How to Use the Monthly Budget Tracker

The Monthly Budget Tracker is a powerful tool designed to help you plan your finances and see how your actual spending compares to your budget. Here's a step-by-step guide to get the most out of it.

Step 1: Select Your Budget Month

At the top of the page, use the date selector to choose the month you want to plan for or review.

Step 2: Plan Your Income (Budgeted Column)

In the "Income" section, you'll see different categories like "Sales / Business Revenue."

In the "Budgeted (R)" column, enter the amount of income you expect to receive for that month in each category. This is your financial goal.

Step 3: Plan Your Expenses (Budgeted Column)

In the "Expenses" section, go through each category (e.g., "Rent," "Stock Purchases," "Utilities").

In the "Budgeted (R)" column, enter the amount you plan to spend in each category. Be realistic. If you're unsure, look at past bank statements.
You can add your own custom expense categories at the bottom if needed!

Step 4: Track Your Actuals (Automatic)

This is the easy part! The "Actual (R)" column is automatically calculated for you.

It pulls data directly from the income and expense transactions you log on your Dashboard.
As you add transactions throughout the month, this column will update, showing you exactly where your money is going.

Step 5: Review the Summary

At the bottom, the "Budget Summary" gives you a clear overview:

Budgeted Net: The money you planned to have left over.
Actual Net: The money you actually have left over.
Variance/Remaining: The difference between your budgeted and actual amounts for each line item. This helps you see where you overspent or underspent.

Step 6: Save and Adjust

Click "Save Budget Data" to save your plan for the month.
Review your budget weekly or bi-weekly. If you're overspending in one area, see if you can adjust elsewhere.

By consistently using this tool, you'll gain powerful insights into your financial habits and take control of your money.

How to Use the Monthly Budget Tracker

The Monthly Budget Tracker is a powerful tool designed to help you plan your finances and see how your actual spending compares to your budget. Here's a step-by-step guide to get the most out of it.

Step 1: Select Your Budget Month

At the top of the page, use the date selector to choose the month you want to plan for or review.

Step 2: Plan Your Income (Budgeted Column)

In the "Income" section, you'll see different categories like "Sales / Business Revenue."

In the "Budgeted (R)" column, enter the amount of income you expect to receive for that month in each category. This is your financial goal.

Step 3: Plan Your Expenses (Budgeted Column)

In the "Expenses" section, go through each category (e.g., "Rent," "Stock Purchases," "Utilities").

In the "Budgeted (R)" column, enter the amount you plan to spend in each category. Be realistic. If you're unsure, look at past bank statements.

You can add your own custom expense categories at the bottom if needed!

Step 4: Track Your Actuals (Automatic)

This is the easy part! The "Actual (R)" column is automatically calculated for you.

It pulls data directly from the income and expense transactions you log on your Dashboard.

As you add transactions throughout the month, this column will update, showing you exactly where your money is going.

Step 5: Review the Summary

At the bottom, the "Budget Summary" gives you a clear overview:

Budgeted Net: The money you planned to have left over.

Actual Net: The money you actually have left over.

Variance/Remaining: The difference between your budgeted and actual amounts for each line item. This helps you see where you overspent or underspent.

Step 6: Save and Adjust

Click "Save Budget Data" to save your plan for the month.

Review your budget weekly or bi-weekly. If you're overspending in one area, see if you can adjust elsewhere.

By consistently using this tool, you'll gain powerful insights into your financial habits and take control of your money.

Financial planning