Tracking Big Life Expenses: How to Use Projects for Renovations and Weddings

Big life events come with big price tags. A kitchen renovation can easily run $30,000 to $50,000. The average Canadian wedding costs around $30,000. Without a clear tracking system, these expenses can spiral out of control before you realize it.

That's where WIMD Projects come in. Instead of trying to mentally track every contractor payment or vendor deposit, you can create dedicated spaces for each major expense and watch your spending in real-time.

Setting Up a Renovation Project

Let's say you're planning a bathroom renovation with a budget of $15,000. Here's how to set it up:

1. Create the Project – Go to Projects → New Project. Name it something specific like "Bathroom Renovation 2026" rather than just "Reno."
2. Set your budget – Enter your total budget as the target amount. Be realistic—include a 10-15% buffer for unexpected costs.
3. Add a deadline – If your contractor has a completion date, add it. This helps you see if spending is front-loaded or spread evenly.

Categorizing Renovation Expenses

Renovation costs come from many places: the hardware store, your contractor, appliance retailers, permit fees. Here's how to capture them all:

• Set up a transaction rule – If you always pay your contractor via e-transfer with the same memo, create a rule to automatically tag those transactions to your renovation project.
• Manually link one-off purchases – That faucet from Home Depot or tiles from a specialty shop can be linked to the project with one tap.
• Don't forget the small stuff – Paint brushes, cleaning supplies, and drop cloths add up. Link them too.

Tracking Wedding Expenses

Weddings are complex beasts. You're paying deposits months in advance, dealing with multiple vendors, and often splitting costs with family members. Projects make this manageable.

Breaking Down Wedding Costs

Consider creating multiple projects for different aspects of your wedding:

• Venue & Catering – Usually the biggest chunk (40-50% of budget)
• Photography & Video – Deposits often required 6-12 months out
• Attire & Beauty – Dress, suit, alterations, hair, makeup
• Flowers & Decor – Florals, rentals, signage
• Music & Entertainment – DJ, band, photo booth

Or keep it simple with one "Wedding" project and use categories to track the breakdown. Either approach works—choose what makes sense for how you think about your spending.

Handling Deposits and Final Payments

Wedding vendors typically want a 50% deposit upfront and the balance closer to the date. When you pay a $2,000 deposit to your photographer in March for a September wedding, link it to your project immediately. Six months later when you pay the remaining $2,000, you'll have a complete picture of what you've spent.

Why This Matters

Without tracking, it's easy to convince yourself you're "on budget" when you're actually 30% over. By the time you realize it, you're committed.

With Projects, you see your true position at any moment. If you're at 50% of budget but only 30% through your wedding planning, you know it's time to make adjustments. Maybe you skip the upgraded linens or negotiate a better deal with the florist.

Tips for Success

1. Link transactions immediately – Don't let them pile up. It takes 2 seconds when you do it right away, and 20 minutes when you have to remember what that $847 charge was for.
2. Review weekly – Glance at your project progress once a week. Catching a problem early gives you options.
3. Include everything – That Uber to the venue walkthrough? The thank-you card stamps? They count. Small expenses add up to big surprises.
4. Celebrate milestones – When you hit 25%, 50%, 75% completion, take a moment to appreciate your progress. You're doing this.

Get Started

Whether you're mid-renovation or just starting to plan your wedding, it's never too late to get organized. Create your first Project today and start linking those expenses. Future you will be grateful.