Keep learning

Useful sources, without the noise.

Use the official Actual Budget guides first. The other links explain ideas that also work in Actual.

Start here

Actual Budget guides

Roadmap for new usersThe official order for learning Actual Budget.How envelope budgeting worksWhy every available dollar gets a category.Import transactionsSupported files and CSV field mapping.Reconcile an accountHow to compare Actual with your bank.Create payee and category rulesHow Actual can clean and categorize new transactions.

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Original reference

Money-priority sources

The interactive guide adapts this community flowchart and the supporting Common Topics guide into a more accessible path. Use the original when you want to see every branch at once.

Personal Income Spending Flowchart for the United States. — Detailed flowchart by Reddit user atlasvoid, based on a flowchart by beerface89.

Personal Finance Common TopicsThe supporting US priority guide.

The method

Zero-based budgeting

The YNAB MethodA clear explanation of jobs for dollars and true expenses.Handle overspendingWhy a negative category needs a decision.How to make a budgetRamsey Solutions guidance on priorities and zero-based planning.How sinking funds workPlan monthly for a known future cost.

Optional videos

Watch a walkthrough

9 min

Actual Budget Tutorial (2025)

Digibase Media · A short tour of the main workflow.

Watch on YouTube ↗26 min

Actual Budget: The Best Free Envelope Budgeting App (YNAB Alternative)

Digital Lagoon · A recent, detailed beginner setup.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Videos can become outdated. Use the official documentation when a screen or label is different.