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Re:Double Entry Accounting for Developers by jlj on Monday July 27, 2020 @10:56PM (#23971859)
I learned from my accounting 101 professor, "debits on the left, credits on the right."

Then later after learning about natural account balances, it all made sense. If an account has a debit balance, a debit increases the balance and a credit decreases it. An asset or expense account has a debit balance.

Credit balance is just the opposite. Liabilities, revenue, accounts. Credit is an increase, debit decrease. (I think equity too but I always have to look it up. Rarely work with equity accounts in my day to day)

Re:Double Entry Accounting for Developers by juped on Monday July 27, 2020 @11:30PM (#23972006)
Equity accounts are confusing.
Re:Double Entry Accounting for Developers by jkulubya on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @12:32AM (#23972295)
I wish I could tell you how to remember it from first principles, but I can’t do what I did was burn the A = L + (OE/Equity) accounting equation into my head. Then I remember that the when my bank balance goes up, the bank speaks of a credit in their accounts which is a debit to assets in my account. Then L + OE must be credit accounts.

Why are OE and L on the same side? Well to finance an asset, say a new car for your business, the company would either take on some debt (L) or you’d put in some of your own money (OE) in exchange for more ownership. I don’t know if that’s more confusing or less

Re:Double Entry Accounting for Developers by juped on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @02:42AM (#23972984)
I mean, it's not hard to remember. They're liability-like. It's just their uses in practice that're confusing.

BTW, nonprofits have Net Assets accounts instead of Equity accounts.