https://emsenn.net/tags/beancount/ Recent content in Beancount on emsenn.net Hugo en-us Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://emsenn.net/library/domains/engineering/domains/domesticity/domains/bookkeeping/texts/track-multiple-currencies/ Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://emsenn.net/library/domains/engineering/domains/domesticity/domains/bookkeeping/texts/track-multiple-currencies/ <h1 id="track-multiple-currencies">Track Multiple Currencies</h1> <ul> <li>Open accounts with the correct currency constraints.</li> <li>Record conversions using Beancount <code>@</code> or <code>@@</code> syntax with accurate cost basis.</li> <li>Add <code>price</code> directives from consistent sources to track market values.</li> <li>Reconcile foreign-currency accounts in their native currency.</li> <li>Review unrealized gains/losses in reports and understand their tax implications.</li> </ul> https://emsenn.net/library/domains/engineering/domains/domesticity/domains/bookkeeping/texts/multi-currency/ Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://emsenn.net/library/domains/engineering/domains/domesticity/domains/bookkeeping/texts/multi-currency/ <p>Multi-currency accounting tracks holdings and transactions in more than one currency. This includes foreign currencies, cryptocurrencies, and investment securities — anything denominated in a unit different from your base reporting currency.</p> <h2 id="core-concepts">Core concepts</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Operating currency</strong>: the currency you report in and think in — usually the currency of the country where you live and pay taxes.</li> <li><strong>Cost basis</strong>: the amount you paid for a holding in your operating currency at the time of acquisition. This is what matters for tax purposes.</li> <li><strong>Market value</strong>: the current value of a holding at today&rsquo;s exchange rate or price. The difference between cost basis and market value is unrealized gain or loss.</li> <li><strong>Realized gain/loss</strong>: when you sell or convert a holding, the difference between the proceeds and the cost basis becomes a realized gain or loss.</li> </ul> <h2 id="in-beancount">In Beancount</h2> <p>Beancount handles multi-currency natively. Each account is opened with a list of allowed currencies:</p> https://emsenn.net/library/domains/engineering/domains/domesticity/domains/bookkeeping/texts/use-beancount-validation/ Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://emsenn.net/library/domains/engineering/domains/domesticity/domains/bookkeeping/texts/use-beancount-validation/ <h1 id="use-beancount-validation">Use Beancount Validation</h1> <ul> <li>Run the Beancount checker on the ledger file.</li> <li>Resolve balance errors by fixing missing or mismatched postings.</li> <li>Track directives that fail validation and fix formatting issues.</li> <li>Re-run validation until the ledger is clean.</li> </ul> https://emsenn.net/library/domains/engineering/domains/domesticity/domains/bookkeeping/texts/beancount-basics/ Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://emsenn.net/library/domains/engineering/domains/domesticity/domains/bookkeeping/texts/beancount-basics/ <p>Beancount is a plain-text accounting system with a precise syntax and tooling for validation and reporting.</p> <h2 id="files-and-directives">Files and directives</h2> <ul> <li>A Beancount file holds transactions, balances, and metadata.</li> <li>Directives include <code>open</code>, <code>close</code>, <code>balance</code>, <code>pad</code>, and <code>price</code>.</li> <li>Transactions are dated and list postings that balance.</li> </ul> <h2 id="workflow">Workflow</h2> <ul> <li>Write or import transactions into a <code>.beancount</code> file.</li> <li>Run the Beancount checker to validate the ledger.</li> <li>Use reporting tools to inspect balances and activity.</li> </ul>