GentleDay Budget Help Guide
GentleDay Budget · Help guide

One calm step
at a time.

Short answers with pictures. Read only what you need. Tap any ? in the app for the same kind of help.

Start here

Your first five minutes

Three quick questions, and your daily number is ready. No spreadsheet, no bank login.

  1. Type your first name.
  2. Add your paycheck: how much lands in your account, and how often.
  3. Pick your next payday. GentleDay works out the rest.
Try itWant to look around first? Tap Try with example numbers. You can erase them anytime in Settings.
The GentleDay welcome screen
The big number

Safe to spend today

What you can spend today and still be okay until payday. Bills and savings are already covered.

  1. Glance at it before you buy.
  2. Tap How is this calculated? to see every step.
  3. The bar shows how many days are left until payday.
Try itSpend a little less today, and tomorrow’s number grows a little.
Safe to spend today card
Everyday

Log a spend

Two taps, and today’s number updates right away.

  1. Type the amount, or tap a quick amount like +$5.
  2. Tap what it was for, like Groceries.
  3. Choose how you paid, then tap Add spend.
Try itPaid by debit card? Choose Checking. Tapped by mistake? Tap Undo.
Log a spend card
Bills

Every bill you owe

Add a bill once, and GentleDay sets the money aside before you spend.

  1. Go to Bills and tap Add a bill.
  2. Add the name, amount and due day.
  3. Choose Auto-pay if it pays itself, or I pay it myself.
  4. Paid one yourself? Tap Mark paid and choose how you paid.
Try itPaid twice a month? Add it as two bills, like Rent (1st) and Rent (15th).
Add a bill windowHow did you pay window
Today

Coming up and Right now

Coming up lists your next bills. Right now shows the one thing that matters today, and gently lets you know when an auto-payment went out.

  1. Paid items stay for 24 hours with Undo.
  2. Turn the Right now card off in Settings › Daily coach.
Try itTap Mark paid once a bill leaves your account.
Coming up card
Plan

Your month on one calendar

A green dot is a payday. An orange dot is a bill. Today has a bright outline.

  1. Tap any day to see what’s on it.
  2. Use Prev and Next to move between months.
  3. Forgot to log something? Tap the day, then Spend on this day.
Try itTap your next payday and see what’s coming before it.
Plan calendar
Money in

Extra income

Tips, side jobs, gifts and refunds. Your regular paycheck is set in Settings.

  1. Tap Add income and choose if it has arrived.
  2. Still waiting? It isn’t counted yet.
  3. When it shows up, tap It arrived.
Try itMoved it straight to savings? Choose Savings and today’s number stays the same.
Still expected card
Goals

Saving for something

Big or small: an emergency fund, a trip, a new phone.

  1. Tap New goal, then give it a name and a target.
  2. Tap Add money from your paycheck, or mark money already in savings.
  3. Watch the ring fill up.
Try itEven $5 counts. Small steps add up.
A goal card
Envelopes

A gentle limit

Give one kind of spending a monthly limit, like groceries.

  1. Tap Add an envelope and pick a category.
  2. Set the most you’d like to spend in a month.
  3. The bar shows what’s left, and about how much per day.
Try itStart with just one envelope, for the thing you overspend on most.
An envelope card
Debt

Paying it down

Track one debt or many, or skip this screen. It’s up to you.

  1. Tap Add a debt: a credit card, a car loan, or anything else.
  2. Record payments, or turn on auto-pay.
  3. Have 2 or more? Pick Snowball (smallest first) or Avalanche (highest interest first).
Try itNot sure? Start with Snowball. Add a little extra each month to finish sooner.
Your payoff plan card
Settings

Accounts and moving money

Your checking, savings and credit cards in one place. A rough balance is fine.

  1. Go to Settings › Payment methods.
  2. Tap Edit to add a rough balance.
  3. Tap Move money to move your own money between accounts.
Try itMoving money to savings lowers today’s number. Moving it back raises it.
Payment methods card
Habits

Three small things

Small, easy habits to tick off each day. They reset every morning.

  1. Tick one when it’s done.
  2. Tap + to add your own.
Try itPick the quickest one and do it now.
Three small things card
Sync · Optional

One planner.
Every device.

Log a coffee on your phone, see it on your computer. Your numbers are locked on your device before they travel, so no one else can read them. Not even us.

$$Your phoneLockedMailbox: locked box onlyUnlockedYour computer
1

On the device that has your numbers

Go to Settings › Sync and tap Show a code. Keep the window open.

Your code for the other device window
2

On your other device

Open GentleDay, tap Enter a code and type the 6 digits. On a new device, the button is right on the welcome screen.

Enter a code windowSync card showing On, Synced just now
About a minuteChanges show up on your other devices.
Works offlineKeep logging. It syncs when you’re back online.
Nothing gets lostChanges from both devices are kept, item by item.
Locked firstYour numbers are locked on your device before they leave it.

Good to know

  • One code links one device. Want a third? Tap Show a code for another device again.
  • Each code works once, for 10 minutes.
  • Linking replaces the numbers on the new device with your planner, so always show the code on the device that has your numbers.
  • iPhone: enter the code inside the Home Screen app, not in Safari. They keep separate copies.
  • Want to stop? Settings › Sync › Stop syncing on this device. Your numbers stay on that device.
Your data

Backups and new devices

Everything is saved on your device. A backup keeps a copy safe, in case you lose your phone or clear your browser.

  1. Go to Settings › Your data and tap Copy backup text.
  2. Paste it into Notes or an email to yourself.
  3. On a new device, tap Paste backup text on the welcome screen, then Restore.
Try itMac and iPhone with the same Apple ID? Copy on one, and paste on the other within two minutes.
Your data card
Make it yours

Day, Night and Warmth

Pick the look that’s easiest on your eyes. In Day, slide Warmth for softer colors.

  1. Find it under Settings › Appearance.
  2. Turn Ambient motion off for a still background.
  3. Tap Hints at the top to turn the ? tips on or off.
Try itToo bright? Slide Warmth. Too busy? Turn motion off.
Appearance card
Quick fixes

If something looks wrong

It opened inside another appTap Open in browser, or copy the link into Safari or Chrome.
The icon opens an empty plannerEach browser keeps its own copy. Tap Paste backup text and restore.
No Add to Home Screen optionMake sure you’re in Safari or Chrome. Tap the address bar to show the buttons.
A number looks offTap How is this calculated? under today’s number, then check your paycheck and bills.
Not seeing the latest updateClose GentleDay completely, then open it again.
A change isn’t on my other deviceGive it about a minute, or close and reopen GentleDay. Check that Settings › Sync says On.
Moving to a new phoneCopy your backup text first, then paste it on the new phone’s welcome screen.

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