Setting Budgets
Overview
Budgets in JoinFunds are set per category per month. You define how much you plan to spend on Groceries, Eating Out, Transport, and so on — then track your actual spending against those limits with colour-coded progress bars.
Create a budget
Go to the Budgets page
Click Budgets in the sidebar. You will see your categories listed for the current month, each with a progress bar showing how much has been spent against the budget.
Set a monthly limit
Click on any category to set or edit its budget. Enter the amount you want to allocate for the month — for example, £400 for Groceries or £100 for Eating Out. The budget applies to the selected month only.
Understand the progress colours
Read the colour indicators
Budget bars change colour as spending approaches the limit:
- Green — under 75% spent, on track
- Amber — 75% to 99% spent, approaching the limit
- Red — 100%+ spent, over budget
These thresholds help you spot problem areas at a glance without needing to check exact numbers.
Navigate by month
Switch months
Use the month selector at the top of the page to view past or future months. This lets you review previous months' performance or set budgets ahead of time.
Start with just your top five spending categories. You can always add more budgets later once you have a few months of data to see where your money actually goes.
Annual summary
View the annual picture
The Annual page in the sidebar shows a twelve-month summary of your spending by category. This helps you spot seasonal patterns — for example, higher energy bills in winter or holiday spending in December.
What's next?
- Monthly Review — review spending with your partner at month end
- Categories & Rules — adjust categories to match your budget structure
Related Guides
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