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Mini Project: Build a Simple Expense Tracker

Mini Project: Build a Simple Expense Tracker

Objective:
Create a Python program that allows users to track their daily expenses. This project will test your understanding of Python basics, including variables, print statements, string formatting, and file handling.

Project Requirements:

  1. Input Expenses:
    • Prompt the user to enter the name of an expense (e.g., “Groceries”) and its cost.
    • Allow the user to enter multiple expenses.
  2. Display Expenses:
    • Print a neatly formatted list of all expenses using the print function.
    • Use \t (tab character) to align the expense names and their costs.
  3. Calculate Total:
    • Calculate and display the total cost of all expenses.
  4. Save to File:
    • Save the list of expenses and the total cost to a text file named expenses.txt.
  5. Error Handling:
    • Handle invalid inputs (e.g., non-numeric values for costs) gracefully.

Example Output:

Welcome to the Expense Tracker!

Enter the name of the expense (or type 'done' to finish): Groceries Enter the cost of Groceries: 50

Enter the name of the expense (or type 'done' to finish): Rent Enter the cost of Rent: 500

Enter the name of the expense (or type 'done' to finish): Utilities Enter the cost of Utilities: 100

Enter the name of the expense (or type 'done' to finish): done

Here is your expense summary: Expense Name Cost
Groceries $50 Rent $500 Utilities $100
Total: $650

Your expenses have been saved to 'expenses.txt'.

Steps to Complete the Project:

  1. Plan the Program:
    • Identify the variables needed (e.g., expenses, total_cost).
    • Decide on the structure of the program (e.g., input loop, calculations, output).
  2. Write the Code:
    • Use a loop to collect expense data from the user.
    • Store the expenses in a list or dictionary.
    • Use string formatting to display the expenses neatly.
    • Write the data to a file using the with open() statement.
  3. Test the Program:
    • Test with different inputs, including invalid ones (e.g., entering text instead of numbers for costs).
    • Verify that the output is correct and the file is saved properly.

Bonus Challenges:

  • Add a feature to categorize expenses (e.g., “Food”, “Rent”, “Utilities”).
  • Allow the user to view expenses from a previous session by reading from the expenses.txt file.
  • Add a date and time stamp to each expense entry using the datetime module.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Practice using variables, loops, and conditionals.
  • Learn how to format output using print and escape characters.
  • Understand basic file handling in Python.
  • Develop problem-solving and debugging skills.