Budgets

Budgets help you control spending by setting limits for each category. Monitor progress throughout the month and adjust limits as needed.

Understanding the Budget Page

The Budget page displays categories, spending limits, and current progress.

Card View

Each card represents one category and displays:

• Category name with icon
• Budget amount - Monthly limit
• Spent amount - Current spending
• Remaining - Budget left (or overage in red)
• Progress bar - Visual indicator of spending versus budget

Cards change color based on status:

• Green - Spending within budget
• Yellow - Approaching limit (over 75% used)
• Red - Budget exceeded

Table View

Switch to table view for a compact list that shows:

• Category name
• Budget amount
• Spent amount
• Remaining/Overage
• Percentage used

Click the view toggle button to switch between card and table layouts.

Setting Budgets

Set Budgets for a Month

1. Click Set new budget in the action bar.
2. Select a category from the dropdown.
3. Enter a monthly limit in the input field.
4. Click Create Budget.

Copy Budgets to Next Month

1. Navigate to the month you want to copy from.
2. Click Copy to Next Month in the action bar.
3. Confirm the action.

Note: Copying only works if the target month has no existing budgets.

Initialize New Categories

When you add new expense categories:

1. A banner appears showing uninitialized categories.
2. Click Initialize Budgets.
3. Enter budget amounts for the new categories.
4. Click Save.

Editing Budgets

Edit a Single Category

1. Find the category card or row.
2. Click the budget amount.
3. Enter the new limit.
4. Press Enter or click outside the field to save.

Adjust Multiple Budgets

Use the Set new budget modal to adjust categories:

1. Click Set new budget.
2. Modify the budget amount.
3. Click Create Budget.

Filtering and Searching

Search Categories

Type in the search box to filter categories by name.

Filter by Status

Use the Show Overbudget Only toggle to display only categories that exceed their limits.

Combine Filters

Search and status filters work together. For example, search “food” with the over-budget filter active to find food categories exceeding limits.

Month Navigation

Use the month selector in the header to view or edit budgets for different months.

• Select past months to review historical performance.
• Select future months to plan ahead.
• Use the Today button to return to the current month.

Budget Alerts

Allowealth generates alerts based on your spending patterns.

Warning Alerts

Categories at 75-99% of budget trigger warnings. The advice banner suggests how much remains before you exceed the limit.

Exceeded Alerts

Categories over 100% of budget show an exceeded status. The advice banner displays the overage amount.

Critical Alerts

Categories at 150% or higher trigger critical alerts that require immediate attention.

Importing and Exporting

Export Budgets

1. Navigate to the month you want to export.
2. Click Export budgets to CSV in the action bar.
3. The CSV file downloads automatically.

Exported files include category names, budget amounts, and spent amounts.

Import Budgets

1. Click Import budgets from CSV in the action bar.
2. Select a CSV file with columns: category_name, budget_amount.
3. Map the columns if needed.
4. Review the preview.
5. Click Import.

Importing updates existing budgets or creates new ones. It does not delete existing budgets.

Managing Categories

Add a Category

1. Click Categories in the action bar.
2. Click Add Category.
3. Enter the name.
4. Select the type (expense or income).
5. Choose an icon and a color.
6. Click Save.

Edit a Category

1. Click Categories in the action bar.
2. Find the category in the list.
3. Click Edit.
4. Modify the name, icon, or color.
5. Click Save.

Archive a Category

1. Click Categories in the action bar.
2. Find the category.
3. Click Archive.
4. Confirm your choice.

Archived categories no longer appear in budget views but remain in your historical data.

Best Practices

Start Simple

Begin with 5-10 major categories. Add more as your tracking improves.

Review Weekly

Check your budget status each week to catch overspending early.

Adjust Realistically

If you consistently exceed a budget, increase the limit instead of ignoring the alert.

Plan Ahead

Set next month’s budgets before the month starts. Use historical data to inform your decisions.

Troubleshooting

No Budgets Showing

If the page shows no categories:

1. Check that you have created expense categories.
2. Click Initialize Budgets to add categories.
3. Verify you are viewing the correct month.

Cannot Copy Budgets

Copying fails when:

• The target month already has budgets.
• No budgets exist in the source month.

Clear the target month budgets first, or manually set the budgets.

Spent Amount Looks Wrong

If spent amounts do not match your records:

1. Check Transactions for uncategorized items.
2. Verify transactions use the correct category.
3. Confirm transaction dates fall in the budget month.
4. Look for duplicate transactions.

Budget Advice Banner Missing

The banner only appears when:

• You have exceeded categories.
• You have warning-level categories (75%+ spent).

No banner means all categories remain within normal ranges.

Related Features

• Category drill-down - Click “View transactions” on any budget card to see transactions in that category.
• Reports - View budget performance trends over time.
• Transactions - Add or edit transactions affecting budgets.