FAQ – Spend Smarter, Save Better

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on any of the sections below to reveal the questions and answers.

Getting Started

How do I create my first budget?
Go to Manage Budgets and click + Add a new Budget. You’ll be prompted to name the budget, select a year, and choose whether to start fresh or copy from a previous budget.

Can I create multiple budgets for different purposes?
Yes. You can create as many budgets as you need. Each budget is independent and can be selected from the Current Budget dropdown.

How do I set a budget period (weekly, monthly, yearly)?
Budgets are created per year. Inside each budget, you can view and analyze your data by week, month, quarter, or year, depending on the section (Home, Budget, or Charts).

What’s the difference between a budget and a spending category?
A budget is the overall container for your financial plan for the year. Spending categories are used to organize and group your transactions within the budget.

How do I import my existing transactions?
Set up an account as Imported, assign a transaction file, and use the Import button in the Transactions screen. Supported formats are CSV, and OFX/QFX (Quicken formats).

Does the app support different currencies?
Yes. It supports whatever currency is configured in macOS Settings.

Can I customize budget categories?
Yes. You can add, edit, reorder, and delete categories under the Categories screen. You can also define keywords for automatic categorization.

Managing Budgets & Expenses

How do I track expenses within a budget?
Add transactions manually, import from your bank, or generate them via scheduled transactions. Then assign them to categories to track against your forecast.

Can I set spending limits for individual categories?
Yes. Use the Forecast field in the budget table to track and the Forecast Amount field when editing a category to define your target.

What happens if I exceed my budget for a category?
You’ll see that reflected in the Income/Expense Ratio chart, with visual indicators showing overages.

Can I transfer money between budget categories?
You can move or reassign transactions from one category to another using Transfer Keywords & Transactions or by manually editing the transaction.

How do I manage refunds or reimbursements?
Enter them as income transactions and assign them to the original category to offset the expenses.

How do I handle cash transactions?
Create a Manual account and record your cash transactions manually from receipts or notes.

Can I mark an expense as a one-time or recurring cost?
One-time expenses are entered manually. Recurring expenses should be created as Scheduled Transactions.

Income & Transactions

How do I record income?
Create a manual transaction with a positive amount and assign it to an income category.

Can I link transactions to specific income sources?
Yes. You can create an income category for each source and assign them accordingly.

Does the app support transaction splitting?
Yes. You can split any imported transaction into multiple sub-transactions, each of which can be assigned to a different category.

Can I schedule future income transactions?
Yes. Use Scheduled Transactions with a positive amount and assign it to an income category.

Can I automatically categorize imported transactions?
Yes. Define keywords for your categories and the app will assign matching transactions during import.

How do I edit or delete a transaction?
Select it in the Transactions screen and click Edit. The Delete is available in the Edit Transaction window.

Can I attach notes or receipts to transactions?
Yes. You can add notes and a single image (receipt, invoice, etc.) when adding or editing a transaction.

Reports & Insights

How do I view an overview of my spending?
Visit the Home dashboard for a snapshot or open Charts for detailed visual reports.

Can I compare my spending across different time periods?
Yes. Charts and widgets allow you to switch between weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly views.

How do I track financial trends over time?
Use the Transactions Timeline and Actual vs Forecast charts to monitor trends.

Can I see how much I have left in my budget at a glance?
Yes. The Budget screen shows your forecast, and actuals for each category.

Does the app provide graphs or visualizations?
Yes. The Charts section includes various graphs to visualize expenses, income, trends, and targets.

Can I generate custom reports?
No. Custom reports are not available at this time, although the charts can be customized with a wide range of options.

Is there a way to export my financial data?
Yes. You can export the Budget table to a CSV file. Use the File menu, then select Export Budget… item.

Syncing & Data Management

Can I sync my data across multiple devices?
Not at this time. The app keeps all your data in your local computer.

What happens if I switch devices?
Install the app on the new device and sign in through the Profile window using the same name and email. Then, create a backup on your old device, copy the backup files to the new device, and restore the backup from there. Backup and Restore features are available in the Settings window, accessed from the Profile menu.

Is my data backed up automatically?
Yes. If you turn on automatic backups in Settings > Backup/Restore.

Can I restore my budget data if I delete the app?
Yes, if you have local backups. Reinstall the app, and restore from a backup in Settings > Backup/Restore.

Can I manually back up my data?
Yes. Use Settings > Backup/Restore to create and restore manual backups.

How does the app handle offline access?
All data is stored locally, so you can use the app fully offline. An internet connection is only required when downloading a logo for an account.

Customization & Preferences

Can I change the appearance of the app (dark mode, themes, fonts)?
The app follow your system preferences defined in your macOS Settings.

Can I rename budget categories?
Yes. Go to the Categories screen, select a category, and click Edit.

How do I customize date formats and currency settings?
The app uses the formats defined in your macOS Settings. Some additional customization is available in Settings > Preferences.

Can I set reminders for bill payments or budget reviews?
The app does not currently support reminders. However, you can use Scheduled Transactions to automatically generate upcoming entries. You can then review and edit these transactions to adjust dates or amounts as needed.

Can I create custom spending rules or alerts?
The app does not currently support rules or alerts.

Security & Privacy

Is my financial data encrypted?
Yes. Your data is securely stored on your device and benefits from the encryption provided by macOS, such as FileVault, if it’s enabled. No financial data is transmitted over the internet.

Does the app require an account to use?
You must create a Profile to fully access the app. However, you can browse the app in demo mode before doing so. This profile is local and your name and email are not transmitted anywhere.

Can I secure my data with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode?
Yes. You can enable biometric or password protection in the Profile window.

Does the app track or share my financial data with third parties?
No. Your data stays local and is never shared.

How do I delete my data permanently?
In the Profile window, click Delete Profile. This removes all your budgets, transactions, and settings.

Subscription & Pricing

Is the app free to use, or does it require a subscription?
Yes, the app is completely free to use and includes all features. An optional subscription or one-time tip is available to support ongoing development and future improvements.

What features are included in the free version?
All features are available in the free version, including creating budgets, managing manual accounts, and viewing charts. There are no hidden features—subscriptions or tips are completely optional and don’t unlock additional functionality.

Is there a one-time purchase option?
Yes. You can support the app at any time using one of the three available Tip options. This is entirely optional—BUDGIX is fully free to use, and tipping does not unlock any additional features.

How do I cancel my subscription?
Go to your Apple ID settings, find the app under Subscriptions, and cancel from there.

Can I restore a previous purchase if I reinstall the app?
Yes. Go to Subscription & Tips in Settings and tap Restore Purchases.

Importing & Integrations

Can I import transactions from my bank statements?
Yes. You can import CSV, OFX, or QFX files downloaded from your financial institution.

How do I map categories when importing transactions?
The app uses column detection and allows you to match columns like Date, Description, and Amount. Use keywords to help auto-categorize imported entries.

Does the app integrate with other financial tools?
No. The app does not currently support integrations with third-party financial tools or services.

Can I connect my bank account for automatic transaction imports?
No. The app supports only file-based imports at this time.

Troubleshooting & Support

How do I reset my budget if I make a mistake?
Edit or delete individual transactions, or restore from a manual or automatic backup.

What should I do if the app crashes or freezes?
Restart the app. If the issue persists, contact support through the Help menu or app website.

How can I contact support for help?
Go to Settings > About and click the Contact Us link to send an email or visit the support site.

Is there a user guide or tutorial available?
Yes. The app provides a built-in Help section and a full documentation site you can browse.