Home Finances · Pro

Set monthly budgets that stick

Create monthly category limits (e.g., Groceries €400) and watch progress update as you spend. Instantly see what’s left and adjust limits anytime.

Reviewed by GoTaskhub Team · Last updated 21 Oct 2025

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Per-category limitsClear progress barsMonth by monthStay on track

Monthly budget planner showing category limits with progress bars and remaining amounts

Highlights

A quick snapshot of what you can do.

Simple monthly targets

Clear category limits that are easy to follow, even with a busy schedule.

Progress you can trust

Bars and remaining amounts update automatically from your logged expenses.

Built for consistency

Stable categories help you compare months and see real progress over time.

Stay proactive

Quick check-ins help you spot hot categories early and adjust calmly.

How it works

Simple steps to get powerful results.

Choose categories

Start with the essentials that actually drive your monthly spend-Groceries, Utilities, Transport, Housing, and a catch-all for Miscellaneous. Keep names short and stable so year-over-year comparisons remain meaningful. You can refine later if a category consistently hides big sub-items (e.g., split Subscriptions if it masks overspend).

Set monthly limits

Pick amounts you can stick to, not aspirational targets. Use last month’s totals as a baseline and trim modestly rather than drastically. You’ll get better results with several months of small improvements than a single, unsustainable slash.

Log expenses

Record purchases as you go or batch once a day. Each entry updates progress bars and remaining amounts instantly. Add a short note (store or reason) to make later reviews effortless. Consistency beats perfection-quick entries keep the system alive.

Review & adjust

Check in weekly: scan categories, spot hotspots, and nudge limits if priorities shifted (guests in town, new commute, etc.). Wrap up the month by comparing against plan, then set next month’s limits with what you learned.

Key Benefits

What you get out of this feature - fast.

Set limits per category

Define clear monthly limits for categories like Groceries, Transport, Utilities, and Housing. Short, stable category lists make it easier to track patterns and avoid fragmentation (for instance, grouping all streaming services under Subscriptions). You can tailor the list to your household and keep it consistent month-to-month so your totals are comparable. This keeps budgeting practical and helps you focus on the handful of areas that actually move the needle.

Short, stable categories for clean comparisons
Avoid fragmentation (group similar items)
Focus on the few categories that matter most

Track progress automatically

As you log expenses, the progress bars fill and the remaining amounts adjust in real time. This feedback loop nudges better decisions without requiring spreadsheets or manual calculations. If a category is running hot, you’ll catch it early-often early enough to steer the rest of the month. Pair it with weekly check-ins for a quick, five-minute budgeting ritual that actually sticks.

Progress bars update with every expense
Catch “hot” categories early
Works great with a quick weekly check-in

Adjust anytime (without losing history)

Plans change. If you need to increase Groceries or trim Dining Out mid-month, just edit the limit-your history stays intact and the progress recalculates instantly. This flexibility avoids the classic “blown budget” spiral. Instead, you adapt targets to reality and keep momentum, building a budgeting habit that’s durable in the long run.

Edit limits mid-month without breaking history
Instant recalculation of remaining amounts
Avoid the “blown budget” spiral

Best practice: keep budgets “boring”

The most sustainable budgets don’t rely on willpower. Set realistic limits, do a five-minute weekly check-in, and tighten gradually using Analytics to find the easiest wins.

Keep category names stable (clean comparisons)
Adjust calmly mid-month (no “budget blown” spiral)

Who this works best for

Busy families

Turn groceries, childcare, and recurring bills into predictable limits. Share progress with a partner without sharing bank credentials.

Solo households

Plan fixed bills and flexible spending with calm, predictable limits. Keep it simple and adjust as life changes.

Side-hustlers

Keep personal budgets tidy while setting savings targets for tax or equipment. Use Analytics to make the next month smarter.

Example monthly budgets

A few common category limits to help you start quickly:

Groceries

€400
Weekly shop + top-ups

Transport

€120
Fuel or public transit

Utilities

€180
Electricity, gas, water, internet

Dining Out

€120
Meals & coffee outside

Subscriptions

€40
Streaming & cloud storage

Miscellaneous

€100
Gifts, odds & ends

GoTaskhub vs envelopes & spreadsheets

Feature	GoTaskhub Budgets	Cash envelopes / Spreadsheets
Live progress	Automatic with each expense	Manual math & updates
Adjust mid-month	One edit; history intact	Rewrite sheets or re-label envelopes
Household sharing	Invite partner with permissions	Passbook or shared file hassles
Analytics	Built-in trends by category	DIY charts & pivots
Portability	Clean CSV exports	Often messy formats

Pros & cons of GoTaskhub Budgets

Pros

Real-time progress and remaining amounts
Mid-month edits without breaking history
Works with Expenses, Goals, Analytics
CSV export keeps your data portable

Cons

Requires a quick weekly check-in for best results
Advanced analytics available with Pro

Security & privacy

Permissions

Invite a partner with the right level of access-view or edit. Each workspace is permissioned, so you stay in control.

Data ownership

Export to CSV anytime for backups or analysis. No lock-in-your budgeting history is yours to keep.

Glossary

Budget limit: The maximum you plan to spend in a category this month.
Remaining: Budget limit minus the sum of category expenses so far.
Roll-over: Carrying leftover amount into the next month’s plan (optional).
Progress bar: A visual indicator showing how much of a category limit has been used.

What users say

Emma L.

Manchester, UK

“The remaining amounts make it obvious where to slow down. We’re finally under budget two months in a row.”

Luca P.

Milan, IT

“Editing limits mid-month is a lifesaver. No guilt spiral-just adjust and keep going.”

Sofia R.

Lisbon, PT

“Budgets + Analytics made our grocery plan realistic. We save ~€90/month without feeling it.”

Related features

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions.

Q.How do Home Budgets work?

Create a monthly limit per category (like Groceries, Transport, Utilities). As you log expenses, your progress bars update and you’ll see remaining amounts at a glance.

Q.Can I change limits mid-month?

Yes. You can edit any category limit anytime without losing history. Adjustments reflect immediately in progress and remaining amounts.

Q.Is this included in the free plan?

Home Finances (including Home Budgets) is part of GoTaskhub Pro. You can start free and upgrade anytime.

Q.Will I see analytics for budgets?

Yes. Combine budgets with Home Analytics to see category trends month-to-month and plan ahead.

Q.Do budgets roll over to the next month?

You can choose a clean reset each month (recommended) or manually adjust the next month’s limit to carry over leftover amounts. This keeps month-to-month comparisons simple.

Q.Can I share a household budget with a partner?

Yes. Invite them to your workspace with view or edit permissions. Both of you see live progress and remaining amounts-no shared bank logins required.

Q.Do you support multiple currencies in budgets?

Set a primary currency for budgets and record expenses in that currency for accurate progress bars. If you have mixed-currency transactions, note the currency in the expense and apply an equivalent amount when needed.

Q.Can I set alerts when I’m close to the limit?

You can review progress bars and remaining amounts at a glance. For proactive control, schedule quick weekly reviews and use Analytics to spot hot categories early.

Q.Can I import starting balances or planned amounts?

Yes. Enter a planned limit per category at the start of the month. If you have historical spend, import a CSV to inform realistic targets going forward.

Try Home Budgets today

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