Home Expense Tracker & 5-Year Cost Forecast

What you track and what we forecast

Historical spending plus a forward-looking view of what's coming.

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Expense tracking (Free)

All plans

✓Expense description

✓Amount

✓Category

✓Date

✓Vendor or contractor

✓Receipt or invoice attachment

✓Notes

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5-year cost forecast (Plus)

Plus & Pro

✓Projected HVAC replacement cost & year

✓Water heater replacement timeline

✓Appliance end-of-life estimates

✓Roof replacement projection

✓Total 5-year cost estimate

✓Month-by-month forecast chart

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Spending analytics (Free)

All plans

✓Total spend all-time

✓Spend by year

✓Spend by category

✓Spend by contractor

✓Cost vs. home value ratio

✓Year-over-year comparison

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Utility bills (Free)

All plans

✓Electric, gas, water, internet and trash

✓Usage in kWh, therms, gallons or CCF

✓Six-month average and spike alerts

✓Rolled into your yearly and all-time spend

How the 5-year forecast works

Based on your actual appliances, not generic estimates.

Track your appliances

Add your HVAC system, water heater, appliances, and roof to Steadwell with their installation dates.

We calculate remaining life

Using industry average lifespans, we calculate how many years each system has left based on when it was installed.

Forecast replacement costs

We apply current industry replacement cost data to project when each system will need replacing and what it will cost.

Plan your budget

See a year-by-year breakdown of projected expenses so you can start saving before the HVAC gives out.

How to track what your home really costs

Most owners know their mortgage payment and guess at everything else.

What counts as a home expense

Repairs, maintenance, improvements, appliance purchases, insurance, property tax and utility bills all belong in one place. For each one, log the description, amount, category, date, vendor and a copy of the receipt or invoice.

Utility bills tracked in Steadwell roll into the same yearly and all-time totals under a Utilities category.

How much to set aside for maintenance

A common rule of thumb is to budget somewhere between 1% and 4% of your home's value each year for upkeep and repairs, with older homes at the higher end. It is only a starting point.

Steadwell shows your real spend by year, category and contractor, and compares it with your home's value, so you can replace the rule of thumb with your own numbers.

Looking ahead with the 5-year forecast

Past spending tells you what happened. The forecast, included with Plus and Pro, looks at the age of your HVAC system, water heater, appliances and roof and estimates when each may need replacing and what it may cost, using industry average lifespans and replacement costs.

It is a planning guide rather than a quote. Actual costs vary by region, brand and contractor.

Steadwell compared with a spreadsheet

A spreadsheet is a fine start. This is what it does not do.

Steadwell compared with a spreadsheet
Feature	Spreadsheet	Steadwell
Entering expenses	Type every row yourself.	Forward a receipt or scan it, then review.
Receipts	Saved somewhere else.	Attached to the expense.
Analytics	Build your own pivot tables.	Spend by year, category and contractor, built in.
What is coming	Guesswork.	5-year forecast from your appliance ages (Plus and Pro).
Utilities	A separate sheet.	Bills roll into the same totals, with spike alerts.

Common questions

Is expense tracking free?

Yes, expense tracking and spending analytics are free on all plans. The 5-year cost forecast requires Plus or Pro.

How accurate is the cost forecast?

The forecast uses industry average replacement costs and lifespans. Actual costs vary by region, brand, and contractor — use it as a planning guide, not a guarantee.

Can I log expenses automatically?

Yes — forward any invoice or receipt to your Steadwell capture address and it is logged as an expense automatically.

Can I export my expense data?

Yes — Steadwell includes a data export feature on all plans.

Are utility bills included?

Yes. Electric, gas, water, internet and trash bills are tracked on the utility and bill tracker page and count toward your yearly and all-time home spend under a Utilities category.

How much should I budget for home maintenance each year?

A common rule of thumb is 1% to 4% of the home's value per year, with older homes toward the higher end. Steadwell shows your actual spending by year, category and contractor so you can replace the rule of thumb with your own numbers.

Can I attach receipts to an expense?

Yes. Attach a receipt or invoice to any expense, or forward it to your Steadwell capture address.