Step 6 lets you pull existing cash sitting in checking into the zero-sum plan so every dollar gets a job.
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Account Sweep is for cash already sitting in your checking account that doesn't have a home. Maybe the last income deposit over-funded. Maybe you got a refund. Enter the amount in "Available cash to sweep" and it gets added to this deposit's allocatable total.
Good to know
Sweeping is optional. Account Buffer now lives in Living Expenses, so this step is only for extra unassigned cash that should increase the amount available to allocate.
Tip
If your checking has been creeping up month over month, sweep the excess toward debt or savings. Cash parked in checking earns nothing and tends to evaporate into unplanned spending.
Step 9 lets you choose Snowball or Avalanche. Both use the same monthly budget — only the order of attack differs.
The Safety Net step sets your emergency fund target and tells Payday Audit how much to allocate each income deposit.
Step 8 helps you track workplace investing and employer match amounts that are already handled before your take-home income arrives.