Why keep a cheshbon
The Chofetz Chaim, in Ahavas Chesed (part 2, chapter 18), writes that one should keep a ledger of income and donations — because without a cheshbon it is hard to know whether you have actually fulfilled the mitzvah.
Without tracking, it is easy to under-give without realizing it, or to accidentally spend maaser money on regular expenses.
What a maaser ledger should track
- Income, as you receive it
- Your maaser rate (10%, chomesh, or custom)
- Every donation you give
- The running balance — what you still owe
Been giving for years without tracking? Start here
You do not need to dig up old records. Enter a starting balance: the income you have earned and the donations you have already given up to today. That one-time adjustment makes your balance correct from day one, and you simply track forward from there.
The simple way: Maaser Tracker
Maaser Tracker turns this into something as easy as checking a bank balance. Import a CSV from any bank or card, confirm each transaction in one tap, and the app keeps a unified maaser balance across all your accounts — on your phone or computer, free.
Sources: Chofetz Chaim, Ahavas Chesed, part 2, ch. 18.
This page is general information, not a halachic ruling. For your own situation, ask your rav.
Import your bank or card, tap once per row, and always know your maaser balance. Free — no credit card.
Start tracking free