Making Contributions
YBP has been created so that your last contribution will be assumed in next month's budget, because most people usually put in the same amount from month to month. If you wish to change the calculated amount in one month, simply change the monthly amount in the respective savings goal. This will adjust the savings planner automatically.
Regular Monthly Contributions
The first contribution will be created automatically for you by creating the amount needed to save for the goal you create. If you don't wish to contribute the amount calculated simply edit the amount shown.
Special Contributions
Sometimes, we are in the position to add a lump sum to a goal that does not come from your usual salary. These amounts skew your budget so YBP keeps them separate. This helps to keep a balanced budget.
- Use the Savings Goal in the Dashboard and click on the '+Add' icon.
- Fill in the information and add the contribution.
Withdrawals and Moving Funds
Sometimes, you may need to withdraw some funds to cover another goal or expense. In order to keep your savings planner balanced, you should WITHDRAW the amount from the chosen planner. You may CONTRIBUTE to another planner or if covering other expenses don't do anything more.
- Go to your Savings Goal
- Click "+Withdrawal" in your Contribution section.
- Enter the amount you would like to withdraw.
Payments for Expenses
In the course of the life time of a savings goal, you might have to pay for expenses even though the savings goal in itself is not finished. A typical case is a flight ticket that you will have to pay for before you actually go on the trip itself.
In the savings planner that you have dedicated to this trip, you have the option to enter a payment directly towards the expense item. Your flight expense will the reduced or paid off completely without affecting your budget. The new expense will be recorded and your savings will reflect the amount deducted.
Payments before the goal is finished are necessary so that your 'Savings to date' in the summary of that planner will match your bank account.
Recalculations
YBP calculates the preceeding features without disrupting your budget.
- Your contributions should match your savings accounts.
- The Contributions sections allows you to have a good overview of how your savings worked out over time.
- YBP constantly recalculates your savings target as you change information. YBP constantly up-dates your savings strategies.
Pausing a Goal
You may wish to pause your savings for a month or more. YBP has a way to stop your savings then restart it at any time.
- In the dashboard, under My Savings Goals, there is a column called Status. Click on the status icon and your goal will be paused for as long as you need it to be paused.
- When you wish to resume saving for your goal then reclick on the icon and your savings goal will resume where you left off, adding a contribution to your budget.
Finishing A Goal
When you are finishing up saving for a goal, there are three ways to complete the goal.
- You can use the 'payment/withdrawal' system to zero out your goal or
- You can save up the complete amount so that the program will show '0' and show 'finished.
- You can delete a goal using the delete icon. However if there are funds saved up they must be reallocated somewhere else or your Savings Account won't match your Savings Goal.
If a plan is paused it is not finished. To finish a 'paused' savings goal it must be reactivated then use one of the three methods above.