Getting Started with Waypoint Budget
Complete guide to setting up your budget in 15 minutes. Choose Quick setup, demo mode, or manual - whatever works for you.
Choose How You Want to Start
Click to select your preferred setup path
Quick Setup
Answer a few questions, get a personalized budget in minutes
Import from YNAB
Upload your YNAB export and migrate seamlessly
View Demo
Explore with realistic example data before setting up
Manual Setup
Build your budget from scratch with full control
Answer a Few Questions
Tell us about your financial situation
You'll answer simple questions about your income, essential expenses, and financial goals. Takes about 3-5 minutes.
What's your monthly income?
Include your take-home pay after taxes
Adjust sliders to match your typical spending
Your Budget is Created
Personalized categories and amounts
Based on your answers, the system generates a complete budget with recommended categories and spending limits that match your goals.
Review & Adjust
Tweak anything that doesn't fit
Review your personalized budget and make any adjustments. You're in full control - add, remove, or modify categories as needed.
Start Tracking
Your budget is ready to use
Start adding transactions manually or connect your bank (Plus plan). The Money Coach will provide insights as you go.
Beyond the Basics
Goals
Set savings goals for vacations, emergency funds, or down payments. Track progress automatically as you save.
Calendar View
See all transactions and bills on a calendar. Perfect for planning around paycheques and due dates.
Subscriptions
Track recurring subscriptions in one place. Identify and cancel ones you don't use to save money.
Reports
Detailed spending trends, category analysis, and historical comparisons to spot patterns over time.
Tips for Success
Start simple, then optimize
Your first budget is a draft. Track for a month, then adjust based on actual spending.
Review your dashboard weekly
Spending 5-10 minutes each week keeps you on track and prevents month-end surprises.
Budget for fun money
A budget without enjoyment won't stick. Include entertainment and personal spending.
Use the calendar for irregular expenses
Car insurance, gifts, annual fees - add these to your calendar so you're never caught off guard.
Common Questions
What if I go over budget in a category?
Don't panic! Going over budget is normal, especially in your first few months. Look at where you overspent, adjust your budget for next month, or find another category to reduce. Smart tips can help you course-correct.
Can I track multiple bank accounts?
Yes! With the Plus plan, you can connect multiple bank accounts and credit cards. All transactions sync to one place automatically.
How do I budget with irregular income?
Use your lowest monthly income from the past 6 months as your budget baseline. When you earn more, allocate the extra to savings or debt. Check out our irregular income budgeting guide.
Is my financial data secure?
Absolutely. We use bank-level encryption, and if you connect your bank, we use Plaid (trusted by major apps). We never see or store your banking credentials.
Continue Learning
Ready to Take Control?
Join thousands of Canadians using Waypoint Budget to reach their financial goals.