Ledger for seniors
Overview of AOW (state pension), pension, healthcare costs and benefits — without complicated apps. Okidoky also works fine with large text and simple categories. For anyone who wants to see at a glance how things stand.
Why track at this age?
Maybe you've kept everything on a notepad or in your head for decades. Why change now? Four reasons.
More fixed income, less predictable expenses
AOW + pension are fixed, but healthcare costs, home help, foreign vacations, gifts for grandchildren vary. An overview prevents surprises.
Own contribution healthcare can be substantial
Long-term care law, home care, day activities — own contributions can be €30-€800/mo. Keeping overview is crucial to stay financially healthy.
Clarity for partner and family
If something happens, someone else must be able to take over your finances. An organized ledger makes that 100× easier for your partner or children.
Printable reports for a financial guardian or caregiver
For tax return, applying benefits, appeal at care office: you can print an organized PDF report with one click.
What does a monthly overview look like?
A couple of 70 with AOW + small work pension + rent. Figures per 2026, indicative.
Example: couple, 2x AOW + 1 pension
Not your exact situation but a recognizable picture
| Item | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AOW (couple, gross-net) | Income | +€1,880 |
| Work pension (1 of the 2) | Income | +€1,200 |
| Rent / healthcare benefit | Income | +€120 |
| Rent / mortgage | Expense | −€850 |
| Energy (gas + electricity) | Expense | −€180 |
| Groceries for 2 | Expense | −€480 |
| Health insurance for 2 | Expense | −€310 |
| Own contribution home care | Expense | −€120 |
| Free expenses (hobby, outings, gifts) | Expense | −€420 |
| Monthly result | Surplus | +€840 |
Four common situations
Not every senior has the same finances. These four situations cover the most recognisable patterns for 65+ people in the Netherlands.
Retired couple, own home
Both AOW + pension, mortgage (partly) paid off, no children at home
Focus on maintaining standard of living. Home maintenance, big vacations, gifts to grandchildren are biggest variables.
How Okidoky helps
Clear distinction between fixed costs (relatively stable) and incidental large expenses (for which you want buffer). Annual report shows whether pension + AOW covers your lifestyle.
Cohabiting renters
Couple in rental home, AOW + small pension, rent and healthcare benefits
Less margin, benefits depend on income-complexity. One cent too much earning = less benefit.
How Okidoky helps
Precisely track which benefits come in when. At income fluctuations (pension payout once a year) directly see effect. Helps with correct application and preventing back-tax.
Single, widowed
One person, loss of partner, new financial reality
Income often doesn't halve — some fixed expenses remain. Mentally heavy moment, financially too. Plus: maybe for the first time solely responsible for admin.
How Okidoky helps
Clear overview reduces stress. 'Do I know I'm getting by?' is a real question. Okidoky gives rest through concrete numbers. Partner can look along/take over tasks during mourning.
Care-dependent, high own contribution
Home care, nursing home, day activities — WLZ with own contribution
Own contribution via CAK can rise high (€30-€800/mo). At nursing home admission: significantly different finances. Regulations complex.
How Okidoky helps
Register own contribution as fixed monthly expense. Keep all CAK letters (with receipt scan). Gives partner/children clear insight if you can no longer do it yourself.
Dutch regulations for seniors
These aren't Okidoky features, but regulations you're entitled to. Okidoky helps track them.
AOW (General Old Age Act)
Your basic pension from AOW age (67 years 3 months in 2026, climbing). Single ~€1,450/mo, cohabitant ~€940/person (2026, gross). Net differs per fiscal situation.
Rent and healthcare benefits
At low income (AOW-plus-small-pension often qualifies). Rent benefit up to ~€400/mo, healthcare benefit ~€100/mo. Apply at toeslagen.nl. Not automatic — you must apply.
Own contribution healthcare (CAK)
For Wlz care (home or nursing home) or Wmo (municipality). Calculated based on income + assets. Can be €30 to €800+/mo. Okidoky registers this as monthly expense.
Elderly tax credit
Fiscal credit from AOW age. At lower incomes ~€1,800/year, at higher incomes less. Automatically applied at filing — you do nothing yourself, just be aware.
Municipality tax remission
Municipal taxes (OZB, water board, waste) can be remitted at low income. Apply at your municipality — not automatic.
This list is not exhaustive. For complete info: consult svb.nl, belastingdienst.nl or your municipality. Senior associations (KBO-PCOB, ANBO) also give free advice.
Why Okidoky works for seniors
We specifically thought about what works for users who don't want to fuss with complicated settings.
Larger text & clear contrasts
You can enlarge text size via browser or Windows/Mac settings — and the app works with it. Good color contrasts for readability.
Simple categories
Default 8 broad categories that make sense (housing, groceries, care, leisure, etc.). You can make more but don't have to. Start simple.
Printable reports
Monthly overview, year overview: one click to a clear PDF. Handy for a caregiver, financial guardian, or just for the kitchen table.
Recurring items (AOW, rent, healthcare)
Enter once that AOW comes in every 24th and rent goes out 1st. Then Okidoky does it automatically. No more manual work.
Help with digital thresholds
We know not everyone is used to apps. That's why extra attention: our interface is deliberately calm and simple, and we have support for first steps.
Do you have a partner, child or grandchild who can watch along? That's often the best guidance. Otherwise we're also ready with patient email explanations.
Ask family along
First time setting up together often works best. 30 minutes with a grandchild 'good with computers' prevents much frustration.
Email with patience
Send your question to support@okidoky.nl. Extensive answers, no jargon, as long as you need.
Senior association help
KBO-PCOB, ANBO and some municipalities have free digital-help week or 1-on-1 support for elderly with apps.
When Okidoky does NOT fit
Being honest: for some situations another solution is better.
- Asset management at large wealth — Okidoky is ledger, not wealth planner. With >€500k in investments/real estate a financial advisor or specific software (Grip Investment, etc.) is better.
- Gifting and estate planning — Gifting to children, setting up estate constructions — that requires notarial help. We register payments, we don't give estate advice.
- Complete digital absence — If you have no computer or tablet and don't want one, our digital app can't work. A paper ledger (HEMA, Bruna) is then better than nothing.
These aren't weaknesses — they are boundaries. Recognize what you do and don't need.
Frequently asked senior questions
Is Okidoky free for AOW recipients?
The basic plan is free for everyone (no age limit). You can use all core features: keep ledger, categories, make reports, export to PDF. For sharing with your partner (1 extra user) it's Premium €1.50/mo or Lifetime €25 one-off. For most seniors the basic plan is sufficient.
How secure is my financial data?
Your data is stored on our server at IONOS in Germany, inside the EU. Okidoky does not connect to your bank and never asks for your bank login. If you want to bring in transactions, you download a CSV file from your bank yourself and import it. Rather not? Then you enter everything manually, by typing or scanning a receipt.
Do I need a smartphone?
No. Okidoky also works fine in the browser on PC or laptop. Scanning receipts is handier on phone, but you can also manually type everything. If you do have a smartphone: the app can read receipts automatically (OCR). That saves a lot of typing. But not required.
What if I can no longer track?
Two answers: 1. **Temporarily**: partner or family can take over/look in via a Premium invite. Without taking over your personal account. 2. **Permanently**: in settings you can have your account managed by someone else (if you give them access). Original data stays, you don't have to do it yourself anymore. Your data can always be exported as PDF. That way a caregiver or financial guardian can take it over if needed.
Does this work with poor sight or motor problems?
Partly. The app is built with good contrasts and clear buttons, but isn't yet fully screen-reader optimized. For poor sight: use browser zoom (Ctrl + '+') — works well up to 150%. For motor: voice input via phone can suggest transactions if typing is hard. For severe limitations: let someone else keep your ledger — technology shouldn't be a barrier.
Peace through overview
Not an abstract argument — concrete relief. Know what comes in, what goes out, and what remains. Free to begin.