Get started · Accounts

Start with the money you have.

Do not budget money that you expect later. Add your accounts. Then give the available money a job.

Get started once

Build the first plan in six steps.

Create a budget file.Open Actual Budget. Select Create new file. Give the file a clear name.Add each spending account.Add checking, savings, cash, and credit card accounts that affect your budget.Enter the current balance.Use the balance from your bank. Check the date of that balance.Add tracking accounts only if useful.A retirement or mortgage account can stay off budget. It will not change the money that you can assign.Choose your categories.Start with bills, food, transport, debt payments, and known future costs.Assign the money that you have.Give available money to categories until To Budget is zero.

A simplified map of the Actual Budget screen. The exact layout can change.

On budget

Money you can use now

Add checking, savings, cash, and credit cards as on-budget accounts.

Off budget

Money you only track

Use off-budget accounts for items such as a mortgage or retirement account. These accounts do not fund categories.