[GNC] Another "multi-account" logical issue - any advice on how to register this?

[Stan Brown (using GC 4.14)]

On 2024-09-30 09:47, Boniforti Flavio wrote:
> PURCHASE =
> Increase "Assets:Material:Item #1" of 300.
> Increase "Assets:Material:Item #1:Shipping" of 10.
> Decrease "Checking account" by 300.
> Decrease "Checking account" by 10.
> As I also have an account for "Postage expenses", how would I have to
> register the 10 bucks I spent for shipping, so that it also accounts
> towards the postage expenses in general?
> 
> SALE =
> Increase "Checking account" by 320.
> Decrease "Assets:Material:Item #1:Shipping" by 10.
> Decrease "Assets:Material:Item #1" by 300.
> Increase "Sales Surplus" by 10.

I would absolutely record shipping as an expense, not an asset. The
asset has value after you receive it; the shipping is "used up" the
moment the package arrives. Only things that still have value should be
listed in Assets.

You realized there was something wrong with treating it as an asset,
when you recognized that nothing had been recorded in Expenses:Postage.

Standard disclaimer: this is not professional accounting advice and I a
not an accountant. If this were a business rather than your personal
books you should consider consulting a professional.

Stan Brown
Tehachapi, CA, USA
https://BrownMath.com