What exactly is the Family Budget Operating System?

It is a Microsoft Excel workbook made up of nine sheets: Start Here, Setup, Monthly Plan, Bills, Transactions, Dashboard, Month-End Review, Annual Overview, and Lists. You use it to plan and record household income, bills, spending, savings, and debt payments.

How much of the year does one workbook cover?

One workbook is designed for a single calendar year, with planning across all twelve months. A new copy is intended for the next calendar year.

Do I have to sort transactions into months myself?

No. Transactions are assigned to the appropriate month based on the transaction date you enter.

What happens when I finish a month?

Later months use the prior month's ending balance. Marking a month Closed in the Month-End Review changes its status from provisional to finalized; it is not what carries the balance forward. A closed month can be reopened if you need to make corrections.

Can I use my own categories and names?

Yes. Categories, income sources, payment methods, Paid By names, and other dropdown values can be customized.

What does the Paid By field do?

Paid By is informational. It records who paid a bill or made a transaction and does not calculate reimbursements or split balances.

My income varies month to month. Can I still use it?

Yes. The workbook supports irregular income by letting you plan with conservative estimates and then record actual amounts as they arrive.

Can I buy it now?

Yes. FBOS is available in the Formary Works Etsy shop at https://formaryworks.etsy.com. The Etsy listing shows the current price. Purchase, payment, and file delivery are handled by Etsy.

General (non-support) questions can go through the Contact page.