Walk through the production experience for configuring Budget Buddy's subscriptions area. These notes explain how
to enable the feature, capture every billing detail, and keep lifetime spending visible at a glance.
Hint
Pair this guide with real screenshots once the interface is finalised. The copy below already follows the same
voice and structure that future help-centre articles can reuse.
Warning
Renewal dates slip quickly without transactions. Set a weekly reminder to log payments so the totals and next due
dates stay trustworthy.
Quickstart overview
The Subscriptions tab appears after a single toggle, but the value comes from accurate setup. Follow these stages
to keep renewals organised from day one.
Switch on the feature from Settings → Features.
Confirm your primary currency so totals convert the way you think.
Create a dedicated account for each service and outline its billing periods.
Revisit the record whenever prices change, promotions end, or accounts move.
Each section below mirrors the app flow. Add UI captures and links to live components whenever new panels or
controls appear so the documentation stays current.
What the feature does
The subscriptions area keeps renewing costs front of mind. It highlights upcoming charges, tallies how much you have
already paid, and surfaces the next renewal for every service so nothing renews unexpectedly.
Turn the Subscriptions feature on
Open Settings from the bottom bar on the home screen.
Scroll to Features and tap to view the list.
Find Subscriptions and switch it on. Return here any time to hide it again.
The Subscriptions tab now appears beside the rest of your main tabs, ready for setup.
Choose your main currency
Decide which currency grounds your comparisons. Still inside Settings, open the Main Currency card and
select the money you use most. Your choice displays above the subscriptions list and powers the Show totals in
main currency toggle across the app.
Hint
Revisit this setting whenever you relocate or manage mixed-currency portfolios. The overview instantly refreshes
to reflect the new baseline.
Add a subscription account
Each service deserves its own account so renewals and payments stay tidy. Use the cards below to mirror the workflow
before wiring up the real UI.
Start a new account
From the bottom bar, open Accounts and press the add button. Name the account clearly—think the
streaming platform, SaaS tool, or membership you are tracking.
Turn on subscription tracking
Flip the Subscription switch inside the form. Budget Buddy instantly creates the first billing period
using today's date, a monthly cadence, and a blank cost so you can fill the details in.
Link the payment source (optional)
If a specific wallet, card, or bank account funds the service, pick it under Payment Account. The
chosen name appears on the subscription card to remind you where the money leaves.
Describe the billing schedule
Start date: choose the day the price begins.
Has end date: enable only when the price stops on a known day, then set the end date. Leave it off
for ongoing plans.
Cost: enter the amount and currency charged.
Every … Unit: specify how often you're billed—"Every 1 Month", "Every 2 Weeks", and so on—using the
Day, Week, Month, or Year units.
Use Add Period when prices change or promos begin. Once multiple periods exist you can remove one with the bin icon.
Warning
The form flags missing prices, zero or negative amounts, currencies left blank, or an end date that precedes the
start date. Fix these alerts before saving so projections stay accurate.
Save and keep plans up to date
Tap Save Account (or Save Changes when editing). Leaving the subscription switch on preserves every
billing period; turning it off clears the schedule entirely.
Need to tweak a service later? Visit the Subscriptions tab and open any card. Previously saved payment
accounts and periods load automatically so you can adjust pricing, add a new promo period, or set an end date on an
expiring plan.
Record each payment
Totals on the subscriptions list reflect the transactions you log. Each time you pay a bill, add a transaction from the
Transactions tab, choose the funding account, and categorise it under the subscription account. The
Total spent line updates immediately.
Review and compare services
The Subscriptions tab highlights what's next and how plans stack up. Use the switcher at the top to view pricing by
day, week, month, or year. Enable Show totals in main currency to compare lifetime spending side by side using
the currency you selected earlier.
Each card lists the service name, renewal cadence, optional payment account, and cost based on the chosen timeframe.
When totals are shown in main currency, the panel reminds you which money type is active.
Hint
For empty states, keep the friendly reminder that nudges people to add their first subscription. It prevents the
tab from feeling broken during demos.
Tips and reminders
Maintain at least one billing period per subscription so the overview stays meaningful.
Use Has end date to close an old plan before you add a replacement period.
Toggle Settings → Features if the Subscriptions tab ever disappears.
Update Settings → Main Currency whenever you move countries or compare totals in another currency.
Keep logging payments through the Transactions tab to preserve a trustworthy running total.
With these habits in place, you can configure each subscription once, record payments as they happen, and maintain a
clear picture of ongoing commitments in Budget Buddy.