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15<p>This Tour of Actual is not meant to replace the user documentation. If you want to dive directly into how to install and use the softw

15are, please consult the <a class="" href="/docs/"><strong>Docs</strong></a>.</p>
16<p>When you decide that Actual Budget is right for you, read our thorough <a class="" href="/docs/getting-started/starting-fresh">Starting Fresh</a> guide.</p>
17<h2 class="anchor anchorTargetStickyNavbar_SAay" id="are-you-looking-into-using-actual-as-your-budgeting-software">Are you looking into using Actual as your budgeting software?<a href="#are-you-looking-into-using-actual-as-your-budgeting-software" class="hash-link" aria-label="Direct link to Are you looking into using Actual as your budgeting software?" title="Direct link to Are you looking into using Actual as your budgeting software?" translate="no">​</a></h2>
18<p>It&#x27;s worth noting that Actual has two budgeting methods included: <a class="" href="/docs/getting-started/envelope-budgeting">the envelope budgeting model</a> and the more traditional <a class="" href="/docs/getting-started/tracking-budget">tracking budget</a>. The big difference between envelope budgeting and more common methods is that with envelope budgeting, you budget with the money you actually have, not the money you think you will get in the future. The tracking budget allows you to budget future income. Actual defaults to the envelope method and we suggest you start there.</p>
19<p>Our tour will touch on the following topics. You can go directly to a topic using the left sidebar menu.</p>
20<ul>
21<li class="">A <a class="" href="/docs/tour/user-interface">quick overview</a> of the Actual Budget interface.</li>
22<li class="">The <a class="" href="/docs/tour/budget">budget view</a> is where you plan how to save and what you need to spend money on.</li>
23<li class="">Without transactions in the <a class="" href="/docs/tour/accounts">account register</a>, there would be no point in having a budget.</li>
24<li class="">Actual also has a few other functions we will look at: <a class="" href="/docs/tour/schedules">scheduling transactions</a>, managing <a class="" href="/docs/tour/payees">payees</a> and adding and editing <a class="" href="/docs/tour/rules">rules</a>, which will help automate entering or importing transactions.</li>
25<li class="">Lastly, we have <a class="" href="/docs/tour/reports">beautiful reports</a> to show you.</li>
26</ul></div><footer class="theme-doc-footer docusaurus-mt-lg"><div class="row margin-top--sm theme-doc-footer-edit-meta-row"><div class="col noPrint_HJkF"><a href="https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/tree/master/packages/docs/docs/tour/index.md" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="theme-edit-this-page"><svg fill="currentColor" height="20" width="20" viewBox="0 0 40 40" class="iconEdit_UohW" aria-hidden="true"><g><path d="m34.5 11.7l-3 3.1-6.3-6.3 3.1-3q0.5-0.5 1.2-0.5t1.1 0.5l3.9 3.9q0.5 0.4 0.5 1.1t-0.5 1.2z m-29.5 17.1l18.4-18.5 6.3 6.3-18.4 18.4h-6.3v-6.2z"></path></g></svg>Edit this page</a></div><div class="col lastUpdated_g62E"></div></div></footer></article><nav class="docusaurus-mt-lg pagination-nav" aria-label="Docs pages"><a class="pagination-nav__link pagination-nav__link--next" href="/docs/tour/user-interface"><div class="pagination-nav__sublabel">Next</div><div class="pagination-nav__label">User Interface Overview</div></a></nav></div></div><div class="col col--3"><div class="tableOfContents_TN1Q thin-scrollbar theme-doc-toc-desktop"><ul class="table-of-contents table-of-contents__left-border"><li><a href="#are-you-looking-into-using-actual-as-your-budgeting-software" class="table-of-contents__link toc-highlight">Are you looking into using Actual as your budgeting software?</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></main></div></div></div><footer class="theme-layout-footer footer footer--dark"><div class="container container-fluid"><div class="footer__links text--center"><div class="footer__links"><a href="https://discord.gg/8JfAXSgfRf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="footer__link-item">Discord<svg width="13.5" height="13.5" aria-label="(opens in new tab)" class="iconExternalLink_awgD"><use href="#theme-svg-external-link"></use></svg></a><span class="footer__link-separator">·</span><a href="https://github.com/actualbudget/actual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="footer__link-item">GitHub<svg width="13.5" height="13.5" aria-label="(opens in new tab)" class="iconExternalLink_awgD"><use href="#theme-svg-external-link"></use></svg></a><span class="footer__link-separator">·</span><a href="https://opencollective.com/actual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="footer__link-item">Donate<svg width="13.5" height="13.5" aria-label="(opens in new tab)" class="iconExternalLink_awgD"><use href="#theme-svg-external-link"></use></svg></a><span class="footer__link-separator">·</span><a href="https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/tree/master/packages/docs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="footer__link-item">Website Source<svg width="13.5" height="13.5" aria-label="(opens in new tab)" class="iconExternalLink_awgD"><use href="#theme-svg-external-link"></use></svg></a><span class="footer__link-separator">·</span><a class="footer__link-item" href="/docs/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a><span class="footer__link-separator">·</span><a href="https://actualbudget.org/blog/rss.xml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="footer__link-item">RSS Feed<svg width="13.5" height="13.5" aria-label="(opens in new tab)" class="iconExternalLink_awgD"><use href="#theme-svg-external-link"></use></svg></a></div></div><div class="footer__bottom text--center">

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