IdeaBudget PAYCHECK PLANNER

User Guide: IdeaBudget Paycheck Planner

1. Introduction

Welcome to IdeaBudget! Unlike traditional budgeting apps that just track what you spent last month, IdeaBudget is a Paycheck Planner. It helps you look forward to ensure every bill is covered by a specific paycheck before the month begins.

2. Getting Started

You can use IdeaBudget in two modes:

Guest Mode (Free)

  • No Login Required: Start planning immediately.
  • Temporary Data: Your data is stored in your browser's local storage.
Warning: Data expires after 4 hours of inactivity or if you clear your browser cache.

Limitations:

  • Maximum of 1 Income Source.
  • Maximum of 15 Bills.
  • PDF Exports (Watermarked).
  • Cannot copy data from previous months.

Premium Mode

  • Cloud Sync: Data is saved securely to your account and accessible from any device.

Advanced Features:

  • Up to 10 Income Sources and 75 Bills.
  • "Copy Previous Month": Instantly import your recurring bills and income setup from last month.
  • Clean PDF Exports.
  • Priority Support.

3. The Core Workflow

Income → Bills → Cash Flow

Step 1: Set Your Month & Initial Savings

  • Month Selector: At the top of the dashboard, select the month and year you are planning for.
  • The Savings Box (Initial Savings): This box updates automatically. To set a starting balance, simply add a new Income line (e.g., 'Initial Savings') and enter the amount in the 'To Savings' column."

Why? This money acts as a buffer. Example: If your first paycheck doesn't arrive until the 15th, you will need this starting cash to pay bills due on the 1st.

Step 2: Income Planning

  • Add Sources: Click "+ Add New Income Source" to list your jobs or revenue streams.
  • Set Pay Dates: Use the date picker in the column headers to mark exactly when you get paid.
  • Allocate Cash: Enter the expected paycheck amount in the specific week column it will arrive (Week 1, Week 2, etc.).

Tip: If you have irregular income, estimate conservatively.

Step 3: Bill Scheduling

  • Add Bills: Click "+ Add New Bill".
  • Set Due Dates: Click the small calendar icon next to the bill name to set the specific due date.
  • Assign to a Paycheck: This is the most important step. Don't just list the total amount. Type the bill amount into the Week column that corresponds to the paycheck you want to use to pay it.

Example: If Rent is due on the 1st, place the amount in Week 1.

Tracking: As you pay bills in real life, click the checkmark (✓) next to the amount to turn it green.

Step 4: Managing Cash Flow (The "Magic")

The Cash Flow Summary section acts as your financial dashboard. It calculates your "Net Balance" for each week individually.

Numbers in Black Weeks:
You have extra money left over after paying bills.
Numbers in Red Weeks:
You do not have enough income in that specific week to cover that week's bills.

How to Fix a "Red" Week:

  • To Savings (Saving Up): In a "Black" week (where you have extra cash), type an amount into the "- To Savings" row. This moves money out of that week and into your general Savings Box.
  • From Savings (Covering Gaps): In a "Red" week, type an amount into the "+ From Savings" row. This pulls money from your Savings Box to cover the deficit.

4. Features Reference

PDF Export

Need a hard copy? Click the "Download PDF" button at the top right. It generates a landscape-oriented PDF including your full income, savings moves, and a breakdown of every bill.

Guest vs. Premium: Premium users get a clean professional header; Guests see "Created for free with IdeaBudget".

Copy Previous Month (Premium Only)

Instead of typing in your rent and utilities every single month:

  1. Navigate to a new, empty month.
  2. Click the "Copy Bills & Income from Last Month" button.

The app will import all source names, amounts, and due dates, saving you time.

Mobile Navigation

On mobile devices, the 5-week view can be wide. You can swipe left or right on the screen to change the active week focus, or use the "Week 1 | Week 2..." tabs at the top of the screen.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Net Balance negative (Red)? ▼

This means the income arriving in that specific week is less than the bills due in that week. Use the "From Savings" row to move money from a previous week (or your starting savings) to cover the difference.

Does my data expire? ▼

If you are using the free Guest mode, yes. Data is cleared after 4 hours of inactivity. To save your data on our servers, create an account.

Can I access my budget offline? ▼

Currently, IdeaBudget requires an internet connection to sync data (Premium) or verify your session.

How do I cancel my subscription? ▼

Go to Settings link -> Manage Subscription. You can cancel directly from there. You will retain access to premium features until the end of your billing cycle.