Getting Started with Badget

Welcome to Badget! This guide will help you get up and running with our comprehensive financial management platform in just a few minutes.

What is Badget?

Badget is a powerful personal finance platform that helps you budget, track expenses, manage investments, and achieve your financial goals. Whether you're just starting your financial journey or looking to optimize your existing strategy, Badget provides the tools you need to take control of your money.

Creating Your Account

1. Sign Up: Visit badget.app and click "Get Started"
2. Verify Email: Check your email and click the verification link
3. Complete Setup: Add your basic information and financial preferences
4. Security Setup: Enable two-factor authentication for account security

Initial Setup Wizard

Our setup wizard will guide you through the essential steps:

Step 1: Connect Your Accounts

• Bank Accounts: Link your checking and savings accounts
• Credit Cards: Connect credit card accounts for expense tracking
• Investment Accounts: Add brokerage and retirement accounts
• Loans: Include mortgages, car loans, and other debts

Step 2: Set Your Financial Goals

Define what you want to achieve:

• Emergency Fund: Build 3-6 months of expenses
• Debt Payoff: Pay down credit cards and loans
• Savings Goals: Save for vacation, home, or other purchases
• Retirement Planning: Plan for long-term financial security

Step 3: Create Your First Budget

Start with a simple budget:

1. Choose Template: Select from 50/30/20, zero-based, or custom
2. Set Income: Enter your monthly income sources
3. Allocate Expenses: Assign spending limits to categories
4. Review & Adjust: Fine-tune based on your spending patterns

Understanding Your Dashboard

Your dashboard provides a complete overview of your finances:

Net Worth Summary

• Total Assets: Sum of all your accounts and investments
• Total Liabilities: Outstanding debts and loans
• Net Worth: Your overall financial position
• Trends: Track changes over time

Budget Overview

• Monthly Progress: See spending vs. budget in real-time
• Category Breakdown: Understand where your money goes
• Alerts: Get notified when approaching spending limits
• Projections: See if you're on track for the month

Recent Transactions

• Automatic Import: Transactions from connected accounts
• Smart Categorization: AI-powered expense categorization
• Quick Actions: Easily categorize or split transactions
• Search & Filter: Find specific transactions quickly

Your First Week with Badget

Day 1-2: Account Setup

• Complete the setup wizard
• Connect all financial accounts
• Verify account balances and transactions

Day 3-4: Budget Creation

• Create your first budget using a template
• Adjust categories to match your spending style
• Set up spending alerts and notifications

Day 5-7: Transaction Management

• Review and categorize imported transactions
• Set up recurring transaction rules
• Add any missing manual transactions

Key Features to Explore

Budget Management

• Flexible Budgeting: Adapt to your changing needs
• Envelope Method: Allocate specific amounts to categories
• Rolling Budgets: Carry over unused amounts
• Goal-Based Budgeting: Align spending with objectives

Transaction Tracking

• Automatic Categorization: Smart expense categorization
• Receipt Management: Photo capture and storage
• Split Transactions: Divide expenses across categories
• Recurring Transactions: Automate regular entries

Investment Tracking

• Portfolio Overview: See all investments in one place
• Performance Analysis: Track returns and asset allocation
• Rebalancing Alerts: Maintain your target allocation
• Retirement Planning: Plan for long-term goals

Financial Reports

• Spending Analysis: Understand your spending patterns
• Net Worth Tracking: Monitor wealth building progress
• Cash Flow Reports: See money in vs. money out
• Tax Preparation: Organize data for tax season

Best Practices for Success

Daily Habits

• Quick Check-ins: Review new transactions daily
• Categorize Promptly: Keep transactions organized
• Monitor Budgets: Stay aware of spending progress

Weekly Reviews

• Budget Analysis: See how you performed against budget
• Goal Progress: Check advancement toward financial goals
• Account Reconciliation: Ensure accuracy of imported data

Monthly Planning

• Budget Adjustments: Refine budget based on actual spending
• Goal Updates: Adjust goals based on progress and changes
• Investment Review: Analyze portfolio performance

Getting Help

Learning Resources

• Help Center: Comprehensive guides and tutorials
• Video Library: Step-by-step video tutorials
• Webinars: Live training sessions on financial topics
• Blog: Financial tips and best practices

Support Options

• In-App Help: Contextual help throughout the platform
• Live Chat: Real-time support during business hours
• Email Support: Detailed help via support@badget.app
• Community Forum: Connect with other users

Professional Services

• Financial Planning: Connect with certified financial planners
• Tax Preparation: Partner services for tax filing
• Investment Advice: Access to investment professionals

Security & Privacy

Your financial data is protected with:

• Bank-Level Security: 256-bit encryption for all data
• Read-Only Access: We can view but never modify your accounts
• Regular Audits: Third-party security assessments
• Privacy Controls: You control what data is stored and used

Next Steps

Now that you've set up your account, explore these advanced features:

• Create and optimize your budgets
• Master transaction management
• Track your investments and assets
• Set up financial goals and tracking

Ready to Take Control?

Your financial future starts today. With Badget's comprehensive tools and guidance, you'll build better money habits, reach your goals faster, and achieve true financial freedom.

Log in to your dashboard and start your journey today!