Meet the Mark Budgeting Roadmap
What to Have Ready

Your take-home pay (net, not gross) and how often you're paid (weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly)

The date of your next paycheck

Any regular extra income: how much, how often, and either the day of the month it lands or the most recent date you received it

A list of your recurring bills: name, amount, how often it's due (monthly, weekly, biweekly, quarterly, or annual), and either the due day of the month or the most recent date it was charged. Up to 20 bills can be entered — this includes subscriptions, loans, insurance, credit cards (minimum payment only), and utilities

Your typical grocery cost per trip and how often you shop

Your typical gas cost per fill-up and how often you fill up

How much you'd like in your checking account as a safety buffer (if unsure, $100 is a reasonable starting point)

Your current checking account balance (optional)

Your current total savings balance, and how much of it (if any) you're comfortable using to cover a tight period

Your savings goal amount, and whether you want a fixed amount set aside every period or to save whatever's left over after expenses

For each debt (up to 10): the name, current balance, APR, and minimum payment

If any debt is eligible for a balance transfer or promo rate: the promo APR, when the promo rate ends, any transfer fee, the receiving card's credit limit, a nickname for that card or account, whether it's a card you already have or a new one, and its due date if you already have it

Whether you're contributing to retirement through payroll deduction, manually, or not at all, and the relevant amount if so

For any bill on a fixed payoff schedule (like a personal loan that isn't part of your debt strategy), the date it'll be fully paid off — leave blank if it's ongoing