Create or open your account
Go to CalBudget and sign in. New users land in onboarding. Existing users can open the calendar directly.
Enter the real account balance
Create an account, usually your main checking account. Enter the balance you actually have today. This is the starting point for every future day.
Add your next paycheck
Create an income transaction on the date it should arrive. Use the exact expected amount if you know it, or a conservative estimate if income varies.
Add one important bill
Add rent, mortgage, car payment, insurance, a subscription, or the bill most likely to affect the next low-balance day.
Read the running balance
Look at the balance printed on each future day. The lowest future balance is the number that tells you whether the plan is safe.
What to add next
After the first forecast works, add the rest of the predictable month:- Regular paychecks or income
- Rent, mortgage, utilities, insurance, and subscriptions
- Credit card minimums or debt payments
- Planned grocery trips and flexible spending
- Savings transfers or sinking funds
What not to do first
Do not try to recreate years of history on day one. CalBudget is designed for future planning. Historical imports are useful later when you want recurring detection or reconciliation.Success checklist
- You can see the current month on the calendar.
- At least one future day shows income.
- At least one future day shows an expense.
- Each future day has a projected balance.
- You know the lowest balance before your next paycheck.