Three Budget Modes

What Are Budget Modes?

Budget modes let you customize how OneBudget calculates your Safe to Spend. Different financial situations call for different approaches, and these modes give you the flexibility to match your budgeting style.

The Three Modes

Income-Based Mode (Default)

Best for: Regular income earners who want budgets tied to their paychecks.

Income-Based mode:

• Calculates Safe to Spend from your detected income
• Subtracts bills due in the current period
• Subtracts your category budgets
• Includes carryover from previous periods

This is the standard mode for most users. OneBudget detects your pay schedule and aligns your budget periods accordingly.

How it works:

Safe to Spend = Income - Bills - Category Budgets - Already Spent + Rollover

Savings Mode

Best for: Living off savings, between jobs, or targeting a specific monthly burn rate.

Savings Mode:

• You set a target monthly burn rate (how much you want to spend)
• Safe to Spend is calculated from your burn rate, not income
• Helps you stretch savings over a specific timeframe
• Great for gap periods or sabbaticals

When to use it:

• Between jobs and living off savings
• Taking a planned break from work
• Have irregular income and want consistent budgeting
• Trying to minimize spending for a specific goal

How it works:

Safe to Spend = (Monthly Burn Rate / Days in Period) x Days Remaining - Already Spent

Fixed Budget Mode

Best for: Users who want complete manual control over their budget.

Fixed Budget Mode:

• You set an exact monthly budget amount
• Safe to Spend ignores detected income
• Full control over your spending limit
• Useful when income detection doesn't match your situation

When to use it:

• Income is inconsistent or hard to detect
• You receive cash payments not tracked by banks
• You want a stricter budget than your income suggests
• Multiple income sources with complex timing

How it works:

Safe to Spend = Fixed Monthly Budget - Bills - Already Spent

How to Change Modes

1. Go to Settings in the bottom navigation
2. Tap Budget
3. Select your desired mode
4. Configure the mode settings (burn rate or fixed amount)
5. Tap Save

Mode Settings

Income-Based Settings

• Budget Period Type: Weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly
• Carryover Mode: How to handle overspending between periods

Savings Mode Settings

• Target Monthly Burn Rate: How much you want to spend per month
• Current Savings Balance: Optional, for tracking how long savings will last

Fixed Budget Settings

• Fixed Monthly Budget: Your exact monthly spending limit

Tips for Choosing a Mode

1. Start with Income-Based - It works well for most people with regular paychecks
2. Use Savings Mode temporarily - Great for job transitions or planned breaks
3. Try Fixed Budget if income is complex - Freelancers or multiple earners may prefer this
4. You can switch anytime - Modes can be changed as your situation evolves

Carryover Still Applies

Regardless of which mode you choose, carryover rules still apply:

• Negative Carryover: Deficit carries to next period (reduces Safe to Spend)
• Reduce Rollover: Surplus reduced by any previous deficit
• Forgive: Each period starts fresh (no carryover)

Configure carryover in Settings > Budget > Carryover Mode.