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Set up your zero-based budget in 15 minutes. Add accounts, create categories, budget every dollar a job, and build a weekly reconcile rhythm.

Written By Pedro

Last updated About 1 month ago

Set up a zero-based budget in about 15 minutes: add your accounts, create categories, give every dollar a job, then track and reconcile.

1. Add your accounts

Start with the money you spend day to day. You can always add more later.

Add these

  • Checking
  • Savings
  • Credit cards
  • Cash, if you use it

Skip for now

  • Retirement (401k, IRA): add later as a Tracking account
  • HSA: add later as a Tracking account
  • Active loans: add later as a Loan account
  1. Click Add account in the sidebar.
  2. Choose the account type and enter a name.
  3. Enter the current balance. For checking, savings, and cash accounts it goes straight to Ready to Budget. Credit-card and tracking balances are recorded as-is and do not add to Ready to Budget.

💡 Tip: Connect a bank for automatic import, or skip and add transactions manually. You can switch later.

2. Set up categories

Categories are where your money lives between getting paid and spending it.

  • Answer a few questions: pick a lifestyle and we generate a full category list you can edit.
  • Start from scratch: build your own when you already know what you want.

💡 Tip: Related categories can live under a group (Housing, Fun, Subscriptions). Groups collapse together, handy once you have more than ten categories.

3. Give every dollar a job

Budget your money to categories until Ready to Budget reaches zero. Click into a category and type how much it gets this month. Keep going until Ready to Budget hits $0.

Budgeting money to categories until Ready to Budget reaches zero

ℹ️ Only budget money you already have. Don't pre-spend next week's paycheck.

4. Track and reconcile

Record what you spend, clear it against the bank, and lock in the month. Three ways to add transactions:

  • Type it: add transactions manually. Fastest on mobile.
  • Import a file: upload CSV, OFX, QFX, or QIF from your bank.
  • Bank sync: connect once and transactions flow in automatically.

The rhythm: Budget income → Spend → Clear → Reconcile.

💡 Tip: Reconcile weekly to catch issues while they're fresh.

You're set

Every dollar has a job. Keep the rhythm and you're done. Where to next?

  • Goals: target dates and amounts for what matters.
  • Credit cards: two models; pick the one that fits how you use the card.
  • Analytics: spending trends and net worth over time.
  • Sharing: bring in your partner or family.