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Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions​

What's the difference between Budget and Off-Budget accounts?​

Budget Accounts count toward your available spending money. This includes:

  • Checking accounts
  • Credit cards (available credit)
  • Savings you regularly spend from

Off-Budget Accounts are tracked separately and don't affect your budget calculations:

  • Emergency funds
  • Investment accounts
  • Retirement accounts
  • Long-term savings goals

Think of it this way: Budget accounts answer "How much can I spend?" while Off-Budget accounts answer "How much am I worth?"

Should my emergency fund be Budget or Off-Budget?​

Off-Budget. Emergency funds should be Off-Budget because:

  • You don't want to accidentally "spend" this money in your budget
  • It's not part of your regular monthly spending calculations
  • You'll still see the balance, but it won't affect your available funds

How do I handle credit cards?​

For credit cards, enter your available credit as a positive balance in a Budget Account.

Example: If you have a $5,000 credit limit and currently owe $2,000, enter $3,000 as your account balance. This represents money you can still spend.

What about loans and debts?​

For loans, create an Off-Budget account with a negative balance:

  • Car loan of $15,000 = enter -$15,000
  • Student loan of $30,000 = enter -$30,000

This lets you track how much you owe without affecting your spending budget.

Setup Questions​

I have multiple checking accounts. How should I handle them?​

Create separate accounts for each one:

  • "Chase Checking"
  • "Wells Fargo Checking"
  • "Credit Union Checking"

All can be Budget accounts if you use them for spending. If one is specifically for bills only, you might make it Off-Budget.

Should I add my 401k or retirement accounts?​

Yes, add them as Off-Budget accounts. While you can't spend this money day-to-day, it's valuable to track your total net worth and watch your retirement savings grow.

My bank account shows available balance vs actual balance. Which do I use?​

Use your actual balance (also called "current balance"). Don't include pending transactions or overdraft protection in your udctl balance.

I have foreign currency accounts. How does this work?​

Currently, enter the equivalent amount in your primary currency. For example, if you have €1,000 and primarily use USD, enter approximately $1,100 (depending on current exchange rates).

Daily Use Questions​

How often should I update my account balances?​

Weekly or monthly is usually sufficient. You don't need to update every day unless you want to. Many users update when they:

  • Pay bills
  • Get paid
  • Check their bank accounts anyway
  • Notice a big expense

What if I forget to update balances?​

No problem! udctl doesn't automatically sync with your bank, so it relies on you to keep it current. Just update when you remember - your history will still be valuable.

Can I connect my bank accounts automatically?​

Not currently. udctl requires manual balance updates. This gives you more control and privacy, but means you need to update balances yourself.

How do I handle cash?​

Create a Budget account called "Cash" or "Wallet" and update it when you get cash from ATMs or spend cash. Many users round to the nearest $20 since exact cash tracking is difficult.

Privacy and Security​

Can other people see my account information?​

No. Your accounts are completely private. Each user only sees their own accounts and data.

What is "blind mode"?​

Blind mode hides all dollar amounts on your screen. It's useful when:

  • Presenting your screen in meetings
  • Using the app in public
  • Someone else is looking at your screen

Turn it on/off with the eye icon on your accounts page.

Is my financial data secure?​

Yes. udctl uses industry-standard security practices:

  • All data is encrypted
  • You can only see your own accounts
  • No sharing between users without permission

Troubleshooting​

My totals don't look right. What could be wrong?​

Check these common issues:

  1. Credit cards: Should show available credit, not debt owed
  2. Account types: Emergency savings should be Off-Budget
  3. Loans: Should be negative balances in Off-Budget accounts
  4. Old balances: Update any accounts with old information

I set up an account wrong. Can I change it?​

Yes! Click on the account name and you can:

  • Change the name
  • Update the balance
  • Switch between Budget and Off-Budget
  • Add or edit notes
  • Delete the account entirely

I accidentally deleted an account. Can I get it back?​

Unfortunately, deleted accounts can't be recovered. You'll need to re-create it with the current balance. This is why we recommend being careful with the delete button.

The app shows money I don't actually have available.​

This usually means:

  1. Investment accounts are marked as Budget (should be Off-Budget)
  2. Emergency savings is marked as Budget (should be Off-Budget)
  3. Credit card debt is entered wrong (should be available credit, not debt amount)

Advanced Usage​

Can I organize accounts into groups?​

Not currently, but you can use consistent naming:

  • "Bank - Checking"
  • "Bank - Savings"
  • "Investment - 401k"
  • "Investment - Brokerage"

How do I track multiple currencies?​

For now, convert everything to your primary currency and enter the equivalent amounts. Native multi-currency support is planned for the future.

Can I export my account data?​

Account data export isn't currently available, but it's on the roadmap for future updates.

What happens to my data if I stop using udctl?​

Your data belongs to you. While there's no export feature yet, your account information isn't locked in - you can always manually record the balances elsewhere if needed.

Still Need Help?​

If your question isn't answered here:

  1. Check the main Account Management guide
  2. Try the Quick Start Guide
  3. Contact support through the app

Remember: there's no "perfect" way to set up accounts. Choose the approach that makes sense for your financial situation and gives you the clearest picture of your money!