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Consumer Expenditure Online Diary

User Guide

April 2024 

CE-818

Log in to your Consumer Expenditure (CE) online diary by using the 

link, <https://respond.census.gov/diary>, or scanning the QR code.

Username and Password

Logging in to the diary requires a unique and secure username and password that is assigned to each 

household. For security reasons, your password is provided separately by your field representative.

 Respondent Name: ___________________________________________________

 Username: __________________________________________________________ 

 Start Date: _______________________

 End Date: _______________________

Forgot your password?

Forgot your username?

Login

Username

Password

Login

Note: Access the CE Diary quickly by scanning the QR code at the top of the page. You can also review the instructions on the back of 

this user guide for how to create a shortcut.

Help Tools: The online diary has a help menu that contains information on general instructions, how to fill out your

diary, diary examples, frequently asked questions, and definitions. To access the desktop version, click on the “Help” link 

on the right of the screen. In the mobile version, the “Help” link will appear after you click on “Menu”, which appears as 

three bars on the top right of the screen.

Questions?

Field representative’s name: ______________________________________ Telephone: ____________________________

Help Desk: Call and leave a message at (877) 744-1522 or email us at <census.ce.helpdesk@census.gov>. We will respond 

during normal business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday.
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What Should I Enter in the CE Diary?

Complete the CE Diary for both weeks. Enter EVERYTHING you and your household members spend money on each day 

(review exceptions below)—the products you buy, the services you use, and the household expenses you have during the 

week—regardless of how large or small they are. Do NOT use abbreviations for any item descriptions. 

 The only items you should not include in your diary are:

 • Expenses while you were away from home overnight.

 • Business or farm operating expenses.

 • Sales tax, except for meals, snacks, and drinks away from home.

Start Date and E-mail Address

When you first log in, you will select your scheduled start date listed on the front of this user guide. 

Select the date you are scheduled to begin entering expenses into your CE Diary:

E-mail address (optional):

We will not share your e-mail address with any third parties. We ask for your e-mail address only to send reminders regarding your participation in this survey.

MM/DD/YY

E-mail address

Continue

Username and Password

To change your username or password, click on the “User Settings” button in the top-right section of the desktop version. You will be required to enter your email address and select and answer a security question.

In the mobile version, the “User Settings” option can be accessed by clicking on the menu that appears as three bars in 

the top-right corner of the screen.

No Expenses

If you had no expenses during your diary week, log in to the diary on or after the last day of your diary week and you will 

find the following checkbox. Check the box to confirm that you had no expenses during the week.

You haven’t entered any expenses for Week 1 – Feb 02 to Feb 08. If you had no 

expenses during this week, check here:

Logout

To protect your privacy, the CE Diary will automatically log you out if there is no activity for more than 15 minutes. You 

can also log out at any time by clicking on the “Logout” button.

To prevent losing data you have entered, remember to save your entries after recording each purchase.
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Entering Expenses

Below are examples of your home screen where you will be able to view a summary of your entered expenses and add 

new expenses. Please refer to page 4 for more detailed instructions on how to add an expense.

Desktop Version

To add an expense, you will enter information by first 

selecting the appropriate week and then the date of 

the expense on the left side of the screen.

Mobile Version

To add an expense, tap on the “Add Item” icon 

on the bottom right of the summary screen. An 

expense entry screen will appear allowing you to 

add a new expense.

(mobile summary screen) (mobile expense entry screen)

View, Edit, or Delete an Expense

To help you find a particular entry, you can enter a search term in the search box on the top right of your desktop 

version. In the mobile version, tap on the “Search” icon on the bottom left of the summary screen. You can view your 

expenses by selecting Week 1 or Week 2 and clicking on a specific date to expand the selection and view the expenses 

entered for that date.

Desktop Version

To delete an expense, click on the trash can icon to 

the right of the expense. To view or edit an 

expense, click on the pencil icon to the far right of 

the expense. In the left entry space, you will be able 

to make any changes and select “Save” or “Back” to 

cancel or “Delete” your entry.

Mobile Version

To delete an expense, click on the trash can icon 

to the right of the expense. To view or edit an 

expense, click on the pencil icon to the far right 

of the expense. When you click on edit, you will be 

taken to the expense entry screen where you will 

be able to make any changes and select “Save” or 

“Back” to cancel or “Delete” your entry.
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Adding Expenses to Your CE Diary

The expense entry screen on the mobile version is on a separate screen, but the entry fields are the same.

Select the date the 

purchase was made.

Enter the name of 

the business. 

Select the category.

To cancel and return 

to your home screen, 

select “Back.” Select the diary week (1 or 2).

Category Specific Questions

After you select a category, additional questions specific to that category will appear for you to complete.

Meals, Snacks, and 

Drinks Away From 

Home

• Enter the total cost

 (include tax, tip, and 

 fees).

• Select restaurant or 

vendor type. 

• Indicate if alcohol was 

included and the cost 

of alcohol, if applicable.

• Click the “Save” button 

to save your expense 

entry.

Food and Drinks for 

Home Consumption

• Describe the item or

 expense.

• Enter the cost of each 

item (do not include 

tax).

• Select the type of 

 packaging.

• Click the “Save” button 

to save your expense 

entry.

Clothing, Shoes, 

Jewelry, and 

Accessories

• Describe the item or

 expense.

• Enter the cost

 (do not include tax).

• Select the gender

 and age.

• Click the “Save” button 

to save your expense 

entry.

All Other Products, 

Services, and 

Expenses

• Describe the item or

 expense.

• Enter the cost

 (do not include tax).

• Click the “Save” button 

to save your expense 

entry.
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Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From Home vs. All Other Categories

The “Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From Home” category is different from the other categories. Below are examples 

with entries in the mobile version. 

Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From Home

Enter the entire meal/purchase as one entry and enter the total cost of the meal including tax, tip, and fees. Include any 

delivery fees in the total cost.

All Other Categories

Enter each item purchased as a separate entry and enter the cost of the item without tax.
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Adding a CE Diary Shortcut

This will make it easier to access your diary each day as you are entering expenses. Although web browsers 

vary across brands and versions, the steps for creating a shortcut are usually similar.

Adding a CE Diary Shortcut to Your Computer Desktop Screen

1. Open the web browser and enter the URL: 

<https://respond.census.gov/diary>

2. Once you have opened the website, hold down “ctrl” and “s” on the 

keyboard at the same time.

3. A new window will pop up. The default file name will be “CE Diary.”

4. Make sure “Desktop” is selected as the save location and then click on “Save.”

5. When you close the browser and return to your desktop, you will find an icon 

for the shortcut labeled “CE Diary.” To quickly access your CE Diary in the 

future, simply double click on this shortcut.

Have a QR code reader?

Access the CE Diary

quickly by scanning this 

QR code:

Android Smartphones

1. Open your internet browser.

2. Enter the website address for the CE 

Diary: 

<https://respond.census.gov/diary>

3. Once the website opens, tap on the 

menu icon at the top right of the 

screen:

•

• 

• 

4. A number of options will appear. Tap 

on “Add to Home Screen.” The screen 

below will pop up. Tap on “Add.”

5. When you close the browser and return 

to your home screen, you will find an 

icon labeled “CE Diary.” To quickly 

access your CE Diary in the future, 

simply tap on this shortcut.

CE Diary

iPhone

1. Open your internet browser.

2. Enter the website address for the CE 

Diary: 

<https://respond.census.gov/diary>

3. Once the website opens, tap on the 

share icon at the bottom of the screen:

4. A number of options will appear. 

Scroll to the right in the bottom row 

of options and tap on “Add to Home 

Screen.” The screen below will pop up. 

Tap on “Add.”

5. When you close the browser and return 

to your home screen, you will find an 

icon labeled “CE Diary.” To quickly 

access your CE Diary in the future, 

simply tap on this shortcut.
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The people on your list:

Record the purchases and expenses made by ALL of these people.

Keep your records in this pocket.

(These records are only for your reference. We will not keep them.)

• Receipts

• Bills

• Pay stubs

• Bank statements

• Catalog/internet purchases

• Credit card statements
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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How should I record multiple quantities?

You may group identical items on the same line and enter 

a total cost of all the items, or you may write each item on 

a separate line with the individual cost.

2. How should I record prepayments such as a 

subway fare card?

Record the expense when you pay for it, not when you 

use it.

3. How should I record credit card purchases?

Record the purchase on the day that you use your credit 

card to pay for it, not on the day you receive or pay your 

credit card bill.

4. Should I record automatic deductions taken from 

my paycheck or bank account?

Yes, record automatic deductions (such as health 

insurance premiums taken out of your account or 

paycheck) only if they are deducted that week. 

5. Should I record typical monthly bills?

Yes, record typical monthly bills only if you pay them 

during the week that you have the diary. Write them in the 

section called All Other Products, Services, and Expenses.

6. What should I do when I use coupons, discount 

cards, or loyalty cards?

Subtract the discount from the original price and write the 

amount that you paid.

7. Can I just give you receipts instead of entering 

the information?

We need you to enter the information in the diary. We 

encourage you to save your receipts to review them with 

your field representative at the end of the week. You can 

use the pocket on the inside of this user guide to store 

your receipts until you’re ready to record your purchases.

8. How should I record an item if I don’t know if it 

includes tax?

Enter the amount paid.

9. What if I make a contribution or charitable 

donation?

Record money contributions or donations in the 

section called All Other Products, Services, and 

Expenses.

10. What about gift cards and gift certificates?

If you buy a gift card or gift certificate to give to someone, 

enter the cost of it in All Other Products, Services, and 

Expenses. If you use a gift card, enter the full amount for 

your purchase as if paid with cash.

11. What do I do about returns and exchanges?

If an item is bought and returned during the diary week, 

delete the entry. If it was bought outside the week and 

returned during the week, do not make an entry. If an item 

is exchanged during the week, delete the entry for the 

item that was returned and enter the new item on the day 

the exchange was made.

12. How do I categorize the establishment for 

“Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From Home?”

Fast Food, Take-Out, Delivery, Concession

You pay BEFORE you eat/drink.

Full Service Places 

You pay AFTER you eat/drink, if you eat/drink at the 

establishment.

Vending Machines or Mobile Vendors/Food Trucks

Include vending machines, carts, and food trucks that 

move from place to place.

Employer and School Cafeterias

Include school meal plans and prepayments, and school 

lunch bills.

13. What’s the difference between a concession 

stand and a mobile vendor?

A concession stand has to stay in a permanent location 

and a mobile vendor does not. Some mobile vendors may 

seem permanent because they are usually in the same 

location, but they are still considered mobile vendors 

because they have the option to change locations.

14. Should I record subsidized/reimbursed 

expenses?

Yes, but only record the portion that you or someone on 

your list has paid.

15. What should I do about shipping and handling 

costs?

Include the shipping and handling costs in the total price 

of the item. If the shipping and handling covered multiple 

items, include the shipping and handling in the total price 

of one item from the order.

CE-818 (4-2024)

Access YouTube How-To videos by 

scanning this QR code