diff --git a/database.go b/database.go
index 4be4cd5..25abe4e 100644
--- a/database.go
+++ b/database.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 )
 
-type Card struct {
+type card struct {
 	card_id                    int
 	card_guid                  string
 	k0_auth_key                string
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ type payment struct {
 	paid_flag       string
 }
 
+type transaction struct {
+	card_id	int
+	tx_id int
+	tx_type string
+	tx_amount_msats int
+	tx_time string
+}
+
 func db_open() (*sql.DB, error) {
 
 	// get connection string from environment variables
@@ -55,9 +63,9 @@ func db_open() (*sql.DB, error) {
 	return db, nil
 }
 
-func db_get_new_card(one_time_code string) (*Card, error) {
+func db_get_new_card(one_time_code string) (*card, error) {
 
-	c := Card{}
+	c :=card{}
 
 	db, err := db_open()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -191,7 +199,7 @@ func db_get_card_id_for_r_hash(r_hash string) (int, error) {
 	return card_id, nil
 }
 
-func db_get_cards_blank_uid() ([]Card, error) {
+func db_get_cards_blank_uid() ([]card, error) {
 
 	// open the database
 
@@ -217,17 +225,17 @@ func db_get_cards_blank_uid() ([]Card, error) {
 
 	// prepare the results
 
-	var cards []Card
+	var cards []card
 
 	// Loop through rows, using Scan to assign column data to struct fields.
 	for rows.Next() {
-		var card Card
-		err := rows.Scan(&card.card_id, &card.k2_cmac_key)
+		var c card
+		err := rows.Scan(&c.card_id, &c.k2_cmac_key)
 
 		if err != nil {
 			return cards, err
 		}
-		cards = append(cards, card)
+		cards = append(cards, c)
 	}
 
 	err = rows.Err()
@@ -262,9 +270,9 @@ func db_update_card_uid_ctr(card_id int, uid string, ctr uint32) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func db_get_card_from_uid(card_uid string) (*Card, error) {
+func db_get_card_from_uid(card_uid string) (*card, error) {
 
-	c := Card{}
+	c := card{}
 
 	db, err := db_open()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -293,9 +301,9 @@ func db_get_card_from_uid(card_uid string) (*Card, error) {
 	return &c, nil
 }
 
-func db_get_card_from_card_id(card_id int) (*Card, error) {
+func db_get_card_from_card_id(card_id int) (*card, error) {
 
-	c := Card{}
+	c := card{}
 
 	db, err := db_open()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -584,3 +592,35 @@ func db_get_card_totals(card_id int) (int, error) {
 
 	return day_total_sats, nil
 }
+
+//TODO:
+//func db_get_card_txs(card_id int) ([]transaction, error) {
+
+func db_get_card_total(card_id int) (int, error) {
+
+	db, err := db_open()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	card_total_msats := 0
+
+	sqlStatement := `SELECT SUM(tx_amount_msats) FROM (SELECT card_id, ` +
+		`card_payments.card_payment_id AS tx_id, 'payment' AS tx_type, ` +
+		`-amount_msats as tx_amount_msats, payment_status_time AS tx_time ` +
+		`FROM card_payments WHERE card_id = $1 AND payment_status != 'FAILED' ` +
+		`AND amount_msats != 0 UNION SELECT card_id, card_receipts.card_receipt_id AS tx_id, ` +
+		`'receipt' AS tx_type, amount_msats as tx_amount_msats, ` +
+		`receipt_status_time AS tx_time FROM card_receipts WHERE card_id = $1 ` +
+		`AND receipt_status = 'SETTLED' ORDER BY tx_time) AS transactions;`
+
+	row := db.QueryRow(sqlStatement, card_id)
+	err = row.Scan(&card_total_msats)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	card_total_sats := card_total_msats / 1000
+
+	return card_total_sats, nil
+}
diff --git a/email.go b/email.go
index ba2d6cc..2d141e6 100644
--- a/email.go
+++ b/email.go
@@ -8,8 +8,22 @@ import (
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/ses"
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"os"
+	"strconv"
 )
 
+func send_balance_email(recipient_email string, card_id int) {
+        card_total_sats, err := db_get_card_total(card_id)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warn(err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+
+        send_email(recipient_email,
+                "bolt card balance: " + strconv.Itoa(card_total_sats) + " sats",
+                "html body",
+                "text body")
+}
+
 // https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sdk-for-go/v1/developer-guide/ses-example-send-email.html
 
 func send_email(recipient string, subject string, htmlBody string, textBody string) {
diff --git a/lightning.go b/lightning.go
index 28460ae..f4274f4 100644
--- a/lightning.go
+++ b/lightning.go
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func monitor_invoice_state(r_hash []byte) () {
 		return
 	}
 
-	go send_email(c.email_address, "bolt card receipt", "html body", "text body")
+	go send_balance_email(c.email_address, card_id)
 
 	return
 }
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ func pay_invoice(card_payment_id int, invoice string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	go send_email(c.email_address, "bolt card payment", "html body", "text body")
+	go send_balance_email(c.email_address, card_id)
 
 	return
 }