The Diary

#DRAFT

CE Online Diary
User Guide
July 2022
CE-818

Log in to your CE Online Diary at .
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: _______________________

Login
Username
Password
Forgot your password?
Forgot your username?

Login

Note: It may be helpful to create a shortcut from your computer desktop or home screen. This will make it easier to access your diary
each day as you are entering expenses. See 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, FAQs, and Definitions. To access it on 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 us at (877) 744-1522 or e-mail us at . We will respond during normal
business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday.

1

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
(see 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:
MM/DD/YY
E-mail address (optional):
E-mail address
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.
Continue

Username and Password
You will be logging into the diary several times throughout both diary weeks. You may find it helpful to customize your
username and password so they are easy to remember. To change your username or password, click on the “User
Settings” button in the top-right section of the desktop version. 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. Make sure your new
username and password meet all of the requirements that are specified on the “Change Username” and “Change
Password” pages. You will also be required to enter your e-mail address and select and answer a security question.

No Expenses
If you had no expenses during your diary week, login to the diary on or after the last day of your diary week and you will
see 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 logout at any time by clicking on the “Logout” button. To log back in each time, you will need to re-enter your
username and password. To prevent losing data you have entered, please remember to save your entries.

2

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” to erase 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” to erase your entry.

3

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.
See examples below:

Meals, Snacks, and
Drinks Away From
Home
•
•
•

•

Enter the total cost
(include tax and tip).
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

All Other Products,
Services, and
Expenses

•

•

•
•
•

4

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.

•
•

Describe the item or
expense.
Enter the cost
(do not include tax).
Click the “Save” button
to save your expense
entry.

Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From Home vs. All Other Categories
Something you should keep in mind when entering your expenses is that the “Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From
Home” category is different from the other categories. See below for examples with entries in the mobile version.

Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From Home
In the “Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From Home” category, you will enter the entire meal/purchase as
one entry and enter the total cost of the meal including tax and tip.

All Other Categories
For all of the other three categories, you will enter each item purchased as a separate entry and enter
the cost of the item without tax.

5

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: .
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 see an icon
for the shortcut labeled CE Diary. To quickly access your CE Diary in the future,
simply double click on this shortcut.

Android Smartphones
1.

Open your internet browser.

iPhone
1.

Open your internet browser.

2. Enter the website address for the CE
Diary:

2. Enter the website address for the CE
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.”

3. Once the website opens, tap on the
share icon at the bottom of the screen:

5. When you close the browser and return
to your home screen, you will see an
icon labeled “CE Diary.” To quickly
access your CE Diary in the future,
simply tap on this shortcut.

5. When you close the browser and return
to your home screen, you will see an
icon labeled “CE Diary.” To quickly
access your CE Diary in the future,
simply tap on this shortcut.

CE Diary

6

Have a QR code reader?
Access the CE Diary
quickly by scanning this
QR code:

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.”

##DRAFT

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
7

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.

10. What about gift cards and gift certificates?
If you buy a gift card or gift certificate to give to someone,
write down the cost of it under the appropriate section
(e.g., a gift card to a clothing store would go under
Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry, and Accessories and a gift card
to a department store would go under All Other Products,
Services, and Expenses). If you use a gift card, write down
the full amount for your purchase as if paid with cash.

11. What do I do about returns and exchanges?

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.

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.

4. Should I record automatic deductions taken from
my paycheck or bank account?

12. How do I categorize the establishment for
“Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away From Home”?

3. How should I record credit card purchases?

Yes, record automatic deductions (such as health
insurance premiums taken out of your account or
paycheck) only if they are deducted that week.
Write them in the section called All Other Products,
Services, and Expenses.

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?

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.

Subtract the discount from the original price and write the
amount that you paid.

Employer and School Cafeterias
Include school meal plans and prepayments, and school
lunch bills.

7. Can I just give you receipts instead of entering
the information?

13. What’s the difference between a concession
stand and a mobile vendor?

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.

8

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.