Getting started
Longhand Budget helps you understand your finances by tracking income, expenses, savings, and investments — and projecting where you are headed.
Everything on the Free tier runs entirely in your browser. Your data is stored locally on your device and never leaves it, so you can start using the app immediately without creating an account. It's intentional budgeting without bank sync or AI integrations: you plan with the figures you enter, and the app never connects to your bank.
Add your first income source
- Open the Income page.
- Choose Add income source.
- Enter a name (for example, Salary or Freelance).
- Enter the amount that reaches your bank account — your pay after tax and any other deductions.
- Pick how often you receive it: weekly, biweekly, monthly, or annually.
- Save.
Add your expenses
The Expenses page works the same way. Add each recurring expense with its amount and frequency. Longhand converts every entry to a common monthly basis before comparing them, so income and expenses with different frequencies line up correctly. If you want to check those figures against your own spreadsheet, How totals are calculated gives the exact conversion.
See your overview
The home page brings everything together: your income and expenses on a common monthly basis, and your net worth. Charts break your money down by category so you can see where it goes at a glance.
Next steps
- Track progress toward goals on the Savings page.
- Record investments, debts, and anything you own outright — a home, a car, cash — on the Balance Tracking page. If you have a mortgage or another loan, Where a mortgage belongs explains which part goes where.
- Look ahead with the retirement planner.
Read the Features guide for a full tour, or check the FAQ if you have questions.