Learn how Budget Buddy stores, refreshes, and applies currency conversions so every balance and insight stays
trustworthy across your finance workspace.
How to navigate this playbook
Use this guide when you are configuring new currencies, validating conversions, or mentoring teammates on how the
exchange-rate system works. Each section mirrors a screen or workflow inside the app so you can skim directly to
the part you need.
Understand the data model and automatic fallbacks that keep rates aligned day by day.
Follow step-by-step instructions for creating currencies and choosing the main display currency.
Review the background refresh helper and the manual rate manager for audit-ready control.
See every touchpoint in the app that depends on these numbers to keep reports consistent.
Understand the rate storage model
Budget Buddy maintains a day-by-day matrix showing how each currency relates to every other one. When the app needs
a conversion for a date without a stored value, it automatically falls back to the nearest earlier or later day so
your history stays consistent without gaps.
Hint
Use the cached-day list to keep an eye on coverage. Clearing an old day removes those rates entirely, while
leaving the rest of your history intact.
Set up your currencies
Open Settings → Manage Currencies to view every currency you have added. The screen lets you hide,
delete, reorder, or edit entries with a single tap so your menus stay tidy.
Tap any row to update its code, name, symbol, emoji, or symbol placement while previewing the result.
Use the plus button to create a new currency and save it once the preview looks right.
Watch the list refresh automatically after every add, edit, hide, reorder, or removal.
Reminder
New currencies start with placeholder 1.0 values in both directions. Update those entries as soon as
you have the real exchange rate to avoid misleading conversions.
Pick the main currency
The Main Currency picker in settings only lists currencies that are currently visible. When you
choose one, Budget Buddy saves the preference for future sessions and refreshes summary widgets immediately. If no
choice has been made yet, the app defaults to USD until you select a different option.
Hint
Encourage teammates to align on a main currency so totals and charts match expectations everywhere.
Automatic rate upkeep
A background helper spins up as soon as the app launches. It monitors stored exchange data and downloads fresh
figures whenever no rates exist or the newest set is more than 30 days old. The helper fetches values from the
connected online service for every currency you track, including a 1.0 entry when the base currency is in
the request.
Hint
If a conversion is requested for a missing day, the helper quietly saves today’s rates and retries so users can
keep working without interruption.
Warning
Automated downloads rely on internet access. Surface a banner or toast in the interface whenever the rate
service is unreachable so people know to retry.
Manage exchange rates manually
Open Settings → Manage Exchange Rates whenever you want to review or adjust stored figures. The
screen first checks that at least one currency exists and then builds a full matrix for the chosen day.
Step 1
Pick a day
Use the date selector at the top to jump to any calendar day you need to audit or update.
Step 2
Load missing rates
Tap Load Rates for Selected Date to download gaps. A success banner confirms completion, and failures
raise an alert so you can try again.
Step 3
Edit safely
Update any editable cell and Budget Buddy saves the change after a short pause while mirroring the reverse
direction automatically.
Step 4
Manage cached days
Review the cached-date chips to revisit older data or delete a day entirely when you want to force a fresh
download.
Where these rates appear
Once rates are stored, Budget Buddy pipes them into every experience that shows converted totals or comparisons.
Accounts list: Enable “Show in …” to display each account’s total in your chosen currency. The app
converts balances using stored rates or leaves the original amount if none exist yet.
Transaction form: Transfers between currencies expose an “Exchange Rate” line so you can confirm or
flip the conversion direction.
Subscriptions: Recurring totals convert into your main currency so long-term comparisons stay
consistent.
Product tracking: Purchase breakdowns show multi-step conversions and the dates used for every
amount.
Statistics and charts: Before drawing visuals, Budget Buddy gathers the latest rates and converts
each transaction into the display currency you selected.
Home widgets and insights: Quick-glance surfaces read from the same stored rates so numbers match
the in-app experience.
Tips and troubleshooting
Quick Tip
After adding a new currency, load today’s rates immediately so the placeholder values are replaced before anyone
relies on them.
Quick Tip
If a conversion seems off, jump to that day in the exchange-rate table to adjust the value or delete the cached
day to force a fresh download.
Watch out
Keep your main currency aligned with what you review most often, and hide or reorder rarely used currencies so
teams pick the right ones across the app.