Managing Your Bills

Understanding Bills in BudgetPro

In BudgetPro, a bill is any expense you know is coming—money that needs to leave your account. This includes:

• Fixed expenses: Rent, mortgage, car payments, insurance
• Utilities: Electric, gas, water, internet, phone
• Subscriptions: Netflix, Spotify, gym membership, software
• Loan payments: Student loans, credit cards, personal loans
• Regular obligations: Child support, alimony, HOA fees
• One-time expenses: Medical bills, annual registrations, tax payments

Adding a New Bill

To add a bill to BudgetPro:

1. Click "Add Bill"

   Find the "Add Bill" button at the bottom of the Upcoming Bills panel.
2. Enter the Bill Name

   Type a descriptive name like "Electric - ComEd" or "Car Payment - Honda". Be specific so you remember what it is.
3. Enter the Amount

   Type the dollar amount. For variable bills like utilities, use your best estimate or recent average.
4. Set the Due Date

   Choose the date when this bill is due. This determines which pay period the bill appears in.
5. Choose the Schedule Type

   Select whether this bill is One-time, Recurring, or Varied. See schedule types explained below.
6. Save the Bill

   Click "Save Changes" to add the bill. It will appear in the Upcoming Bills list and on the calendar.

Bill Schedule Types

BudgetPro supports three schedule types to handle different kinds of bills:

One-Time Bills

Use this for expenses that only happen once:

• Medical co-pays and one-time procedures
• Home repairs
• Annual tax payments
• One-time purchases you're planning
• Gifts for special occasions

When you mark a one-time bill as paid, it's done—no future dates are scheduled.

Recurring Bills

Use this for bills that repeat on a predictable schedule:

Varied Bills

Use this for bills with unpredictable timing:

• Utility bills that arrive at different times each month
• Credit card payments when you pay them manually
• Services billed "upon completion"

When you mark a varied bill as paid, you'll be prompted to enter the next expected due date manually.

Marking Bills as Paid

When you pay a bill, mark it as paid in BudgetPro to keep your budget accurate:

1. Find the Bill

   Locate the bill in your Upcoming Bills list. It will show a ⏳ Pending status.
2. Click the Status Toggle

   Click on the status badge or toggle button to change it from Pending to Paid.
3. Confirm the Action

   A confirmation dialog will appear showing what will happen. Click "Confirm" to proceed.

What Happens When You Mark a Bill Paid

Editing Existing Bills

Need to change a bill's details? Here's how to edit different aspects:

Editing the Name

Click directly on the bill name in the table. It becomes an editable field. Type the new name and click elsewhere or press Enter to save.

Editing the Amount

Click on the amount field to edit it. This is useful when:

• A utility bill comes in higher or lower than expected
• A subscription price changed
• You want to update your estimate

Changing the Due Date

Click on the date field to pick a new date. Use this when:

• A due date changes
• You set up autopay for a different day
• You need to delay a payment

Changing the Schedule

Select a different schedule type from the dropdown. If changing to "Recurring," you'll also need to select the frequency (Monthly, Weekly, etc.).

Deleting a Bill

To remove a bill entirely, click the delete button (🗑️) next to the bill. Confirm the deletion when prompted. This is useful for:

• Subscriptions you've cancelled
• Loans you've paid off
• Bills entered by mistake

How Recurring Bills Work

Recurring bills in BudgetPro are designed to minimize your data entry. Here's how the automation works:

Automatic Date Advancement

When you mark a recurring bill as "Paid," BudgetPro automatically calculates and sets the next due date based on the frequency:

Reverting (Marking Back to Pending)

If you accidentally mark a recurring bill as paid:

1. Toggle the status back to Pending
2. The due date will automatically revert to the previous date
3. All calculations will update accordingly

Viewing Payment History

BudgetPro keeps track of your payment history for each bill. To view it:

1. Find the bill in your Upcoming Bills list
2. Click the history icon (📋) next to the bill
3. A panel will show all recorded payments for that bill

Payment history shows:

• Date of each payment
• Amount paid
• Running total over time

Best Practices for Bill Management

1. Enter All Regular Bills First

When starting with BudgetPro, take time to enter all your recurring bills. Go through your bank statements if needed. Missing a bill can throw off your budget projections.

2. Use Descriptive Names

Instead of just "Electric," use "Electric - ComEd" or "Electric - 123 Main St". This is especially helpful if you have multiple accounts or properties.

3. Update Variable Bills

For bills that change (utilities, phone usage), update the amount when you receive the actual bill. This keeps your projections accurate.

4. Mark Bills Paid Promptly

When you pay a bill, mark it in BudgetPro right away. This keeps your Safe to Spend calculation accurate and prevents confusion.

5. Plan for Annual Bills

Don't forget annual expenses like:

• Vehicle registration
• Annual subscriptions (Amazon Prime, professional memberships)
• Property taxes (if not escrowed)
• Insurance premiums (if paid annually)

Enter these as yearly recurring bills so you're not surprised when they come due.

6. Review and Clean Up

Periodically review your bill list:

• Delete subscriptions you've cancelled
• Update amounts that have changed
• Add new bills you've taken on