Budgets and Envelopes
This recipe walks through setting up an envelope budgeting system that preserves every adjustment.
Log structure
- Create a parent balance log named Household Budget.
- Add child logs for Housing, Groceries, Utilities, Savings, and Leisure.
- Tag child logs with
#monthlyor#quarterlyto group reviews.
Opening balances
Import your latest spending data using CSV with the following columns:
| column | description |
|---|---|
ledger_id |
The target log (parent or child) |
direction |
credit or debit |
amount |
Positive numeric value |
occurred_at |
ISO 8601 timestamp |
note |
Optional description |
You can export a blank template from Workspace settings → Imports.
Recurring funding
- Create entries that credit each child log at the start of the month.
- Use your own automations or reminders to mirror real-world funding.
Reviewing history
Filter the log by tag or amount range to identify outliers. Because entries are append-only, you can replay the log state at any date to see available balances.
Exports
When you export budgeting data, keep monthly snapshots so you can compare changes between periods using diff tools or spreadsheets.