When you create your budget in EveryDollar, you're building it for a one-month time frame—focused on the income and expenses specific to that month. This means that any money already in your bank account before the month began (like a buffer or saved amount) won’t automatically be included in that month’s budget.
Want to Track That Extra Money?
If you're using EveryDollar Premium, you have the option to display a buffer in the Paycheck Planning tool. This lets you keep track of that extra money—such as a cushion or leftover funds from a previous month—while still budgeting your current income accurately.
The buffer in Paycheck Planning is not a part of your monthly budget in the Budget view. The buffer is unallocated money in your checking account. It is not associated with or connected to your income for the month.
The buffer is intended to represent money left over from the previous month and/or money that is not a part of your budget. It is money to supplement spending before your next paycheck arrives and to alleviate the dependency on overdraft protection.
Saving for Something Specific?
If you've set aside money for a future expense or savings goal, you can reflect that in your budget using a:
Fund – Great for ongoing savings like emergency funds or annual expenses.
Goal – Perfect for tracking toward a one-time savings target with a set deadline.
These tools help you stay organized and intentional with all your money, not just your monthly paychecks.