Question 1

What is WalletForecast?

Accepted Answer

WalletForecast is an iOS app that predicts your future bank balance. You enter your current balance, add your recurring bills and income, and the app shows you what your balance will be on every day for the next year. Unlike budgeting apps that track where money went, WalletForecast shows where money is going — so you can catch overdrafts and cash crunches before they happen. All data stays on your device. No bank login needed.

Question 2

How do I set up WalletForecast for the first time?

Accepted Answer

Getting started is simple: 1) Enter your current bank balance and today's date, 2) Add your recurring transactions like salary, rent, bills, and subscriptions, 3) Add any upcoming one-time transactions you know about. That's it! WalletForecast will instantly show you your projected balance for every day going forward.

Question 3

How much does WalletForecast cost?

Accepted Answer

Free. The app costs nothing to download, and the free tier includes 5 recurring transactions with no time limit. If you need unlimited recurring transactions, Pro plans start at $2.99/week, with options for $4.99/month, $24.99/year, or a one-time $49.99 lifetime purchase.

Question 4

What devices does WalletForecast support?

Accepted Answer

WalletForecast supports iPhone & iPad running iOS 18.1 or later. The app is optimized for all screen sizes and works seamlessly in both portrait and landscape orientations.

Question 5

Do I need to connect my bank account?

Accepted Answer

No! WalletForecast never connects to your bank. You manually enter your starting balance and transactions. This keeps your banking credentials completely secure and gives you full control over your financial data.

Question 6

How do I keep my forecast accurate?

Accepted Answer

The key is to periodically update your balance to match your actual bank balance. WalletForecast makes this easy with the "Update Balance" feature. Just enter your current bank balance whenever you check your bank statement, and the app will reconcile any differences. We recommend updating weekly or after any unexpected transactions.

Question 7

What's the difference between one-time and recurring transactions?

Accepted Answer

One-time transactions are single payments or deposits that happen once (like buying groceries or receiving a tax refund). Recurring transactions repeat automatically on a schedule you set - perfect for paychecks, rent, subscriptions, and regular bills. The app automatically includes all recurring transactions in your forecast.

Question 8

How do recurring transactions work?

Accepted Answer

You can set transactions to repeat on various schedules: daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly (on a specific date or day like "first Monday"), bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. You can also set start and end dates, and activate or deactivate them as needed. For example, you can pause a subscription while traveling.

Question 9

What are transaction categories for?

Accepted Answer

Categories help you organize and understand your spending. Create custom categories like "Housing", "Entertainment", or "Healthcare" with your choice of color and icon. You can then view spending analysis by category to see where your money goes and identify areas to save.

Question 10

How far ahead can I see my balance?

Accepted Answer

WalletForecast shows your projected balance for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 full year into the future. The forecast updates instantly as you add or modify transactions, giving you a real-time view of your financial future.

Question 11

What do the forecast alerts mean?

Accepted Answer

Forecast alerts warn you about potential issues: Low Balance alerts when you're approaching zero, Negative Balance alerts for potential overdrafts, and Significant Drop alerts when your balance drops substantially in one day. These help you spot problems before they happen.

Question 12

Is my financial data really private?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. WalletForecast stores all data locally on your device using Apple's SwiftData framework. We have no servers, collect no data, and require no account creation. Your financial information never leaves your device, making it impossible for us or anyone else to access it.

Question 13

How is my data protected on my device?

Accepted Answer

Your data is protected by iOS's built-in security features including device encryption, Face ID/Touch ID, and the iOS sandbox. Only you can access your data through your device's security measures. The app doesn't even have internet permissions to send data anywhere.

Question 14

What happens if I lose my phone?

Accepted Answer

If you lose your phone, your WalletForecast data is included in your iCloud or iTunes device backup. To protect against data loss, we recommend regularly backing up your device and using the app's export feature to save your data to a file you can store securely.

Question 15

Can you see my transactions or balance?

Accepted Answer

No, we cannot see any of your data. WalletForecast has no analytics, no crash reporting, no user accounts, and no cloud sync. We literally have no way to access your information. Your privacy is absolute.

Question 16

Can I track multiple accounts?

Accepted Answer

Currently, WalletForecast focuses on tracking one primary account at a time to keep forecasting simple and accurate. You can use it for your main checking account where most transactions occur. Multi-account support may be added in future updates.

Question 17

Does it support different currencies?

Accepted Answer

Yes, WalletForecast automatically uses your device's regional currency settings. All amounts are displayed in your local currency format, whether that's dollars, euros, pounds, or any other currency.

Question 18

Can I see spending analysis and reports?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The Analysis tab shows your spending breakdown by category with visual charts, income vs. expense comparisons, and spending trends. This helps you understand where your money goes and make informed financial decisions.

Question 19

What's the "Projected Balance" vs "Current Balance"?

Accepted Answer

Current Balance is what you last confirmed was in your bank account. Projected Balance is what WalletForecast calculates you should have based on that balance plus all transactions since then. If they differ significantly, it's time to update your balance and check for missing transactions.

Question 20

Can I schedule future transactions?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can add one-time transactions with future dates, and all recurring transactions automatically appear in your forecast on their scheduled dates. This is perfect for planning upcoming purchases or remembering future bills.

Question 21

How do I backup my data?

Accepted Answer

You have two backup methods: 1) Automatic backup through iCloud/iTunes when you backup your device, and 2) Manual export using the Export feature in Settings, which creates a JSON file with all your data that you can save anywhere.

Question 22

Can I export my data to Excel or other apps?

Accepted Answer

Yes! In Settings, you can export all your transactions, recurring transactions, and balance history to a JSON file. This file can be imported back into WalletForecast or converted for use with spreadsheet applications.

Question 23

How does importing data work?

Accepted Answer

When importing, you can choose to either merge the imported data with your existing data or replace everything. The app validates all imported data and shows you a summary of what was imported successfully. This is useful for restoring backups or moving data between devices.

Question 24

Can I sync between my iPhone and iPad?

Accepted Answer

Currently, each device maintains its own local data for maximum privacy. You can manually transfer data between devices using the export/import feature. Automatic secure sync may be considered for future updates.

Question 25

What happens to deleted transactions?

Accepted Answer

Deleted transactions are immediately removed from your device and cannot be recovered unless you have a backup. The forecast automatically recalculates to reflect the deletion. Always export your data before making major changes.

Question 26

My forecast doesn't match my bank balance. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

This is normal and why the "Update Balance" feature exists! Simply tap the refresh icon next to your balance and enter your actual bank balance. The app will reconcile the difference. Common causes include forgotten transactions, bank fees, or pending transactions that haven't cleared yet.

Question 27

Why does my recurring transaction not appear on the right day?

Accepted Answer

Check the recurrence settings for that transaction. For monthly transactions on days that don't exist in all months (like the 31st), the app adjusts to the last valid day of shorter months. Also verify the start date and that the transaction is set to "Active".

Question 28

The app shows I'll go negative but I know I won't. How do I fix this?

Accepted Answer

Either you're missing some income transactions or have duplicate expenses. Review your recurring transactions to ensure you haven't added the same bill twice. Also check that your income is properly set up with the correct amount and frequency.

Question 29

How do I handle irregular income?

Accepted Answer

For irregular income like freelance payments, add them as one-time deposits when you know they're coming. For semi-regular income, you can use recurring transactions with approximate amounts and adjust with balance updates as needed.

Question 30

Can I edit past transactions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can edit any transaction by swiping left on it in the transaction list and tapping Edit. Remember that changing past transactions will affect your forecast from that date forward.

Question 31

How often should I update my balance?

Accepted Answer

We recommend updating your balance weekly or bi-weekly, and always after any unexpected transactions. Regular updates ensure your forecast stays accurate and help you catch any missed transactions early.

Question 32

What's the best way to handle variable bills?

Accepted Answer

For bills that vary slightly (like utilities), use an average amount for the recurring transaction. The regular balance updates will reconcile any differences. For highly variable expenses, consider using the highest typical amount to avoid surprises.

Question 33

Should I track every small transaction?

Accepted Answer

Focus on transactions that matter to your forecast. Daily coffee purchases might be too tedious, but weekly grocery spending is worth tracking. Use categories to group similar small expenses into larger, manageable transactions.

Question 34

How do I plan for annual expenses?

Accepted Answer

Set up annual recurring transactions for insurance, registrations, and subscriptions that bill yearly. The forecast will show you exactly when these expenses hit, helping you save in advance and avoid surprises.

Question 35

What's the best way to track subscriptions?

Accepted Answer

Create a "Subscriptions" category and add each subscription as a monthly recurring transaction. You can easily see your total subscription spending in the Analysis view and deactivate any when you cancel them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Using the App

Privacy & Security

Features & Functionality

Data Management

Troubleshooting

Tips & Best Practices

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