Getting started with BudgetBuddy

Create your budget

1. Sign in at BudgetBuddy.
2. Create a budget with a clear name (e.g. “Our household 2026”).
3. Set a starting balance — roughly what is in your everyday accounts today.

Common categories are added automatically so you are not starting from a blank page.

Guided setup (new budgets)

On a new budget you may see a short guided flow:

1. Welcome
2. Household people + optional invite
3. Income (with a pointer to Tax / Medicare / HECS tools)
4. Loans
5. Optional Up Bank link
6. Overview, with a nudge to add expenses

You can Skip any blank step. Skip setup exits entirely.

Core screens

| Area | Use it for | | --- | --- | | Overview | Surplus, forecast, Up snapshot | | Income / Expenses | Recurring lines | | Categories | Grouping and reports | | Import | Up Bank, statements, manual log | | Calculators | Loans, tax/HECS, what-if, novated | | Chat | Budget Buddy — proposes changes, you Confirm | | Members | Invite partner; household people | | Settings | Projection defaults, Buddy voice |

First-week checklist

• [ ] Fortnightly (or weekly) pay entered as take-home
• [ ] Rent or mortgage repayment
• [ ] At least groceries + transport
• [ ] One buffer line (even $50/fortnight)
• [ ] Partner invited if you share money

Privacy and confirmations

Budget Buddy chat can propose categories, lines, loans, and renames. Nothing lands until you tap Confirm. Spoken replies use your chosen voice and AI credit.

Official money education: MoneySmart. Tax topics: ATO.