How to set up the Until Payday Budget

Google Sheets or Excel. About 10 minutes. Prefer to be walked through it? Open the AI guide (bottom corner) and choose Walk me through setup.

Ava the Fox, the AI setup guide

Hi, I'm Ava the Fox, your AI setup guide! Follow along below, or let me walk you through it one step at a time in the chat.

Download this guide as a PDF (also included with your purchase)

Open it in Google Sheets

  1. Download the .xlsx from your download page or email (the link works 3 times in 24 hours; save the file somewhere you'll find it).
  2. Go to drive.google.com, click New > File upload and choose the .xlsx.
  3. Open the uploaded file, then choose File > Save as Google Sheets. Work in the new Google Sheets copy (it has the green icon).
  4. Formulas, dropdowns and colors carry over. If a sheet asks to allow editing a protected range, click OK: gray cells are protected only to prevent accidents (no password).

Open it in Excel

  1. Download the .xlsx and double-click it. Works in Excel 2010 or newer, Microsoft 365 and Excel for Mac (also LibreOffice Calc).
  2. If Excel shows a yellow Protected View bar, click Enable Editing (files from the internet always open that way). There are no macros to enable.
  3. Save a copy under your own name (File > Save As) so you always have the clean original.

Color code: yellow cells are for typing, gray cells are formulas. Tabs: Start Here, Setup, Paycheck Plan, Safe to Spend, Bills, Calendar, Sinking Funds, Income Splitter, Transactions, Debt, Example.

Setup, one step at a time

  1. Open the file

    Open the workbook (see Google Sheets or Excel below). Start on the Start Here tab, then look at the filled-in sample so you can see it working.

    Ava's tip: You've got this! Take it slow, there's no rush.

  2. Setup

    Enter Person 1 (and Person 2 if you have one): name, employer, pay frequency, next payday, net pay as base only. Set checking balance, today's date, and how many paychecks to project (8 is the default).

    Ava's tip: Nice! One step down. Little steps add up fast.

    Until Payday Budget: Setup tab

  3. Bills

    List every bill. Due day of month for recurring; a specific date for one-offs. Assign each bill to Person 1's paycheck, Person 2's paycheck, or the next paycheck after the due date (auto-picks the check that funds it).

    Ava's tip: Look at you go! If anything looks odd, the troubleshooting list below has your back.

    Until Payday Budget: Bills tab

  4. Sinking Funds + Debt

    Set per-paycheck skims — especially Gap / Summer if anyone is on a 10-month contract. Add debts with min payment, due day, and who pays them. Snowball vs avalanche is a toggle, not the hero.

    Ava's tip: Halfway-ish and doing great. Keep going!

    Until Payday Budget: Sinking Funds + Debt tab

  5. Income Splitter (if you have OT / tips / a 3rd check)

    Budget off base. Extra pay gets a job on arrival: buffer, debt, sinking funds, or safe to spend. Until you assign it, extras do not inflate Safe to Spend.

    Ava's tip: Ooh, you're really getting the hang of this.

    Until Payday Budget: Income Splitter (if you have OT / tips / a 3rd check) tab

  6. Open Safe to Spend

    That giant number is the product. Update today's date and checking balance on a weekly money date — not every night. Transactions are optional history. Safe to Spend still works if that tab is empty.

    Ava's tip: Almost there! I can see the finish line.

    Until Payday Budget: Open Safe to Spend tab

  7. Make it yours

    Replace the sample values in the yellow cells with your own. Gray cells calculate automatically. Save.

    Ava's tip: Woohoo, last step! You did it. Give yourself a cheer!

Troubleshooting

The download link says expired or used up

Each link works 3 times within 24 hours. Email Grokedgepm@proton.me with your order email and we'll send a fresh link.

I didn't get the email

Check spam and promotions for 'downloads@multiverseosp.com'. Your download page also appeared right after checkout. Still nothing? Email us your order email.

A cell shows #REF!, #VALUE! or #NAME?

Usually a gray formula cell was typed over or a row was deleted. Press Undo, or start again from the original file. Type only in yellow cells.

Dates look like numbers (e.g. 46310)

Select the cell and set Format > Number > Date. In Google Sheets also check File > Settings > Locale matches your country.

Can I delete the sample data?

Yes. Clear the yellow cells only (select, press Delete). Don't delete whole rows; the formulas expect them.

Still stuck? Email Grokedgepm@proton.me with your order email, or ask the AI guide to pass your question to a person.

Back to the Until Payday Budget

Informational tool only. Not financial, tax, or legal advice. Guide written with AI assistance and checked by hand.