How do I view budget vs actual spending?
Compare your estimated budget to what you've actually spent.
Plan requirement: Pro plan
Short answer: Your budget dashboard shows estimated vs actual amounts, highlighting categories that are over or under.
Viewing the comparison
Go to Planner > Budget
See the overview showing:
Total budget
Total estimated
Total actual/spent
Remaining amount
Understanding the numbers
Estimated: What you planned to spend (set when you created the budget)
Actual: What you've actually spent or committed
Difference: Over or under your estimate
By category
Each category shows:
- Your budgeted amount
- What you've spent
- Over/under indicator
- Percentage of category budget used
Identifying issues early
Watch for:
- Categories going over budget
- Large gaps between estimated and actual
- Categories with no spending yet (have you forgotten something?)
- Total trending over budget
Making adjustments
When actual exceeds budget:
- Find savings in other categories
- Adjust your total budget
- Make trade-offs (prioritize what matters most)
Tips
Update actual costs as you get quotes
Review weekly during heavy booking periods
Compare to estimates frequently
Adjust categories as needed
Keep some buffer in your total budget