New Feature: Savings Goals for Envelopes #

Budgeting isn't just about managing what you spend -- it's about building toward what you want. Today we're introducing Savings Goals, a new feature that turns any envelope into a visual savings tracker with progress bars, percentage milestones, and smart monthly suggestions to keep you on pace.

Whether you're saving for a vacation, building an emergency fund, or setting aside money for a big annual bill, savings goals give you the clarity to know exactly where you stand and what it takes to get there.

How It Works #

Setting a Goal #

Open any envelope and click Edit Envelope. At the bottom of the modal you'll find a new Savings Goal section with two fields:

• Target Amount -- the total you want to save (e.g., $1,000)
• Target Date -- an optional deadline (e.g., December 31)

That's it. Set one or both and hit save. You can also set a savings goal when creating a brand new envelope.

Tracking Your Progress #

Once a goal is set, you'll notice changes in two places.

In the envelope list, a small progress bar appears next to the envelope name. It fills blue as you save and turns green when you hit your target. At a glance, you can see which goals are close and which need attention.

In the details panel, a card shows the full picture:

• A progress bar with your current balance vs. the target amount
• Your percentage complete
• A suggested monthly contribution (when a target date is set)
• A congratulations message when you reach 100%

Suggested Monthly Contributions #

If you set a target date, EnvelopeBudget calculates how much you need to save each month to hit your goal on time:

Suggested Monthly = (Target Amount - Current Balance) / Months Remaining

For example, if you want to save $1,200 by June and you currently have $300 with 6 months to go:

($1,200 - $300) / 6 = $150/month

This suggestion updates automatically as your balance changes and the deadline approaches, so you always have an accurate number to work with.

One-Click Shortcuts #

Right next to the suggested monthly amount you'll find two action buttons:

• Allocate -- instantly fills the allocation input with the suggested monthly amount so you can fund the envelope in one click.
• Set as Budget -- saves the suggested monthly amount as the envelope's monthly budget, so it shows up as a target every month going forward.

Both buttons appear only while you're still working toward the goal. Once you hit 100%, they're replaced by the congratulations message.

There's also a Savings Goal quick-fill button in the Allocate Funds section further down, if you prefer to work from there.

Ideas for Using Savings Goals #

Emergency Fund -- Set a target of 3-6 months of expenses with no deadline. (See our guide on how to stop living paycheck to paycheck for why this matters.) Save at your own pace and watch the progress bar grow over time.

Vacation Fund -- Set both a target amount and a departure date. The monthly suggestion tells you exactly what to set aside each month so you're fully funded before you leave.

Annual Bills -- Insurance premiums, property taxes, holiday gifts -- set the renewal or due date as your target and spread the cost across the year instead of scrambling when the bill arrives.

Big Purchases -- New laptop, furniture, home repairs. Set the price as your target and a realistic deadline to build toward it gradually.

A Few Things to Know #

• Savings goals are not available on debt envelopes -- the section is hidden when the debt checkbox is checked, since debt tracking works differently.
• To clear a goal, edit the envelope and remove the target amount. Both the amount and date will be cleared.
• Goals are non-restrictive -- they don't prevent you from spending money in the envelope. They're purely a visual tracker to help you stay motivated.
• Savings goal data is preserved in budget exports and imports, so your progress carries over if you move between budgets.
• The feature works across web and mobile -- set goals on either platform and your progress syncs everywhere.

Get Started #

If you're already using EnvelopeBudget, savings goals are available right now. Edit any envelope and set your first target.

If you're new, start your free trial and see how envelope budgeting with built-in savings goals can help you take control of your money and actually reach the things you're saving for. Our envelope budgeting for beginners guide will get you up and running in 15 minutes.

Happy saving!