Help with GnuCash! Why is there a “Rebate” column in the Expense account on GnuCash?

[David Carlson]

On 10/16/2012 5:15 PM, David T. wrote:
> Robby--
>
> Please keep this on the list.
>
> The whole point of Gnucash being "double-entry" is that you HAVE to have your money come from one place and go somewhere else. 
>
> Take this example: you purchase a ream of paper for five dollars cash. The transaction would have:
>
> Expenses:Supplies  -$5
> Assets:Cash in Wallet:   -$5
>
> In other words, you take money from your wallet and exchange it for a ream of paper. [Presumably, you got the cash into your wallet by withdrawing from your checking account, and the money in the checking account got there from your paycheck, which is listed as income]
>
> To get an accounting of a particular expenses, you can create reports based on the specific account, covering a particular time frame.
>
> You really should read more background on basic accounting, as well as the Gnucash Tutorial.
>
>
> HTH,
> David
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Robby Burns <robbyburns2010 at gmail.com>
> To: David T. <sunfish62 at yahoo.com> 
> Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 4:23 AM
> Subject: Re: Help with GnuCash! Why is there a “Rebate” column in the Expense account on GnuCash?
>  
>
> Hi, David,
>
> Okay...I understand what it is doing...now how can I stop it from doing that in this case?
>
> I just want to add up all the expenses in different categories. I don't need to "balance" out the payments with a "rebate" from somewhere else.  Is it possible to change the "headers" on the columns?
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 9:33 PM, David T. <sunfish62 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Robby:
>> Try looking at http://gnucash.org/docs/v2.4/C/gnucash-guide/basics-accounting1.html
>>
>> You're seeing Gnucash enforcing the concept of Double-Entry bookkeeping. Money flows from one account to another.
>>
>> HTH,
>> David
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Yawar Amin <yawar.amin at gmail.com>
>> To: Robby Burns <robbyburns2010 at gmail.com> 
>> Cc: "gnucash-user at gnucash.org" <gnucash-user at gnucash.org> 
>> Sent: Monday, October 15, 2012 5:47 PM
>> Subject: Re: Help with GnuCash! Why is there a “Rebate” column in the Expense account on GnuCash?
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am forwarding your email to the GnuCash users mailing list, which is a
>> public discussion forum where everyone can benefit from sharing
>> questions and answers. To participate in the mailing list, click the
>> ‘Reply All’ button in your email program whenever you get an email from
>> someone in the list.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Yawar
>>
>> On 2012-10-15 09:47, Robby Burns wrote:
>>> I am trying to set up an account where I can track my small business
>>> expenses.
>>>
>>>   
>>>
>>> Whenever I enter a line item, and put the amount I spent under the
>>> “Expense” column, the program creates a duplicate line item right
>>> underneath my entry, but it enters the same amount under a
>  column
>>> named “Rebate.”
>>>
>>>   
>>>
>>> I do not want a Rebate. I just want to keep a running total of all the
>>> Expenses, with the ability to subdivide the expenses into sub-accounts.
>>>
>>>   
>>>
>>> Hw do I get rid of the “Rebate” column?
>>>
>>>
>>> I cannot find the answer in the manual.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks for your help.
>>>
>>
Perhaps the word "Rebate" is the problem here.  In a simple scenario one
would go to a store and pay cash for, say some groceries and some other
items.  The "Rebate" would actually be the cash payment from your
"Wallet" asset account. 
It is customary for most of us to work in the "Wallet" or asset register
and enter expenditures from there.  If we later want to see all of our
expenditures on "Groceries" we can open the Expense:Groceries account
and find it all right there, albeit with that irritating word "Rebate" 
If we choose the basic ledger or single line view the "Rebates" are
pretty much hidden from view.

David C
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