Budgets

Budgets give each category a target, and TickTad compares it against actual spending.

Set a budget

1. Open Expenses → Budgets.
2. Choose a period: week, month, quarter or year.
3. Set a limit per category.
4. TickTad shows budget vs actual as spending arrives.

Reading the charts

• Trend — how spending changes over time.
• Breakdown — which categories take the most.
• Budget vs actual — where you’re over or under.

How spending counts against a budget

Spending counts on a cash basis — when a payment is confirmed, not when it was scheduled. Confirming an upcoming expense early moves it into the current period, and the dashboard flags early payments. Stay under budget and TickTad rewards you with an under-budget bonus.

Tips

• Start with a month budget for the few categories that matter (food, transport, kids).
• Set generous initial limits and tighten them once you see real numbers.
• Review budgets in your weekly review — but month-by-month is enough for most.