Understanding your budgets
How category budgets work, their alerts, and best practices to avoid overspending.
A budget is a limit you set for a type of expense. Instead of discovering at the end of the month that you’ve overspent, Noryo tracks each budget in real time and warns you before you exceed it. This page explains how they work, how to read the alerts, and how to use them effectively.
Available on every planOperational
Budgets are available starting with the Free plan.
How a budget works
You set a monthly limit for a spending category, such as groceries or leisure. With each transaction classified in this category, Noryo adds it to the month’s counter. A progress bar continuously shows you the portion already spent and what remains.
The elements of a budget
- Monthly cap
- The maximum amount you decide to devote to a category over the month.
- Spent
- The total already committed in this category since the start of the month.
- Remaining
- What you have left before reaching the cap.
- Progress bar
- The visual representation of your progress, which changes colour as the limit gets closer.
Color alerts
To notify you without requiring constant checks, the bar changes color based on your spending level.
| Colour | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | You are on track | Carry on with peace of mind |
| Orange | You are nearing the cap | Slow down on this category |
| Red | The cap is exceeded | Postpone non-urgent spending to the following month |
The orange alert appears before overspending: this is the best time to adjust, far more useful than the red warning at the end of the month.
Creating, modifying, or deleting a budget
You create a budget by selecting a category and a limit. A budget can be modified at any time: adjust the limit if your situation changes, or delete it if you no longer need it. Nothing is set in stone.
Choose a category
Select the heading you want to frame, for example restaurants.
Set a cap
Indicate the monthly amount not to exceed.
Let Noryo track
The counter updates with each expense and alerts you at the right moment.
Best practices
A budget is only useful if it’s realistic. Here are some principles to ensure it helps rather than discourages you.
- Start from your real spending: look at how the last few months break down before setting a cap.
- Start with one or two categories that overrun, rather than framing everything at once.
- Leave a margin: a cap that is too tight is unsustainable and discouraging.
- Reassess each quarter to fit your situation.
Sticking to your budgets strengthens the anti-overspending aspect of your Noryo Score: a virtuous cycle for your finances.
Frequently asked questions
Does the budget reset every month?
Yes, a budget is monthly. The counter starts over at the beginning of each month, independently of the previous month.
Does my cash spending count towards the budget?
Yes, provided you add it as manual expenses in the right category.
What happens if I exceed a budget?
Nothing is blocked: Noryo never touches your accounts. The bar turns red to flag the overrun, and you stay in control.
Going further
Ready to set up your first budget? Follow our step-by-step guide to configure it in just a few minutes.
The step-by-step guide to create your first budget.