Shared Budgeting for Couples

Balance is designed for couples to budget together. This guide explains how Balance facilitates shared financial management, improves communication, and keeps both partners aligned on money.

How Balance Works for Couples

Complete Transparency

Both partners see:

• ✅ All income
• ✅ All expenses
• ✅ All transactions
• ✅ All categories
• ✅ All bank accounts
• ✅ Complete budget
• ✅ Full financial picture

Nothing is hidden. Complete transparency builds trust.

Real-Time Syncing

Changes appear instantly:

You categorize a transaction
↓
Partner sees it immediately (within seconds)
↓
No waiting, no delays
↓
Always on the same page

Works across:

• Different devices
• Different locations
• Mobile and web
• iOS and Android

Shared Responsibility

Both partners can:

• Categorize transactions
• Adjust budget amounts
• Create new categories
• Connect bank accounts
• Add manual transactions
• Track progress

Equal access = shared ownership.

Setting Up for Couples

Step 1: Create Both Profiles

During initial setup:

1. Primary profile creates account (Partner 1)
2. Immediately add second profile (Partner 2)
3. Give clear names to each
4. Choose distinct avatars

Learn how to create profiles →

Step 2: Set Up Budget Together

Sit down together and:

1. Create income categories (both incomes)
2. Create expense categories
3. Agree on budget amounts
4. Allocate 100% of income

Joint planning session: 30-60 minutes

Learn how to create budget →

Step 3: Connect Accounts

Add all household accounts:

• Joint checking
• Individual checkings
• Savings accounts
• Credit cards (both partners')
• Any loans

All accounts visible to both partners.

Learn how to connect banks →

Step 4: Establish Routines

Create shared habits:

• Daily: Each person categorizes their transactions
• Weekly: 10-minute check-in together
• Monthly: 30-minute budget review and planning

Consistency is key!

Daily Workflow for Couples

Individual Responsibility

Each Partner’s Daily Tasks (2-3 minutes):

1. Open Balance
2. Switch to your profile (if needed)
3. Check for new transactions
4. Categorize YOUR transactions
5. Quick glance at budget status
6. Done!

Each person owns their transactions.

Why Each Person Should Participate

Don’t let one partner do everything:

• ❌ Creates imbalance
• ❌ One feels burdened
• ❌ Other feels excluded
• ❌ Resentment builds

Both participate:

• ✅ Shared responsibility
• ✅ Both invested
• ✅ Better communication
• ✅ Sustainable long-term

Weekly Check-Ins

10-Minute Budget Date

Every week, spend 10 minutes together:

Saturday morning with coffee:

1. Open Balance together

2. Review each category:

   • How are we tracking?
   • Any concerns?
   • Approaching any limits?

3. Preview week ahead:

   • Any large expenses coming?
   • Need to adjust anything?
   • Special events?

4. Celebrate wins:

   • Under budget in any categories?
   • Making progress on goals?
   • Acknowledge success!

Keeps you aligned without becoming a chore.

Monthly Planning

30-Minute Budget Review

End of each month:

1. Review Past Month (10 min):

• Which categories went over?
• Which came in under?
• Any surprises?
• What worked? What didn’t?

2. Plan Next Month (15 min):

• Adjust budget amounts based on last month
• Any known expenses next month?
• Any income changes?
• Update categories as needed

3. Check Goals (5 min):

• On track for savings goals?
• Emergency fund growing?
• Making progress?
• Need to adjust goals?

Make it enjoyable:

• Glass of wine
• Favorite snack
• Comfortable setting
• Positive attitude

Communication Best Practices

Before Making Changes

Communicate before:

• Large purchases
• Budget amount changes
• Adding/removing categories
• Connecting/disconnecting banks

Quick text:

• “Hey, I’m going to adjust our Groceries budget to $650 - we keep going over $600”
• “Want to add a Home Improvement category for $200/month - thoughts?”

Not required, but respectful.

Handling Disagreements

When you disagree on budget amounts:

1. Share your reasoning:

• “I think we need $700 for groceries because…”
• “Here’s my data showing…”

2. Look at actual data:

• Past 3 months actual spending
• Trends
• Patterns

3. Compromise:

• Try one amount for a month
• Adjust based on reality
• Meet in the middle

4. Remember it’s not permanent:

• Can always adjust next month
• It’s a living budget
• Experiment and refine

Handling Overspending

When one partner overspends a category:

Don’t:

• ❌ Blame or shame
• ❌ Make it personal
• ❌ Use as ammunition in arguments
• ❌ Bring up repeatedly

Do:

• ✅ Look at the data together
• ✅ Understand what happened
• ✅ Adjust budget if needed (maybe it was too low)
• ✅ Plan how to handle differently next time

Budget problem-solving, not finger-pointing.

Common Couple Scenarios

Scenario 1: Unequal Incomes

Partner 1: $5,000/month Partner 2: $2,000/month

Approach 1: Pool everything

Combined Income: $7,000
Combined Expenses: $7,000
Both contribute to shared pot

Approach 2: Proportional

Partner 1 contributes 71% (5k/7k)
Partner 2 contributes 29% (2k/7k)
Split bills proportionally

Balance supports either approach - just set up categories accordingly.

Scenario 2: One Stay-at-Home Partner

Partner 1: $6,000/month income Partner 2: $0/month income (homemaker)

Balance setup:

Income: Partner 1 Salary: $6,000
Expenses: All household expenses

Partner 2's profile exists and has equal access
Both manage budget together
Financial contribution ≠ budget involvement

Equal partners regardless of who earns income.

Scenario 3: Separate + Shared Accounts

Each partner has:

• Individual checking
• Individual credit card
• Shared joint checking

Balance setup:

Connect all accounts
Both see all accounts
Categories for:
- Joint expenses (rent, groceries)
- Personal expenses (your personal, partner personal)
Full transparency, clear categories

Personal Spending Money

Give Each Partner Autonomy

Highly recommended:

Budget Categories:
- Personal Spending - You: $300/month
- Personal Spending - Partner: $300/month

Rules:

• No questions asked
• No judgment
• Complete autonomy
• Your money to spend however

Reduces friction immensely!

Why This Matters

Without personal spending money:

• Every purchase requires discussion
• Resentment builds
• Feel controlled
• Relationship strain

With personal spending money:

• Freedom and autonomy
• Trust and respect
• Fewer arguments
• Sustainable system

Worth every penny for relationship harmony!

Technology Tips

Each Person’s Own Device

Ideal setup:

• Partner 1: Balance on their phone
• Partner 2: Balance on their phone
• Both log in as themselves
• Real-time sync

Better than:

• Sharing one phone (awkward)
• Only one person has app (unequal)
• Using only web (less convenient)

Both Use Mobile App

Download Balance app:

• iOS App Store
• Google Play Store
• Always in pocket
• Quick categorizing
• Push notifications (future)

More likely to use daily if it’s on your phone!

Regular Syncing

Ensure both devices:

• Have internet
• Sync regularly
• Pull-to-refresh occasionally
• Stay updated

Usually automatic but good to verify.

Making It a Habit

Start Small

Week 1:

• Just categorize transactions daily
• 2 minutes per person

Week 2:

• Add one quick check-in together
• 5 minutes

Month 1:

• Add monthly review
• 30 minutes

Gradually build the habit.

Make It Enjoyable

Don’t make budgeting a chore:

• Combine with coffee
• Make it a date
• Celebrate wins
• Keep it light
• Focus on progress, not perfection

Positive association = sustainable habit.

Be Patient

First 2-3 months:

• Feels awkward
• Figuring out system
• Making adjustments
• Learning together

After 3 months:

• Becomes routine
• Flows naturally
• Second nature
• Strong habit

Stick with it!

Benefits of Shared Budgeting

Better Communication

Couples report:

• Fewer money arguments
• More open conversations
• Less stress about finances
• Improved trust

Clear Expectations

Both partners know:

• How much to spend
• Where money is going
• What’s off-limits
• Shared goals

No surprises!

Team Approach

Working together:

• Shared responsibility
• Mutual support
• Common goals
• Partnership strengthened

“We” not “me.”

Financial Progress

When both are aligned:

• Stick to budget better
• Save more money
• Reach goals faster
• Less wasteful spending

Teamwork makes the dream work!

Troubleshooting

“My partner won’t use Balance”

Try:

1. Explain benefits clearly
2. Make it easy for them (set up their profile)
3. Start with just weekly check-ins together
4. Show how it helps YOU
5. Be patient and persistent

Sometimes takes time to get buy-in.

“We keep fighting about money”

Balance helps but:

• It’s a tool, not a cure
• May need deeper conversation
• Consider financial counseling
• Address underlying issues

Budget can’t fix fundamental disagreements.

“One partner does everything”

Rebalance:

1. Explicit conversation about equal participation
2. Each person owns their transactions
3. Both attend check-ins
4. Share the work

Both must participate for long-term success.

“Too time-consuming”

Streamline:

• 2 minutes daily per person (not much!)
• 10 minutes weekly together
• 30 minutes monthly together
• 42 minutes total per month
• Worth it for financial harmony!

Less time than one money argument.

Next Steps

1. Creating Multiple Profiles - Set up partner profile
2. Understanding Primary Profile - Learn about roles
3. Profile Permissions - See what each can do
4. Creating Your First Budget - Budget together

Questions? Contact our support team - we’re here to help!