How to Manage Your Income
Freelance income doesn't come on one fixed payday. Budgett lets you plan what you expect from each client, then shows what really came in.
Clients and Payment Slots
- Each place your money comes from is an income source: a client, your business, or your employer.
- Each source has payment slots, like "1st payment" and "2nd payment". Use one slot for each time that source pays you in a month.
- Tap a source or slot name to rename it. Long-press to remove it.
- Basic has 2 income sources and Plus has 4, each with up to 4 payment slots. Pro has no limit.
Expected vs. Received
Expected is what you plan to get this month. Received is what really landed. Set the Expected amount for each slot at the start of the month. When the money comes in, log it as received. The Plan vs Reality card shows Expected Income, Not Yet Received, and Income Left (what's left of what you received after spending).
Logging Money You Received
- Tap the payment slot, or tap + at the bottom and pick Income.
- Pick the payment date. It can't be in the future.
- VAs and freelancers can pick the Platform it came through, like Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer. Tap + to add your own.
- Pick Where did this land?: Cash on Hand or a Savings account. That account goes up by the amount.
Borrowed money still lands in your account, but it isn't income. Tick Loan received (not income) before saving. The money goes to your account, but it doesn't count as income and earns no XP. Budgett then offers to help you add it to your debts.
Hiding a Slot You Don't Use
Lost a client, or a slot you don't need this month? Hide it. Hidden slots wait in Recently removed for 30 days, so you can bring them back. Or delete one for good right away. To hide or reset whole clients, go to Profile → Manage Income Sources.
Plan with your lowest recent month of income, not your best one. If a good month comes, the extra goes to savings instead of new spending.
Open Budget → Income and check every slot has an Expected amount for this month. Then log anything you already received.
More guides
Understanding Your Expenses
How expenses are sorted, what Projected Spending means, and how to catch overspending early.
Managing Your Categories
Hide, reorder, and add categories, unlock more for free, and set up sub-categories.
Big Payments From a Loan or Savings
Pay for a lot, a car, or a renovation without wrecking this month's budget.