re: your "system" for tracking your budget

Yeah. I just update them from my phone when I have some downtime. It takes probably 10 minutes a month.

I can't imagine excel working better than mint unless your bank isn't compatible with mint, in which case, you should probably get a new bank. I actually like u categorized expenses because it makes them easier to find and categorize. If they are recurring you can just set a rule or change them until the program learns what it is.