to the bank account that pays it. Totals are per currency and count spending only.

longbook never stores a full card number. An account keeps at most the last four digits. The name printed on a card goes in the account's notes.

Questions

What happens if I delete a person or an account?

Their commitments stay, without that person or account. longbook tells you how many are affected before you delete.

Does longbook connect to my bank?

No. Balances change only when you, a statement or your AI record one.

Can a statement add people and accounts?

Yes. The import offers the people it names and files each line under the account the statement is from. A closing balance on the statement updates that account.