Stashes

Set money aside before it gets spent

The bill that wrecks a month is the one that only comes once a year. A stash sets money aside for it a little at a time, on top of the accounts you already have, so it’s ready when the bill shows up and safe to spend never counts it.

Budget screen with stashes: $3,410 left to budget, Ready to stash $22,539.62 with stashes needing $670.67 this month and a Fund for me button, then car insurance $260 of $780 ($104 short) and holiday gifts $200 of $400

Stashes list: car insurance $260 of $780 by Mar 3, holiday gifts $200 of $400 by Dec 15, car repairs full at $1,000, $100 a month of extra debt payments, and a Japan in spring goal

How it works

Start a stash
Name it and give it a target in plain words: “$600 by Mar 3,” “$150 every month,” or “Keep $1,000.” Or link it to a bill or a goal.
Fill it from Ready to stash
Ready to stash is real cash that doesn’t have a job yet. Move some into each stash, or tap Fund for me and Pennyjay fills what’s due first.
Spend it when it’s time
When the bill lands, the stash covers it, and safe to spend counts it once, not twice.

The details

No money moves

Stashes are earmarks on your real balances. You don’t need new bank accounts, and Pennyjay can’t move a cent.

Stash for a bill

From any bill, tap “Stash for this.” Upcoming bills that are covered say so on the calendar.

Short, on track or full

Each stash shows how much it needs this month, and Jay tells you if one is falling behind or when a windfall arrives.

Works with any budget

Stashes sit alongside category, flexible and paycheck budgets. If you never start one, your budget stays exactly as it was.

Questions

Is a stash a separate bank account?

No. A stash is money you’ve set aside on paper, on top of the balances in your real accounts. Nothing moves between accounts.

Is this like YNAB’s envelopes?

It’s the same idea, giving every dollar a job, but opt-in and built into the budget you already use, so you can stash for a few things without changing how you budget everything else.

How do stashes affect safe to spend?

Money in stashes is taken out of safe to spend, and a bill covered by a stash is only counted once.

Be first in the nest

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