Budgets

Budgets in Mistos work like envelopes — you give every dollar a job, so you always know what's safe to spend.

How-To Guides

How to create a budget envelope

Envelopes turn a vague "I should spend less" into a clear, friendly limit for each part of your life.

1. On the Budgets page, click Allocate Envelope.
2. Choose a Category from the list, like Groceries, Rent, or Transport.
3. Enter your monthly Envelope Limit.
4. Click Create. Your new envelope appears with a progress bar ready to track spending.

💡 Tip: Not sure what to set? Check the A few budgets you might want card — Misto suggests limits based on your real spending over the last 60 days.

How to edit or delete an envelope

Life shifts, and your envelopes can shift right along with it.

1. On the envelope card, click the pencil icon to open Edit budget envelope.
2. Change the Category or Envelope Limit.
3. Click Update to save your changes.
4. To remove an envelope instead, click the trash icon, then confirm at Delete envelope?. It disappears right away.

How to shift cash between envelopes

When one envelope runs low, you can quietly borrow from another that has room to spare.

1. On the envelope you want to pull money from, click the double-arrow icon to open Shift Envelope Cash.
2. Pick where the money should go under To Envelope.
3. Enter the Amount to Transfer.
4. Click Shift Cash. A little confetti confirms the move, and both envelopes update instantly.

How to leave a sticky note on an envelope

Sticky notes are a warm little way to remind yourself (or your household) why an envelope looks the way it does.

1. On any envelope, click the sticky-note icon.
2. Type your reminder into Type a sticky note....
3. Pick one of the five colors.
4. Click Post. Your note appears with your name and initial for the current month.

How to accept one of Misto's suggested budgets

If setting limits from scratch feels like guesswork, let Misto offer a gentle starting point — for free.

1. On the Budgets page, find the A few budgets you might want card.
2. Look over each suggestion — you'll see how many transactions Misto noticed and your average spend per month.
3. Click Set [amount]/mo on any category you like.
4. That envelope is created instantly, and Misto confirms with "Set [category] budget to [amount]/month."

How to ask the Mistos Budget Companion for a hand (Premium)

When your budget feels tangled, the Budget Companion can talk it through in plain English and offer one-tap fixes.

1. On the Budgets page, find the Mistos Budget Companion panel.
2. Click Analyze my envelopes and wait a moment while Misto scans.
3. Read Misto's summary of where your money is drifting this month.
4. Under Smart Quick Fixes, click Apply Shift on any suggestion to move the cash for you.
5. Or type a plain instruction into the command box, like "shift 50 from dining to groceries."

✨ Good to know: The Budget Companion is part of Misto's Premium. On the free plan you'll see a calm locked panel — tap Unlock the Budget Companion to visit the Upgrade screen whenever you're ready. Misto's auto-suggested budgets, though, are always free.

Frequently Asked Questions

"What do the three cards at the top of the Budgets page mean?"

Those cards tell you the whole story of your month at a glance. Earned Income Pool is what's come in, Assigned to Envelopes is what you've already given a job, and Unassigned Income Pool is what's still waiting to be placed. When that last card reaches exactly zero, its icon turns a happy green — that's every dollar accounted for. Misto's golden bubble sums it up in a sentence too, whether you have money still waiting for a job or you've reached "Every dollar has a job. The month rests at zero."

"What happens if I overspend an envelope?"

Nothing breaks, and nothing shouts at you. The envelope's footer simply switches from "Cash remaining +[amount]" to "Overflowed -[amount]," and the bar and envelope flap turn a soft terracotta — never an alarming red. It's just Misto letting you know gently. If you'd like to smooth it over, click the double-arrow icon and use Shift Cash to top the envelope up from one with room to spare.

"Why can't I use the Budget Companion?"

The Budget Companion coach is part of Misto's Premium, so on the free plan you'll see a locked "AI Assistant · Premium" panel instead of the working controls. Whenever you're ready, tap Unlock the Budget Companion to head to the Upgrade screen. In the meantime, Misto's auto-suggested budgets on this same page are completely free — so you're never left without help.

"Can my household see the sticky notes I leave?"

Yes — sticky notes are shared with your household members, so they're a friendly way to stay on the same page. Only the current month's notes show, and the note keeps your name and initial. If you'd like to remove one, hover over it and use the delete option (the note's author or the budget owner can clear it).