Each time you use CashPad, do these two things:

• Update your balances on the Cash and Paycheck pages.
• Assign your funds across the Bills, Expenses, and Savings pages until Left to Assign reaches zero.

Most budgeting apps reset on the 1st of the month. CashPad resets when your paycheck does. Each budget period runs from today through the end of your current pay cycle — so your plan always reflects the money you actually have right now.

Start by entering your cash balances and any paychecks you expect before the period ends. CashPad adds them up into a single Funds Available number.

Then assign those funds across three buckets:

• Bills — fixed obligations due this period (rent, insurance, subscriptions)
• Expenses — variable spending you plan to make (groceries, gas, dining)
• Savings — amounts you want to set aside for future goals

The total assigned becomes your Planned Spending. The difference between what you have and what you've planned is Left to Assign.

Get Left to Assign to zero and you're done — every dollar has a job. The Dashboard shows all four numbers at a glance: Budget Period End, Funds Available, Planned Spending, and Left to Assign.

Set up your backup folder before you do anything else. CashPad stores your data locally in your browser. There's no automatic cloud sync — nothing backs up unless you set it up — and if your browser data is cleared, it's gone.

The safest setup: go to Backup / Recovery and configure a backup folder on any cloud-synced drive — iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive all work. CashPad will back up automatically every time you save.

If you're not ready to do that yet, use Backup Now in Backup / Recovery to save a copy manually before you start entering data.

Using CashPad on iPhone or iPad? Folder backups and automatic backup downloads are not available on iOS or iPadOS. The app itself works fine, but you'll need to back up manually. For the best backup experience, use CashPad on a Mac or PC (Chrome or Edge).

Keep your numbers current. CashPad doesn't sync with your bank or update automatically. The accuracy of your plan depends on keeping your Cash balances up to date.

Keep it light on personal details. CashPad is built around amounts and account names — not account numbers, passwords, or sensitive identifiers. Nicknames like "Checking" or "Car Fund" work great.

Sharing your budget is always your choice. CashPad data lives only on your device — nothing is shared via a link or account.

How do I get started?

Begin on the Cash page — enter your current account balances. Then go to the Paycheck page and confirm your income sources and anchor date. From there, fill in your Bills, Expenses, and Savings to build your spending plan. The Dashboard updates as you go.

What is the Budget Period, and how long does it last?

The budget period runs from today through the last day of your current pay cycle. The length depends on your pay interval: 7 days for weekly, 14 days for bi-weekly, 15 days for semi-monthly, or one month for monthly.

What's the difference between Bills and Expenses?

Bills are fixed obligations with a specific due date — rent, insurance, a car payment. Expenses are flexible, day-to-day spending — groceries, gas, dining out.

What does Left to Assign mean?

It's the difference between your Funds Available and your Planned Spending. Positive means you have unassigned cash. Negative means your plan exceeds what you have.

Can I add multiple bank accounts or income sources?

Yes. The Cash page supports multiple accounts. The Paycheck page supports multiple income sources.

What is Net Worth in CashPad Plus?

Net Worth is the sum of all your assets (cash accounts, savings funds, and investment/asset accounts) minus all your liabilities (debt accounts). Track it on the Accounts page.

CashPad stores all your data locally in your browser. It is never sent to a server or synced to the cloud automatically.

Manual backup

Go to Backup / Recovery and click Backup Now. CashPad saves a .sqlite file. If you have a backup folder set, it goes there — otherwise it downloads to your Downloads folder.

Automatic backup — recommended

Configure a backup folder in Backup / Recovery and CashPad backs up automatically every time you save. Use a cloud-synced folder (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) for off-device protection.

Restoring a backup

Go to Backup / Recovery and click Restore from File. Select your backup file. This replaces all current data — click Backup Now first if you want to keep what you have.

Moving to a new device

Click Backup Now on your old device, move the file to the new device, then use Restore from File to load it.

Have a question or comment? Email us at support@cashpadapp.com — we'd love to hear from you.