Hi, I just started using this GB, but previously did a similar system using spreadsheets. So, my envelopes are not starting out at zero, some are positive and some are negative. How can i show that without changing my bank total? I am trying to enter everything starting at June first, so my bank is lined up with June first total, so if I try to start my envelopes out at anything other than zero it is taking from my bank account.
Hmm, moving money into and out of envelopes shouldn’t be changing your bank account, because those two views are just different representations of the same money. When you first create your account(s), all the money will be represented in the Available “envelope”. You then just distribute it among the envelopes to carry you through the remainder of the month. In order to do that though, you have to have a budget-period’s worth of cushion in the account, or else your Available money will fall into the negative. If that’s the case, then distribute what you have, prioritizing what will be needed before your next income, then move ahead when that’s received.
I think what I’d do would be to enter the June 1st bank balance, then all the transactions that are posted or pending since then (which should give you the available balance as of today). Then distribute your funds among your envelopes, being sure to cover all the negatives and adding funds to the priority envelopes which should hopefully put everything back in the black.
The transactions will appropriately decrease your available balance (to bring it current), but the envelope distribution from Available won’t.
Does any of that help?
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Haha! Omygoodness thank you for clearing the cobwebs out of my brain. I knew that in my mind, but something wasn’t clicking. Ok, ready to dive back in, will return if/when I have more questions.
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