diff --git a/finance/pta.journal b/finance/pta.journal
index 992be7a..aaaf077 100644
--- a/finance/pta.journal
+++ b/finance/pta.journal
@@ -1,10 +1,23 @@
+account liabilities
+account liabilities:payable:sm
+account equity
+account equity:retained-earnings   ; used by make bse
+account revenues
+account revenues:github   ; donations via github sponsors
+account revenues:paypal   ; donations via paypal
+account expenses
+account expenses:hosting
+
+commodity 1000. USD
+D         1000. USD        ; use USD by default
+
 2024-03-30 begin tracking finances of the plaintextaccounting org.
 
 2024-03-30 Discourse | begin $50/mo hosting at Discourse, with an advance from SM
-    expenses:hosting         $50
+    expenses:hosting         50
     liabilities:payable:sm
 
 2024-04-11 sponsor1 | one-time donation, used immediately
-    revenues:github         $-25
+    revenues:github         -25
     liabilities:payable:sm