> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getduezen.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Budgets and spending pace

> Set an overall monthly budget and per-category limits, and read the spending pace card and progress bars.

Budgets in DueZen are forecast-based. Progress includes both what you have paid and what is still due this month, so the bars show where the month is heading rather than only where it has been.

## Set budget goals

Go to **Settings → Budget Goals**. You can set two kinds of limit, tracked independently.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Overall budget" icon="wallet">
    One monthly number for total spending across everything.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Per-category budgets" icon="tags">
    Individual limits per category, for finer control.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

For example, an overall budget of \$3,000 a month plus a \$150 limit on Streaming keeps subscription creep visible on its own terms. Leave a category budget empty to exclude it from tracking.

## The spending pace card

The spending pace card on your dashboard compares how much of your budget you have used against how far through the month you are. At 60% through the month having spent 45% of your budget, the card reads **On Track**.

| State       | Color | Meaning                                      |
| ----------- | ----- | -------------------------------------------- |
| On Track    | Green | Spending pace is below the calendar pace     |
| Close       | Amber | Within 10% of the budget at the current date |
| Over Budget | Red   | Past the monthly limit                       |

The card updates in real time as you add and pay items.

<Tip>
  The value of the pace card is that it fires mid-month, while you can still change the outcome. A month-end total only tells you what already happened.
</Tip>

## Budget progress bars

Progress bars appear in Fund Flow category cards, the dashboard status section, and the Budget Goals screen.

| Bar color | Budget consumed |
| --------- | --------------- |
| Green     | 0–79%           |
| Amber     | 80–99%          |
| Red       | 100% or more    |

<Info>
  A **budget alert** notification fires when spending reaches 80% of a limit. Turn it off in **Settings → Push Notifications** if you would rather check the bars yourself. See [Reminders and notifications](/core/reminders).
</Info>