Budgets turn categories into a plan. Begin with a small number of important categories, compare the plan with real spending, and refine it over several periods.

Before you begin

If you chose Net worth overview during onboarding, open Budget and select Start budgeting. Plutus adds the detailed category structure used for transactions and monthly planning; your existing portfolio, assets, and debts remain in place.

Review recent transactions and category assignments. A budget cannot give a useful result when large amounts of spending remain uncategorised or transfers are treated as expenses.

Set budget amounts

  1. Open Budget.
  2. Select the month or budget period.
  3. Find the category you want to plan.
  4. Enter the amount you intend to make available.
  5. Repeat for the categories that matter most.
  6. Review any unallocated or ready-to-assign total.

Start with committed costs, then essentials, then flexible spending and savings.

Understand the figures

Depending on the budget view, Plutus can show:

  • the amount assigned for the period;
  • actual activity recorded against the category; and
  • the remaining amount available.

Investigate unexpected activity rather than forcing the plan to match an incorrect transaction.

Rollover and targets

Rollover controls what happens to unused or overspent amounts at a period boundary. Use it for categories where the balance should genuinely accumulate or carry forward.

Targets describe an intended amount or pace. They are guidance for planning; they do not create money or transactions.

Choose behavior that matches the real purpose:

  • carry forward for funds that build over time;
  • release or reset where each month should stand alone; and
  • use a target when you want a visible planning objective.

Review a completed month

At period end, check unusually large variances, uncategorised activity, transfers, and rollover results. Adjust the next period based on what you learned rather than rewriting accurate history.

Common problems

  • A refund or transfer in the wrong category can distort available amounts.
  • Changing rollover behavior can alter how future periods begin.
  • Do not budget the same money in several overlapping categories.

Next steps