Why a budget belongs on your own computer
A budget is one of the most personal documents you will ever write. It shows what you earn, what you owe and what you care about. ZeroDOLLAR-Budget keeps that document where it belongs: in a file you own, on a device you control. It makes no network connection at all, so nothing about your money ever leaves your browser unless you export it yourself.
What is in the download
- One HTML file, personalBUDGET.html, about 49 KB.
- Nothing to install: it opens in your web browser and works without an internet connection.
- A short "How it works" guide appears the first time you open it.
Your first budget in ten minutes
- Save the file in a folder you will remember, such as Documents, and double-click it.
- Enter your monthly take-home pay (after tax) and press Next.
- Add each bill, expense and savings goal with its category and amount.
- Open the Balance step and move money between categories until the result reads $0.00.
- Export a CSV copy and keep it with your other important files.
Good to know
- Amounts are in US dollars.
- Your budget is kept in the browser you use. Clearing that browser's site data clears the budget, so keep a CSV copy.
- To move your budget to another computer, export a CSV and import it there.
- Tested in Google Chrome on a computer. The layout also fits a narrow window; it has not been tested on a real phone.
About zero-based budgeting
Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is a financial method where every new budget starts completely from scratch, or a "zero base," rather than just tweaking the previous day's/month's/year's numbers. In an old-school budget, managers usually take last period's spending and adjust it slightly for inflation or small changes. With ZBB, every person/department must justify all of its planned expenses from the ground up, proving why each dollar needs to be spent regardless of whether it was part of the old budget.
While this approach takes a lot of time and paperwork at the highest corporate levels, it's super simple with our app. This app forces you to eliminate wasted money, question unnecessary habits, and align spending directly with your current goals. ZBB works best for companies or households looking to completely reset their finances and cut out hidden inefficiency. This is HOW-TO trim the fat and cut the fraud, waste and abuse of your hard earned cash!
