Skip to main content

Quick Start: Setting Up Your Accounts

Your First 5 Minutes with Accounts​

This guide will help you set up your financial accounts in UnderControl and start tracking your money effectively.

Step 1: Add Your Main Accounts​

Start with the accounts you use most often:

Add Your Checking Account​

  1. Click "Add Account"
  2. Name it something clear like "Chase Checking" or "Main Checking"
  3. Enter your current balance
  4. Keep it as a Budget Account (this is your spending money)
  5. Click Save

Add Your Savings Account​

  1. Click "Add Account" again
  2. Name it "Emergency Savings" or "Primary Savings"
  3. Enter the current balance
  4. Choose Off-Budget Account if this money isn't for everyday expenses
  5. Add a note like "Emergency fund - don't touch unless necessary"
  6. Click Save

Add Credit Cards (Optional)​

  1. Click "Add Account"
  2. Name it "Chase Credit Card" or similar
  3. For the balance, enter your available credit (not what you owe)
    • If you have a $5,000 limit and owe $1,000, enter $4,000
  4. Keep as Budget Account (this is money you can spend)
  5. Click Save

Step 2: Understand Your Dashboard​

After adding accounts, your dashboard will show:

  • Total Balance: All your money combined
  • Budget Total: Money available for spending (checking + available credit)
  • Off-Budget Total: Money in savings/investments

Step 3: Choose Account Types Wisely​

Use Budget Accounts for:​

  • ✅ Checking accounts
  • ✅ Credit cards (available credit)
  • ✅ Savings you can spend from
  • ✅ Cash on hand

Use Off-Budget Accounts for:​

  • ✅ Emergency funds
  • ✅ Investment accounts
  • ✅ Retirement accounts (401k, IRA)
  • ✅ Loan balances (enter as negative amounts)
  • ✅ Long-term savings goals

Step 4: Test Your Setup​

  1. Check your totals - Does your "Budget Total" match money you can actually spend?
  2. Review off-budget - Is money you're saving for specific goals in "Off-Budget"?
  3. Update a balance - Try changing one account balance to see how totals update

Common Mistakes to Avoid​

❌ Don't Do This:​

  • Put your 401k as a Budget Account (you can't spend this money)
  • Enter credit card debt as a positive balance
  • Mix up checking account balance with available overdraft
  • Put emergency savings as Budget (unless you want to spend it)

✅ Do This Instead:​

  • Keep retirement money in Off-Budget accounts
  • Enter credit debt as negative balance, or available credit as positive
  • Enter only actual account balance for checking
  • Put emergency funds in Off-Budget to avoid accidentally "spending" them

Quick Reference: Account Types​

Account TypeBudget or Off-Budget?Why?
CheckingBudgetMoney you can spend
Credit CardBudgetAvailable credit you can spend
Emergency SavingsOff-BudgetNot for regular expenses
Investment AccountOff-BudgetNot for everyday spending
Car LoanOff-Budget (negative)Debt you're tracking
401kOff-BudgetCan't access easily

What's Next?​

Once your accounts are set up:

  1. Update balances regularly - Weekly or monthly works well
  2. Start tracking expenses - Link expenses to the accounts you paid from
  3. Set up budgets - Your Budget Account totals will help you budget realistically
  4. Use the privacy mode - Turn on "blind mode" when sharing your screen

Need Help?​

  • Wrong account type? Just click the account name and edit it
  • Made a mistake? You can delete accounts you don't need
  • Want to see history? Click on any account to see balance changes over time
  • Need privacy? Toggle "blind mode" to hide dollar amounts

Your accounts are the foundation of good financial tracking in UnderControl. Take a few minutes to set them up correctly, and everything else will be much easier!