Have you ever wanted to buy something special that really shouldn’t count as part of your monthly spending? Or maybe you’d just like to add your groceries to your Spending Plan.

These 6 Spending Plan hacks take advantage of Simplifi’s extreme flexibility to help you master your cash flow and take your customized Spending Plan to a whole new level.

1. Hack your available spending

It’s the last week of the month, and Simplifi says you can still spend $400. You don’t have to spend it all, but that extra $400 is a little too tempting. What do you do?

The trick: Hide that cash by changing your income for the month.

Check what Simplifi calculates as your monthly income, and set a custom amount instead that’s a little less. Simplifi will lower what you can spend by that same amount.

Don’t worry, Simplifi will still track your actual income — so you’ll know when your paychecks come in. You’ll just trick yourself into spending less than you’re making..

2. Hack a cushion into those variable bills

Is your gas bill higher in the winter? Does your water bill skyrocket when you fill your pool in the spring? Make sure those jumbo-sized bills are always covered!

The trick: Change your expected bill amount.

Find that bill in your bills and subscriptions list and adjust the expected amount to make sure it’s high enough. Simplifi will set that money aside in your Spending Plan. Then, when the bill is paid, Simplifi will match it and adjust to the actual amount.

Do this with as many bills as you need to. The amount you have left to spend will automatically adjust throughout the month as each bill gets paid.

Don’t want to change that bill for every month? No problem! Jump ahead to the month you want to change and add a planned spending amount to that month’s Spending Plan for the cushion you need.

3. Hack your Spending Plan for large, one-time expenses

Let’s say you’ve been setting money aside for something big like a vacation or a new car, and now it’s time to spend it. How can you let Simplifi know you’re not blowing your spending limit?

The trick: Ignore that spending from your Spending Plan.

If you want a certain expense not to count against your monthly spending, find it in your transaction list and check the option to ignore it from your Spending Plan. Simplifi will remove it from your Spending Plan calculations so you can see what you have left to spend without taking that big transaction into account.

Will that mess up your data? Not at all. Simplifi still includes it in your overall spending, and the expense will show up in your reports — so you can always see your real totals.

BONUS TIP: For large bills that only happen once or twice a year, like property taxes or insurance premiums, set up a savings goal and make monthly contributions to it. When the bill comes due, you’ll have the money tucked away and ready to go!

4. Hack a buffer for anything you need

Do you have something big coming up later this month, like the kids’ soccer club fees or a treat-yourself spa day? How can you make sure you don’t accidentally spend the money you’ll need?

The trick: Add that amount to your planned spending.

In your Spending Plan, you can create a one-time planned expense for anything you need. Simplifi will set that money aside so you’ll have it when you need it.

If the actual amount ends up being lower than you expected, you can go back to your planned spending and tell Simplifi to release the extra funds. Simplifi will put that balance back into your available-to-spend amount.

5. Hack expenses that aren’t technically bills

Your groceries might not technically be a monthly bill, but they might as well be. How can you make sure your Spending Plan sets aside enough for those poke bowls and Takis?

The trick: Create a planned spending expense.

Capture monthly expenses that don’t come in as regular bills by adding recurring planned expenses. Simplifi will include them in your Spending Plan automatically.

If you’re not sure how much money to set aside, Simplifi can help with that too. Choose the category of your planned expense, and Simplifi will display your average spending in that category as an easy guideline.

Add more if you want to have a bit more flexibility in grocery splurges, or less if you’re trying to bring that spending down. The choice is always yours.

6. Hack your plan for the unexpected (and for a little fun)

Now that your groceries are covered, what about the random things that seem to crop up every month? Like that special shirt to impress your new boss? Or that last-minute virtual conference? How can you plan for the unexpected?

The trick: There’s no need to do anything. Simplifi’s got you covered.

Let’s face it, it’s impossible to plan for everything. One of the best things about the Simplifi app is that it’s built for the real world — with all the unpredictability that comes with it. 

Instead of forcing you to add a separate planned spending item for every possible thing that could happen, Simplifi lets you keep your plans flexible.

Because let’s face it, life isn’t all that plannable.

Add your bills and subscriptions, then add other expenses like groceries and gas. For the rest, make those choices as you go. Simplifi lets you spend your money on whatever comes up, from that fancy bottle of wine to new tires for your car.

The whole point of Simplifi’s Spending Plan is to help you make the choices that work best for you — so you can cover your bills, plan for the future, and live your best life.