Plans
Create multiple budgets for different purposes. Learn how to set up and configure your budget plans.
Multiple Budgets#
Zerosum supports multiple budget plans, each completely independent. This lets you separate different aspects of your financial life or manage budgets for different people.
Why Use Multiple Plans?
Personal vs Business
Keep personal finances separate from freelance or business income
Individual vs Joint
Have a personal budget and a shared household budget with a partner
Different Currencies
Manage finances in different currencies for international living or travel
Project-Based
Track budgets for specific projects like home renovation or events
Creating a New Plan#
- Open the plan switcher – Click on your current plan name in the sidebar
- Click "Create New Plan"
- Configure your plan:
- Give it a descriptive name
- Choose your currency
- Select your locale for formatting
- Pick a color to identify it
- Create the plan – Start fresh with categories and accounts
Info
Each plan is completely independent. Categories, accounts, transactions, and goals don't transfer between plans. This ensures clean separation of your different budgets.
Switching Between Plans#
To switch to a different plan:
- Click on your plan name in the sidebar
- Select the plan you want to view from the list
- The app switches to that plan's budget view
You can set a default plan that loads when you open Zerosum.
Plan Settings#
Each plan has settings that control how it displays information and formats numbers.
Basic Settings#
Plan Name
A descriptive name like "Personal Budget", "Household", or "Business"
Color
A color to help identify this plan at a glance in the plan switcher
Editing Plan Settings#
To edit your plan settings:
- Go to your plan's settings (gear icon)
- Modify the settings you want to change
- Save your changes
Warning
Changing the currency of an existing plan doesn't convert your amounts. If you need a different currency, it's usually better to create a new plan.
Deleting a Plan#
If you no longer need a plan, you can delete it:
- Go to the plan's settings
- Scroll to the danger zone
- Click "Delete Plan"
- Confirm the deletion
Deletion is Permanent
Deleting a plan removes all its data: accounts, transactions, categories, and goals. This cannot be undone. Export your data first if you need a record.
Currencies & Locales#
Zerosum supports multiple currencies and locales to accommodate users worldwide.
Supported Currencies#
When creating a plan, you can choose from many world currencies:
...and many more! The currency setting determines the symbol shown next to all amounts in that plan.
Locale Settings#
The locale setting controls how numbers and dates are formatted:
Example: $1,234.56
Notice how different locales use different:
- Decimal separators – Period (.) vs comma (,)
- Thousands separators – Comma (,) vs period (.) vs space
- Symbol placement – Before ($100) vs after (100 €)
Working with Multiple Currencies#
If you deal with multiple currencies, create separate plans for each:
US Personal Budget
Currency: USD ($)
EU Travel Fund
Currency: EUR (€)
Info
Zerosum doesn't automatically convert between currencies. If you transfer money between accounts in different currency plans, record separate transactions in each plan at the actual exchange rate.
Plan Organization Best Practices#
Here are some tips for organizing your plans effectively:
Start Simple
Begin with one plan for your personal finances. Add more only when you have a clear reason to separate budgets.
Use Clear Names
Name plans descriptively: "Joint Household", "Freelance Business", or "Vacation Fund" rather than generic names.
Assign Distinct Colors
Different colors make it immediately clear which plan you're viewing, preventing accidental entries in the wrong budget.
Set a Default
Make your most-used plan the default so it loads automatically when you open Zerosum.
Review Regularly
If you have multiple plans, schedule time to review each one. Don't let a secondary plan become neglected.
You're Ready!
You've learned about all the core features of Zerosum. Now it's time to put this knowledge into practice and take control of your finances.