> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://bowbudget.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set up your first budget

> Set up your first Bow budget step by step: what setup asks for, how to start if you're coming from YNAB, and what you can change later.

When you first open Bow, tap **Get Started**. After a few questions about you, setup has four parts: **Money**, **Envelopes**, **Targets** and **Assign**. You can go back at any step until your budget is saved, and if you leave, Bow picks up where you stopped.

**1. Money**

Add the accounts you spend from, with today's balances.

* For a bank account, use your bank's **Available** balance.
* For a credit card, use the balance including pending charges.

Bow counts these, so don't log them again.

If you added a card that owes money, choose how to handle that debt: pay it in full, a set amount each month, by a date, or decide later.

**2. Envelopes**

Tap what you spend on and save for. Add your own to any group.

**3. Targets**

Say what each essential needs this month. This is optional: tap **Skip for Now** to assign money yourself. See [Use targets](https://bowbudget.com/docs/targets.md).

**4. Assign**

Bow funds your essentials first, in order of importance, from Ready to Assign. If there's nothing to fund, you choose how much goes where.

Your budget is saved at the Assign step. To open it, start the free trial, subscribe or buy Lifetime. **Restore Purchases** and **Redeem Code** are there too. Then choose whether to turn on reminders.

After that you can add accounts, envelopes and targets anytime.

## Try it first

Tap **Try a Demo** on the welcome screen to explore a sample budget. Nothing you do there touches your own budget. When you're ready, tap **Start My Own Budget** at the top of Budget, or in Settings if you dismissed that banner.

## Coming from YNAB

Tap **Coming from YNAB?** on the welcome screen to bring your budget over instead. See [Move from YNAB](https://bowbudget.com/docs/move-from-ynab.md).

## Next steps

> **[How Bow works](https://bowbudget.com/docs/how-bow-works.md)**
>
> Accounts, envelopes and Ready to Assign.

> **[Log a transaction](https://bowbudget.com/docs/log-a-transaction.md)**
>
> Add spending, income, transfers and card payments.


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