Switching Budget Methods

Change Your Approach Anytime

NivoaFlow lets you switch between budgeting methods whenever you like. Your transaction history, categories, and financial data stay intact — only the budgeting framework changes.

Picking Your First Method

The very first time you visit Plan > Budget, NivoaFlow shows a "Choose Your Budgeting Style" card with all four methods. Tap a method to read a short description, then click Use [method name] to apply it. If you skip the picker, NivoaFlow defaults to the Envelope System.

How to Switch Later

1. Go to Plan > Budget
2. Click Change in the top-right of the page
3. The strategy picker opens — choose any of the four:
   • Envelope Budgeting
   • Zero-Based Budgeting
   • 50/30/20 Rule
   • Pay Yourself First
4. Click Use [method name] to confirm

All four strategies are available on every tier, including Free. The switch takes effect immediately.

What Carries Over

Preserved

• All transaction history — nothing is deleted or modified
• Categories — your categories and their assignments remain
• Category groups — Needs, Wants, and Savings classifications stay the same
• Budget targets — where applicable, your existing per-category amounts transfer to the new method
• Tags, rules, and goals — completely unaffected

Adjusted

• Budget view — changes to reflect the new method's framework
• Dashboard widgets — update to show relevant metrics for the new method
• Progress indicators — recalculated based on the new method's logic

When to Consider Switching

• Your current method feels too complex — try a simpler approach like 50/30/20
• You want more control — move from 50/30/20 to Zero-Based or Envelope
• Your financial goals changed — if saving is now your priority, try Pay Yourself First
• You have outgrown a method — as your finances evolve, your budgeting needs may too

Tier Requirements

All four budgeting methods are included with the Free plan. Personal and Household plans add Budget Projections (a forecast of how each envelope is likely to land at month-end) on top of the Envelope strategy. See plan comparison for details.

Tips

• Give a new method at least one full month before deciding whether it works for you
• Review your budget targets after switching — some adjustments may be needed for the new framework
• There is no wrong choice — the best method is the one you actually use