Your friendly, step-by-step guide to BudgetPH

BudgetPH is a friendly app that helps you see where your money goes and take control of it. This guide walks you through the whole app, step by step, with pictures of what each screen looks like. There's no rush — read at your own pace.

1. 1BudgetPH works in any web browser, and you can also add it to your phone like an app.
2. 2Everything starts free. You don't need a credit card to use it.
3. 3Use the menu on the left (or the bottom bar on your phone) to move between sections.
4. 4Tip: if the text on this page feels small, tap the A+ buttons at the top to make it bigger.

First, make your free account. Then, on your phone, add BudgetPH to your home screen so it opens like a normal app — even when you're offline.

1. 1Tap “Get Started Free” and enter your email and a password. That's it.
2. 2On a phone, open your browser menu and choose “Add to Home Screen.” An icon appears like any other app.
3. 3Next time, just tap that icon — no need to type the website.

Tell BudgetPH how much money comes in. It's built for the Filipino payday cycle — the 15th and 30th — but it also works for weekly, every-two-weeks, or monthly pay.

1. 1Open the Income section.
2. 2Enter what you expect to receive before payday, then update the actual amount after you get paid.
3. 3Choose where it came from: Salary, Freelance, OFW Remittance, Business, and so on.
4. 4If you earn from more than one place, add each one — the dashboard shows the breakdown.

Essentials are the things you must pay — rent, electricity, water, food, and fare. Give each one a monthly budget so you can see if you're staying within it.

1. 1Open the Essentials section.
2. 2Add each need (for example, “Groceries”) and type a monthly budget for it.
3. 3As you spend, a colored bar fills up — green means you're within budget, red means you went over.

These are the nice-to-haves — milk tea, food delivery, shopping, subscriptions. Logging them shows you the small spending that quietly adds up.

1. 1Open the Non-Essentials section and add what you spent, with a category.
2. 2Or save time: import your GCash or Maya history and it fills these in for you.
3. 3Check the pie chart on the dashboard to see which wants take the biggest slice.

Add your regular bills with their due dates. BudgetPH reminds you before they're due so you avoid late fees.

1. 1Open the Bills section and add each bill (Meralco, water, internet, rent) with its due date.
2. 2You'll get a reminder the day before and the day it's due.
3. 3Tap “Mark Paid” once you've settled it — it then drops off your to-do list.

Saving works best when it's a plan, not whatever's left over. Pick a goal and watch the progress ring fill up.

1. 1Open the Savings section and create a goal, like “Emergency Fund — ₱50,000.”
2. 2Each month, set aside an amount toward it.
3. 3The ring shows how close you are. Aim to save about 20% of your income if you can.

If you use a credit card or bought something on “hulugan” (installment), track them here so there are no surprises.

1. 1In Credit Cards, add each card with its balance and due date, and mark it paid when settled.
2. 2In Installments, enter a purchase once (total, months, monthly amount) and the payment is tracked for you automatically each month.
3. 3You can link an installment to a card so it isn't counted twice.

Your money lives in many places — cash, bank, GCash, Maya. Add them as accounts and BudgetPH shows your total net worth and how money flows.

1. 1Open Accounts and add each place you keep money.
2. 2As you log income, spending, and transfers, balances update automatically.
3. 3Open Money Map to see your net worth and where money comes in and goes out.

BudgetPH has tools made for Filipino life that other apps don't — this is what makes it feel like home.

1. 1Paluwagan: run your rotating savings group — auto-generated rounds and a reminder when it's your turn to receive the pot.
2. 2Loan / Utang: track money you owe and money owed to you, and record repayments until settled.
3. 3Gov Benefits: log your SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG contributions, with yearly totals for tax time.
4. 4Split Groups: split a trip or group bill with friends — the app computes who owes whom, no account needed for them.

BudgetPH gently turns good habits into a game. The more you keep up, the higher your score climbs — and it's completely private to you.

1. 1Check in regularly to build a daily streak.
2. 2Earn points (XP) for paying bills, saving, and finishing the month in the green.
3. 3Watch your Budget Credit Score (0–850) rise as your habits improve. It's not a bank score and is never shared.

You're all set! Here's where to go if you ever feel stuck.

1. 1Every section has a short help note at the top explaining what it does.
2. 2Browse the Features pages for a closer look at any tool.
3. 3Read the Guides and Blog for step-by-step how-tos and money tips for your situation.