App Guide

A click-by-click reference for every tab in Zero Budget Local.

Last Updated: June 2026

Dashboard

An at-a-glance overview of the current month.

  • Dashboard shows your on-budget balance, Income, and Expenses as header tiles.
  • The Spending by Category chart sits on the left; Recent transactions are listed on the right.
  • This tab is read-only — use the other tabs to add or edit data.

Budget

Assign income to categories and track spending against it.

  • Navigate months: use < / Today / > in the page header.
  • Assign money: Budget → click a cell in the Budgeted column → type an amount → Enter. Expressions like +100 or *1.1 are supported.
  • Add a category: Budget → group header → + Add Category → name → Create.
  • Add a group: Budget → table footer → + Add Group → name → Create.
  • Set a target: category row menu () → Set Target.
  • Per-category rollover (when global rollover is set to Per category): row menu () → rollover submenu → Carry over / Surplus only / Deficit only / Reset to zero.
  • Cover overspending: click the To Assign tile → pick a category → Move.
  • Rename, hide, or delete a category: row menu () → Edit Category / Hide Category / Delete Category.
  • Reorder: drag the grip handle on any group or category row.

All Transactions

Record, edit, import, and reconcile every transaction.

  • Add a transaction: All Transactions+ Add Transaction → fill Date, Payee, Notes, Category, Account, Type, Amount.
  • Edit: click a row (or the pencil icon) → adjust → .
  • Delete: row trash icon → Delete.
  • Mark cleared: click the circle indicator on the row.
  • Transfer between accounts: Transfer → choose From, To, Amount, DateCreate Transfer.
  • Split a transaction: row scissors icon → + Add Part for each split → Update Split.
  • Reconcile: Reconcile → enter the cleared balance from your bank → Reconcile.
  • Filter: use Last 3m / Last 12m / All time, or Filter for date, account, category, amount, type, or cleared status.
  • Search: top search bar (matches payee, category, account, amount, or notes).
  • Bulk actions: tick row checkboxes → Mark Cleared / Mark Uncleared / Set Category… / Delete.
  • Import: Import → choose a file (CSV, OFX, QFX, PDF, or YNAB zip) → pick the account → Import.
  • Export: Export → choose format → Export.

Calendar

A visual cash-flow view, day by day.

  • Navigate months: < / > in the header.
  • See a day's activity: click a date cell to jump to All Transactions filtered to that day.
  • Legend: solid blue = income, solid red = expense, dashed = scheduled.

Scheduled

Recurring transactions like salary, rent, and subscriptions.

  • Add: Scheduled+ Add ScheduledPayee / Account / Category / Amount / Type / Frequency (Daily, Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Yearly) / Next Due / NotesCreate.
  • Edit: row pencil icon → adjust → Update.
  • Pause or resume: toggle the Active switch in the row.
  • Delete: row trash icon → Delete.

Reports

Saved views of your spending, income, and net worth.

  • Add a report: Reports+ Add Report → name → Data source (Spending by Category, Income vs Expense, Top Merchants, Net Worth) → Date range → category and account filters → Create Report.
  • Edit: card pencil icon → adjust → Update Report.
  • Delete: card trash icon → Delete.

Payees

Clean up payee names and define normalization rules.

  • Search: top search bar.
  • Rename: row pencil icon → new name → Rename (updates every matching transaction).
  • Merge two payees: row merge icon → choose target payee → Merge → optionally Create Rule for future imports.
  • See a payee's transactions: click the payee name to jump to All Transactions filtered to that payee.
  • Add a normalization rule: + Add RuleMatch Type (Exact, Contains, Starts with, Regex) → PatternReplacementAdd Rule.
  • Reorder rules: drag the grip handle — first match wins.

Income Sources

Track where your income comes from.

  • Add: Income Sources+ Add → name → GroupCreate.
  • Rename: row pencil icon → Rename.
  • Hide or show: row eye icon.
  • Delete: row trash icon → optionally pick a source to reassign existing transactions to → Delete.
  • Convert to a refund tag: row menu → Remove as income source.
  • Reorder: drag the grip handle.

Accounts & Sidebar

Account management lives in the left sidebar on every page.

  • Add an account: sidebar footer → Add Account.
  • Add an account group: sidebar footer → Add Account Group.
  • Per-account actions: account row menu () → Edit / Reconcile / Move to Group / Hide / Close Account / Delete.
  • Restore hidden or closed accounts: expand Hidden Accounts or Closed AccountsUnhide or Reopen.
  • Manage budgets: top of sidebar → Manage BudgetsNew Budget / Import Budget / Export (YNAB4 or nYNAB JSON) / Rename / Delete.

Settings

Tailor the app. Each subsection on the Settings page is a collapsible card.

Appearance

SettingsAppearance → choose a Theme (Light, Dark, System, Slate, Warm, Midnight, or Custom) → choose Density (Standard, Compact, Ultra Compact) → choose Font size (Normal, Large, Extra Large). For a custom theme, edit the color swatches and use Reset to base to revert.

Currency & Region

SettingsCurrency & Region → pick a value from the Currency dropdown.

Security

SettingsSecuritySet Password → enter and confirm → Set Password. To change later: Change PasswordUpdate Password. To remove: Remove Password. Export a backup first — there is no recovery if the password is forgotten.

Budgeting Behavior

SettingsBudgeting Behavior → pick a Rollover behavior (Carry over all, Surplus only, Deficit only, Reset, or Per category) → toggle Credit card tracking.

Logging

SettingsLoggingLog level (Basic or Verbose) → Keep logs for (7, 14, 30, 60, or 90 days). The log file path is shown below the controls.

Auto-Categorization Rules

SettingsAuto-Categorization RulesManage Rules to add pattern-matching rules that assign categories to imported transactions.

Exchange Rates (multi-currency budgets)

SettingsExchange Rates → choose Automatic (API) or Manual. In automatic mode, click Refresh Now to pull current rates; in manual mode, enter rates per currency and they save on blur or Enter.

Data & Backup

SettingsData & BackupExport Backup to save your database, or Restore from Backup to load one.

For automatic backups: toggle Automatic Backups on → Choose Folder (e.g. a Dropbox or Drive sync folder) → set Frequency (Daily or Weekly) → set Backups to keep (3 / 5 / 7 / 10 / 14 / 30). Available backups appear below — click Restore next to any of them.

Database Repair

SettingsDatabase Repair → expand the section and follow the on-screen scan and recovery prompts if your database ever needs attention.

Sync Settings

SettingsSync Settings → enable the local sync server → on the companion mobile app, scan the QR code or enter the displayed PIN and IP address. Manage paired devices and view recent sync activity from the same panel.