Intro to ledgers 

A ledger is anything used to keep track of additions, withdrawals, and the current balance. If you use one, your check register is a ledger. If you keep track of checking account activity with a spreadsheet, that spreadsheet is a ledger. At your bank or credit union, your checking account is presented as a ledger showing debits (withdrawals), credits (additions), and the balance (the total amount of money available in your account). While your account at the bank or credit union only shows activity and the current balance, You Need A Cash Plan keeps track of the money in your checking account using program-maintained ledgers.

There are two built-in ledgers in You Need A Cash Plan.

Unallocated ledger - The money in your checking account that you have not allocated to any specific purpose. When you enter a deposit, the money is added to this ledger.

Allowance ledger - The money that is automatically set aside, when you pay bills, for your future weekly allowance. The balance is reduced each time you get (withdraw) your weekly allowance.

Additional ledgers are automatically created by You Need A Cash Plan for each bill, credit card, sinking fund and savings that you add.

Bill and credit card ledgers - You move money to these ledgers that you want to be used for future payments. When payments are made, the balance in these ledgers is reduced.

Sinking fund and savings ledgers - Used to keep track of money that is automatically set aside to sinking funds and savings as part of paying bills. You can also move money to these ledgers at any time. Money remains in a sinking fund or savings ledger until either you use it, or until the money is automatically deducted for payments to a linked bill or credit card.

The total available money in your checking account is the total of the balances in all of your program-maintained ledgers.