6 Things You Can Do With Your Budget Right Now

No matter if you’re new to the budget world or feel like a pro, we can all start to feel a little stuck sometimes. If you aren’t getting the traction you want with your goals, or you feel like budgeting is just super hard in general, check out these six things you can do inside your EveryDollar budget right now to up your budgeting game.

1. Create unlimited budget categories and lines.

First, let’s get technical and quickly define budget categories and budget lines. A budget category is like a filing cabinet. And budget lines are like the file folders that go in it. For example: You’ve probably got a Transportation budget category, and under that you have budget lines like Gasoline, Car Repair Fund and Bus Pass.

With EveryDollar, you can create as many budget categories and budget lines as you like. You might prefer fewer categories with lots of lines underneath. Or maybe you’d rather have lots of very specific categories with fewer lines. It’s totally up to you—think of it like a choose-your-own budgeting adventure!

Also, when life changes, adding in a new budget category or line is super easy. Getting a new pet or expecting a baby? Hop on your desktop version of EveryDollar, scroll down to Add Group, and name your category whatever you want. To add a line, you can click Add Item under your preferred category in app or online.

2. Remove budget categories.

What happens when the life-change means you need to delete a budget category or line? Like if your kids were super into indoor rock climbing, but then they decided they didn’t like it anymore? It’s simple to go in and delete the budget line for those weekly sessions.

First, sign in to your EveryDollar budget on desktop. Then, click on the category or line name. Find the trash icon and click it. It’s that simple!

Side note—we get asked this a lot, but you can’t delete the Debt category at this point. (We’re working on it.) Once you’re debt-free, just let it be a reminder that you’ll never use that category. Ever. Again.

3. Adjust through the month. 

Here’s the deal: You might think a budget is set in stone. You fill out those planned amounts and live by them to the end, no matter what. To some extent, that’s true. You don’t want to ignore the $100 you budgeted for eating out and go wild hitting that drive-thru every day on the way home.

But just like other things in life, your budget will change, and you need to make adjustments throughout the month to keep on top of those changes.

What does this look like in real life? If your water bill’s a little lower than expected, just lower that planned amount to the actual amount. Hey—now you’ve got extra money! Move it to another budget line that went a little over or throw it at your current Baby Step.

This is a key way to stay in control of your money, instead of letting it control you. Know where your money’s going. Track all your spending all month and adjust when you need to!

4. Share an account with your spouse. 

No more keeping track of all those paper receipts and trying to remember who spent the last of the grocery money on frozen pizza. Instead, you and your spouse can share an EveryDollar account and be on the same page—and in the same budget. One of you signs up for the account, and both of you use that login info on any device. This is a relationship communication game changer!

5. Check all your accounts in one place. 

Did you know there's a premium version of EveryDollar? Well, there is! And when you upgrade your budget to this version, you can connect straight to your bank and 401(k) accounts. Once you set those up, a quick click of the Accounts icon inside your budget will show you all your account balances without ever leaving the app. We know life can get pretty hectic, and having your accounts in one spot is one way to make things a little easier.  

6. Get automatic bank transactions.

Another benefit of connecting your bank to your budget with that premium version upgrade is getting automatic bank transactions. Your expenses and income will stream right into your budget. Then you just drag and drop them into their correct budget line. This way, you save time and don’t have to worry about forgetting a transaction or typing it in wrong! Faster and more accurate? That’s a solid win-win situation.

Start budgeting with EveryDollar today!

Hey, maybe you’re tackling all of these on the regular. If so, give yourself a high five.

Or maybe some or all of this is fresh news to you. Don’t worry. Just start working on each tip one at a time. And remember, budgeting well takes time and effort—but it’s totally worth it. You’ll stop wondering where your money went because you’ll be the one telling it where to go. Every. Single. Dollar.

Don’t give up.

You got this.