Getting set up with Budgeto

This guide walks you through everything you need to get a working budget going in Budgeto, from creating your account to seeing your first leftover number.

1. Create your account

Sign up with your email and a password. Once you're in, you'll land on the dashboard, which is where the day-to-day of budgeting happens.

If you're setting up a profile for the first time, Budgeto will ask for a few basics like your preferred name and currency so the app speaks your language.

2. Set your budget cycle

Your budget cycle is the window between one payday and the next. Matching it to how you actually get paid is the most important setup step, so it's worth getting right.

1. Open your cycle settings.
2. Choose a cycle length — weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.
3. Set the anchor date to the day you're usually paid.

From here on, each new cycle kicks off automatically on your next payday, and your leftover always means leftover until you get paid again.

3. Add your income

Enter the income for your current cycle so your numbers have a starting point. If your pay's regular, you can make it a recurring entry (see step 5) so you never have to add it manually again.

4. Add your major expenses

Start with the big, fixed costs — rent or mortgage, and your main bills. You don't need to capture every tiny expense yet. The goal on day one is a leftover number that reflects reality, not a perfect record.

5. Automate recurring entries

For anything predictable, set up a recurring entry so Budgeto applies it every cycle:

• Recurring income for your salary or wages.
• Recurring expenses for rent, utilities, and subscriptions.

This is what turns Budgeto from a tracker you have to babysit into a budget that mostly looks after itself.

You're ready

With a cycle, your income, and your fixed costs in place, your dashboard now shows a meaningful leftover and spent. Log your variable spending as it happens and glance at leftover once a day — that's the whole habit.

Want a gentle plan for the first week? Read A realistic first week with Budgeto.