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Budgeting with Ask Finn (Personal CFO)

Make smarter money decisions with privacy-first budgeting connected to your real financial data. No bank linking required.Ask Finn answers budgeting questions using your budgeting data, profile KPIs and uploads, then helps you decide what to do next.
What-if Budgeting
Ask Finn (Personal CFO)
Privacy-First
Peer Comparison
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Dashboard View
Scenario Planning
Personalized Insights

How Budgeting Works in DIY MY FINANCES

DIY MY FINANCES is a Personal CFO system: budgeting, planning, KPIs, and Ask Finn connected across your real financial data. No bank linking required.

Our Unique Approach:

  • Scenario Analysis:Instantly see how changes in expenses or income affect your budget and cash flow with real-time what-if analysis.
  • Peer Group Comparison:See how your budget stacks up against your peers. Compare by age or by income using our privacy-first budgeting tool.
  • Ask Finn (Personal CFO):Ask questions using your numbers and uploads (statements, tax forms, mortgages, and more). Get savings opportunities, trends, and clear next steps.
  • Budget Goals:Set and track your savings goals. Test different scenarios—perfect for students, families, or anyone aiming for financial freedom.
  • Privacy-First:No bank linking required. Upload spreadsheets or statements only if you want—your information stays under your control.

How to Start Budgeting:

  • Set your income: Enter your income sources (salary, freelance, student loan, etc.).
  • List expenses: Add your fixed and variable costs, or import from a spreadsheet.
  • Run what-if scenarios: Instantly see the impact on savings—no bank sync needed.
  • Review Ask Finn insights: Get personalized tips, alerts, and peer comparisons.
  • Compare & optimize: Benchmark your spending against similar users—families, students, or professionals.
Ready to get your Personal CFO? Start your free trial—no bank link required.

See Budgeting and Spending Insights in Action

Explore budgeting dashboards, spending analytics, peer comparison, and goals—built to support smarter money decisions.

Budgeting dashboard: Set and track financial goals
Cash flow chart in budgeting app: Track and compare expenses
Budget literacy module: Learn and categorize expenses for better money management
Cash flow and savings visualization in the budgeting dashboard
Peer comparison and goal impact: See how your budget stacks up
All screenshots are from the real DIY MY FINANCES experience. Start a free trial to explore with your numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Budgeting

Get answers to common budgeting questions about privacy, planning, Ask Finn, and more.

What is the best budgeting app without linking your bank?
DIY MY FINANCES is a privacy-first budgeting app and Personal CFO system. Track, plan, and analyze spending with no bank linking required, and ask Ask Finn budgeting questions using your own numbers.
How can I make a budget as a student or with irregular income?
Start by listing all sources of income (jobs, grants, allowance) and every regular expense (tuition, food, rent). Import a spreadsheet or upload statements, then run what-if scenarios to plan for part-time work or surprise expenses.
Is there a free budgeting tool that protects my privacy?
Yes. DIY MY FINANCES offers a free trial so you can get value without linking your bank. Your data is never sold, shared, or used for advertising.
How do I aggregate expenses from multiple credit cards?
Upload files from any credit card or account and we automatically combine and categorize expenses for a unified view across all cards. No bank sync required.
Can I use a budget spreadsheet with DIY MY FINANCES?
Absolutely. Export your data to a spreadsheet for deeper analysis or import existing expenses to jump-start your plan.
How does Ask Finn generate AI budgeting insights?
Ask Finn uses your in-app data and uploaded documents (if you provide them) to spot trends, highlight unusual spending, and recommend practical next steps. It’s designed to be privacy-first and grounded in your numbers.
How can I compare my budget to other people like me?
Use our peer comparison feature to benchmark your spending and saving habits against others by age, region, or income group. This can help identify opportunities to save more or spend smarter.

Take Control of Your Money Decisions

Budget smarter, plan ahead, and ask Ask Finn—using your numbers.

Start Your Free Trial
No bank link required. No credit card needed.