Routine · Monthly review

Finish the old month. Start the new one.

Actual Budget has no close-month command. Use this review to confirm that the budget is correct.

Monthly checklist

Review in this order.

Wait for late transactions.Review the old month after the new month starts. The second to fifth day often works well.Import the final transactions.Check for missing, pending, or duplicate entries.Categorize every transaction.Fix unclear categories and split mixed purchases.Reconcile each account.Compare the cleared balance in Actual with the cleared balance at your bank.Cover overspending.Move money from a lower-priority category. Do not ignore a negative balance.Review money that remains.Let useful balances roll forward. Move money only when your priorities changed.Fund the new month.Assign available money in priority order. Stop when To Budget is zero.

Reconcile

Two cleared balances should match.

Mark cleared transactions in Actual. Compare the total with the cleared balance from your bank.

Actual example$1,284.20=Bank example$1,284.20