diff --git a/docs/advanced/restart.md b/docs/advanced/restart.md index 8c1db3c427..1cc39b576e 100644 --- a/docs/advanced/restart.md +++ b/docs/advanced/restart.md @@ -1,18 +1,49 @@ -# Restart your Budget (without removing transactions) +# Restarting Your Budget -If you've fallen behind on your budgeting and want to start fresh without starting from scratch, follow these steps to reset your budget: +If you've fallen behind on your budgeting and want to start fresh without starting from scratch. -## Step 1: Address Uncategorized Transactions +This means that you want to reset your budget while keeping your categories, payees, rules and schedules. Bellow we have described two methods to restart your budget: one by deleting all transactions and another without deleting any transactions. + +If you're ok with truly starting completely from scratch, [just make a new file](/docs/getting-started/starting-fresh/). + +:::caution +Remember to [back up your budget](/docs/backup-restore/backup) before making any significant changes to your budget. +::: + + +## Restarting Your Budget by Deleting Transactions + +### Step 1: Delete All Transactions +- Click on *All Accounts* in the left sidebar. +- Select all transactions by clicking the checkbox at the top of the list (or use the shortcut `Ctrl + A` on Windows or `Cmd + A` on Mac). +- Click on the lilac dropdown menu at the top of the transaction list and select **Delete**. + +![Steps for deleting all transactions](/img/accounts/account-delete-all-transactions.png) + + +### Step 2: Set Starting Balances +- Go to each account and set the starting balance for today's date to the current amount in that account. + +### Step 3: Adjust Previous Months' Category Balances +- Navigate to the month prior to your new start (e.g., the end of May, if the month you're restarting from is June). +- Review each budget category: + - If a category has a **negative balance**, allocate additional funds to bring the balance to zero. + - If a category has a **positive balance**, click on the category and transfer the balance amount back to the **"To Budget"** area. + + +## Restarting Your Budget Without Deleting Transactions + +### Step 1: Address Uncategorized Transactions - Go through any transactions that haven't been categorized. - If you're unsure where to assign certain transactions, create a temporary category named **"Budget Reset"**. - Once you've categorized all transactions, you can hide this temporary category. -## Step 2: Reconcile Your Accounts +### Step 2: Reconcile Your Accounts Using the **Reconcile** feature, bring your accounts up to date with a current balance. This ensures that your accounts reflect the actual available funds. -## Step 3: Adjust Previous Months' Budgets +### Step 3: Adjust Previous Months' Category Balances - Navigate to the month prior to your new start (e.g., the end of May, if the month you're restarting from is June). - Review each budget category: diff --git a/docs/getting-started/starting-fresh.md b/docs/getting-started/starting-fresh.md index f0e38f49cc..25e512dedd 100644 --- a/docs/getting-started/starting-fresh.md +++ b/docs/getting-started/starting-fresh.md @@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ This guide will walk through setting up a budget file fresh without migrating fr Before continuing, it might be a good idea to read about the [envelope method](/docs/getting-started/envelope-budgeting), or zero-sum budgeting as it's also called. +If you want to restart an existing budget while keeping your categories, payees, rules, and schedules, you can follow the guide on [Restarting Your Budget](/docs/advanced/restart). + ## 1. Setting up Accounts It is recommended to add all accounts you have to Actual. This includes all savings, checking, and investment accounts. @@ -122,9 +124,9 @@ Should you put your credit card debts in this category? The answer is *it depends*. For some input on this, please read our article on  [Carrying Debt](/docs/budgeting/credit-cards/carrying-debt). -3. **Daily expenses**. Group your everyday expenses for a more organized and convenient way -of tracking. This makes it easy to report on expenditures that fluctuate from month to month. -Examples of spending categories in this group are Groceries, Household Items, Fuel, Eating Out, Clothing, +3. **Daily expenses**. Group your everyday expenses for a more organized and convenient way +of tracking. This makes it easy to report on expenditures that fluctuate from month to month. +Examples of spending categories in this group are Groceries, Household Items, Fuel, Eating Out, Clothing, Personal Care, Gifts, Entertainment, Streaming services, News (paper) subscriptions, and Charities. @@ -133,12 +135,12 @@ You should have at least one category named *Emergency Fund*. Other examples ma Replacing Stove, and Replacing Washing Machine. -5. **Savings goals**. This is where you keep your savings goals categorized *on budget*. What we -mean by on budget is that if you need to reallocate money, you may settle for a cheaper Vacation or -postpone the Car Replacement or the Bathroom Renovation for a few months. If you are saving for a -long view, like your retirement, we suggest you create an *off budget* account for those kind of -savings. Money allocated in off budget accounts takes more effort to reallocate as you need to -move the actual funds from your savings account or sell your stocks or global +5. **Savings goals**. This is where you keep your savings goals categorized *on budget*. What we +mean by on budget is that if you need to reallocate money, you may settle for a cheaper Vacation or +postpone the Car Replacement or the Bathroom Renovation for a few months. If you are saving for a +long view, like your retirement, we suggest you create an *off budget* account for those kind of +savings. Money allocated in off budget accounts takes more effort to reallocate as you need to +move the actual funds from your savings account or sell your stocks or global index funds (a few examples of long term saving methods). @@ -173,9 +175,9 @@ For bills, your bank or credit card statements are good sources to establish you ### Use a spreadsheet to find your initial budget numbers -You enter all your expenses in a spreadsheet, summarize them per month, and then calculate the average. -Now, you know what you need to budget per -month. Having the budgeted numbers somewhat higher than the calculated average might be a good idea. +You enter all your expenses in a spreadsheet, summarize them per month, and then calculate the average. +Now, you know what you need to budget per +month. Having the budgeted numbers somewhat higher than the calculated average might be a good idea. This way, you add small buffers in each category as prices rise; the same goes for your rent and mortgage. Adding some extra, albeit small, paddings along the way means you are better suited when this happens. @@ -245,7 +247,7 @@ budgeting. as what you see in the *Spent* column. If done correctly, the sum under *To Budget* should correctly tell you how much money you have left. -4. Set aside time to analyze your spending and income at the end of the month. Based on this, +4. Set aside time to analyze your spending and income at the end of the month. Based on this, you can add values to the upcoming months' Budgeted column. @@ -286,9 +288,9 @@ This topic is so important on how to actually use Actual, that we have devoted a ## The next step in your budgeting journey -A good next step is to read through the "Using Actual" section of the documentation. This section has detailed explanations on the -features of Actual and how to use them. Some of the most useful features are [Rules](/docs/budgeting/rules/index.md), -[Schedules](/docs/schedules.md), [Reconciliation](/docs/accounts/reconciliation.md), +A good next step is to read through the "Using Actual" section of the documentation. This section has detailed explanations on the +features of Actual and how to use them. Some of the most useful features are [Rules](/docs/budgeting/rules/index.md), +[Schedules](/docs/schedules.md), [Reconciliation](/docs/accounts/reconciliation.md), and [Reports](/docs/reports/index.md). diff --git a/static/img/accounts/account-delete-all-transactions.png b/static/img/accounts/account-delete-all-transactions.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..b5f6ae1827 Binary files /dev/null and b/static/img/accounts/account-delete-all-transactions.png differ