Create My Budget
One clear process: understand why a budget matters, gather your information, review it, then approve the budget DollarEase proposes for you.
Sign in on Account / Access so budgets save under your ICN identity. You can still draft a plan on this device until you are signed in.
Why Is a Budget Necessary?
A budget is more than a list of income and expenses. It's a commitment you make to yourself about how you will handle your money.
When we're young, a parent or another responsible adult may sometimes tell us, “No, you shouldn't spend that,” even when we really want to. As adults, no one has the authority to make those decisions for us. We can spend our money however we choose.
A budget gives us that missing boundary.
When you create a budget, you're deciding in advance what is most important—your home, bills, everyday needs, financial goals, savings, and even money for yourself. Later, when you're tempted to spend money differently, the budget reminds you of the commitments you already made.
For a budget to work, you have to make a commitment to respect the decisions you made when you created it.
You are still in control. The budget doesn't control your money—you do. But you're choosing to let your carefully planned budget guide your day-to-day decisions.
A good budget can help you:
- Pay important bills on time
- Avoid spending money already needed for something else
- Prepare for unexpected expenses
- Reduce financial stress
- Work toward savings and other financial goals
- Understand where your money is going
- Make spending decisions with greater confidence
- Build toward financial freedom
If what you want is financial freedom, having a budget is the first step to that freedom.
Your account
My Regular Paycheck or Income
Enter money you normally receive on a regular schedule. If you already confirmed regular income from your connected accounts, DollarEase can show it here — uncertain deposits are never treated as dependable budget income until you say so.
Extra, Irregular, or One-Time Income
Money that is NOT dependable regular income stays separate. DollarEase will not treat irregular or one-time income as guaranteed next month.
My Bills & Expenses
Confirmed bills from your account review can appear here. Unconfirmed suggestions are not added automatically. Only you decide whether each expense is necessary.
My Regular Weekly / Everyday Expenses
Enter the things you normally spend money on during a typical week.
Pocket Money
Money set aside for you to spend freely. You choose the amount and how often. DollarEase does not decide how much pocket money you should have unless you ask for help.
Money Saved Each Week for Monthly Bills
Set aside part of this week's money to help pay your rent or mortgage, utilities, car payment, insurance, phone, and other monthly bills.
Starting Savings & Progress
Tell DollarEase what you already have saved. Progress milestones every $500 celebrate your progress — they are not a requirement to participate.
One-Month-Ahead Fund
Before the full One-Month-Ahead cycle, DollarEase helps you accumulate enough for one complete normal month of your budget. Once funded, this month’s income prepares next month’s budget. This fund stays separate from Safety Savings.
Safety Savings — Separate from One-Month-Ahead
Safety Savings is money set aside for unexpected needs. You control how much (if any) each paycheck contributes. It is not used for next month’s normal budget.
Optional investment / retirement contribution
If you want, choose a cash amount from this paycheck plan to put toward investments or retirement. DollarEase does not decide that you should invest. $0 is allowed.
Saving for Your Child’s Future
Build a financial foothold for each child’s adult life. DollarEase organizes numbers and options. You decide what to put toward each Future Fund.
Business Startup
Saving to Start a Business is managed on its own page. Funds you save there can be included when you create your budget.
Financial Goals
Include contributions toward savings, emergency fund, retirement, investments, debt payoff, or other goals you choose. DollarEase does not automatically prioritize one goal over another.
Your Financial Path
DollarEase adapts guidance from your balances and answers — never income-class labels. Established customers can open an advanced questionnaire.
Review My Information
Take a moment to review your information. Is there anything else you want DollarEase to include in your budget?
DollarEase will not create a proposed budget until you choose Everything Is Included.
Create My Budget
Proposed Budget
This is a proposal — not your finalized budget yet. Remaining money is shown and is not automatically moved into savings.