Why Doesn't the Automatically Generated Budget Update More Quickly?

AM

It has always been the case that the automatically generated budget revises itself very slowly. For instance, my rent has been $900 per month for almost a year, now, but the automatically generated budget still places $850 on that line at the beginning of each month. Why is this?

UKR

If by "on that line at the beginning of each month" you are talking about the Budgeted Amount for every month …

This amount does not adjust itself based on recent actual transactions.
You need to, for example, set the January Budget Amount to $900 and then, using the gear icon on the Rent paid transaction line, select "Apply Jan budget forward to the end of 2025".

AM

UKR

Apr 2, 2025

If by "on that line at the beginning of each month" you are talking about the Budgeted Amount for every month …

This amount does not adjust itself based on recent actual transactions.
You need to, for example, set the January Budget Amount to $900 and then, using the gear icon on the Rent paid transaction line, select "Apply Jan budget forward to the end of 2025".

This seems like the answer. I just ASSUMED that Quicken generated and revised the budget, because one already existed the first time I looked at the "Full Budget" page. I have been making my own budget on a separate tab, each month, not realizing that I could more or less permanently save amounts on the 2024 Budget tab. I got tired of entering all the correct amounts, each month, only to see them revert to the wrong amounts on the first of each month.

Anyway, I'm glad I asked, and thank you very much for your help. I will try your solution out for the next few months.

AM

UKR

Apr 2, 2025

If by "on that line at the beginning of each month" you are talking about the Budgeted Amount for every month …

This amount does not adjust itself based on recent actual transactions.
You need to, for example, set the January Budget Amount to $900 and then, using the gear icon on the Rent paid transaction line, select "Apply Jan budget forward to the end of 2025".

I just wanted to follow up. Yesterday, May 1st, after following your suggestion, the budget rolled over into the new month perfectly! Thanks, again!

Quicken Anja

Hello @AM,

Thank you for taking the time to tell us about this issue!

To better assist you, could you please provide the following details?

• Where is your Quicken data file stored? Is it on your local hard drive (C: Drive) or a cloud-based/external drive (e.g.: OneDrive, DropBox, USB, etc.)?
• Have you attempted any troubleshooting steps so far? If so, what were they?
• When did this issue first start occurring?
• Were there any significant changes to your system or software before the issue began (updates, new installations, etc.)?
• Is this only occurring with this particular rent transaction, or are there others as well?

Your answers will help us diagnose the issue more effectively.

Looking forward to your response!

UKR

If by "on that line at the beginning of each month" you are talking about the Budgeted Amount for every month …

This amount does not adjust itself based on recent actual transactions.
You need to, for example, set the January Budget Amount to $900 and then, using the gear icon on the Rent paid transaction line, select "Apply Jan budget forward to the end of 2025".

Chris_QPW

Why Doesn't the Automatically Generated Budget Update More Quickly?

AM

Apr 2, 2025

https://us.v-cdn.net/6031128/uploads/GM6OR1ZPRCI6/image.png

It has always been the case that the automatically generated budget revises itself very slowly. For instance, my rent has been $900 per month for almost a year, now, but the automatically generated budget still places $850 on that line at the beginning of each month. Why is this?

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From what we have been told is that it looks back at the last 12 months to decide what to assign to the category/month/budget amount, but past that they have never pinned down how it really works. And I can say that I don't think it does a reasonable job on anything that isn't a fixed amount for the whole period of time.

I just created a new budget and let it generate the categories and the budget amounts.

Here is what it shows for the budget amounts for "Auto:Charging" (which is amounts for DC charging away from home).

Here is a report for this category for the last 12 months:

How you get from the report data to that budget I have no idea.

AM

UKR

Apr 2, 2025

If by "on that line at the beginning of each month" you are talking about the Budgeted Amount for every month …

This amount does not adjust itself based on recent actual transactions.
You need to, for example, set the January Budget Amount to $900 and then, using the gear icon on the Rent paid transaction line, select "Apply Jan budget forward to the end of 2025".

This seems like the answer. I just ASSUMED that Quicken generated and revised the budget, because one already existed the first time I looked at the "Full Budget" page. I have been making my own budget on a separate tab, each month, not realizing that I could more or less permanently save amounts on the 2024 Budget tab. I got tired of entering all the correct amounts, each month, only to see them revert to the wrong amounts on the first of each month.

Anyway, I'm glad I asked, and thank you very much for your help. I will try your solution out for the next few months.

Chris_QPW

@AM if the budget is changing on its own, that is a bug. It has been reported on this forum a few times and is usually associated with the fact that the person is using "Sync to Mobile/Web" which also syncs the budget.

As far as I know no one has pinned down the exact cause, only that it "might be" Sync to Mobile/Web.

AM

UKR

Apr 2, 2025

If by "on that line at the beginning of each month" you are talking about the Budgeted Amount for every month …

This amount does not adjust itself based on recent actual transactions.
You need to, for example, set the January Budget Amount to $900 and then, using the gear icon on the Rent paid transaction line, select "Apply Jan budget forward to the end of 2025".

I just wanted to follow up. Yesterday, May 1st, after following your suggestion, the budget rolled over into the new month perfectly! Thanks, again!