tag:infinitekind.tenderapp.com,2009-01-14:/discussions/general-questions/95274-how-to-set-up-accounts-with-different-budgets-and-categoriesInfinite Kind: Discussion 2020-06-01T23:30:23Ztag:infinitekind.tenderapp.com,2009-01-14:Comment/481306692020-03-02T20:33:33Z2020-03-02T20:33:33ZHow to set up accounts with different budgets and categories<div><p>I'm a fellow user.</p>
<p>It is not typical to try and categorize and budget on an account by account basis. It is expected to do this on a person or household basis which encompasses all accounts and categories that person/household has. You do not typically try and limit an account to only receive income from certain sources and to only expend money on certain items.</p>
<p>Therefore categories and budgets are global across the whole data set (file). If you are trying to set up a system for different people you would normally set up a separate data set (File) for each individual.</p></div>dwgtag:infinitekind.tenderapp.com,2009-01-14:Comment/481306692020-03-02T20:50:00Z2020-03-02T20:50:00ZHow to set up accounts with different budgets and categories<div><p>Thank you for this clarification. I assume then that if you can set up different files with different categories and budget amounts (e.g., for a different person). When you start a Moneydance session, then you would open whichever file you want to access. Is that correct?</p>
<p>Also, how do you delete an existing file, one that was created by mistake?</p>
<p>A different but related question is about the meaning and function of the parent account. What is an example of how that would be used?</p></div>Angie Leprohontag:infinitekind.tenderapp.com,2009-01-14:Comment/481306692020-03-02T21:21:27Z2020-03-02T21:21:27ZHow to set up accounts with different budgets and categories<div><p>I'm a fellow user.</p>
<p>Yes each file is completely separate and you open which one you wish to work on. You switch between them by the using the menu item File --> Open. When you start Moneydance it opens the last file used.</p>
<p>The Knowledge Base has an article on deleting files, it can be found at:</p>
<p><a href="https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/file-locations-and-changes/deleting-files">https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/file-locations-and-changes/de...</a></p>
<p>Parent/child relationships can be used in different ways. I have seen some people use it to facilitate a type of envelop budgeting. It can also be used as a grouping and totaling mechanism, for example you may group all accounts at one institution, or you could use it to group types of accounts together e.g. current accounts, saving accounts etc. Or you may just not use it at all.</p></div>dwgtag:infinitekind.tenderapp.com,2009-01-14:Comment/481306692020-03-02T23:24:56Z2020-03-02T23:24:57ZHow to set up accounts with different budgets and categories<div><p>This was immensely helpful. Thanks for the quick and accurate response!</p></div>Angie Leprohon