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First Steps with Doughsense

Welcome! This guide will walk you through setting up Doughsense in about 15 minutes. By the end, you'll have a complete view of your finances and your first financial goal. Think of this as gathering your ingredients before we start mixing your financial dough.

Your 14-Day Free Trial

You have full access to all Doughsense features during your 14-day trial, no credit card required. Explore everything - AI Assistant, unlimited projections, all metrics - and see how Doughsense can transform your financial planning. After the trial, continue with a subscription for £3/month or £24/year.

Emotional Check-In

Before we start with numbers, take a breath. How do you feel about looking at your finances? Excited? Anxious? Both?

That's completely normal. Every successful financial journey starts with wherever you are right now - even if that feels messy or overwhelming. You're taking the first step, and that's what matters.

Step 1: Add Your Accounts (5 minutes)

Start by adding the accounts where you keep your money.

What You'll Need

  • Current balance for each account
  • Account type (savings, investments, or pension)

How to Add an Account

  1. Go to the Portfolio tab
  2. Use the Add Items dropdown in the header and select Account
  3. Choose your account type:
    • Savings - For regular savings accounts and emergency funds
    • Investments - For stocks, bonds, and investment accounts
    • Pensions - For retirement accounts like DC, SIPP, 401(k) or IRA
  4. Enter:
    • Account name (e.g., "Chase Savings")
    • Current balance
    • Today's date as the balance date
    • Growth rate (select from presets like "Savings Rate" or "Investment Returns", or choose "Custom")
  5. Tap Save

Quick Tip

Start with your main checking and savings accounts. When setting growth rates, use the presets provided (like "Savings Rate") or enter custom rates. These should be nominal rates - Doughsense handles inflation automatically.

Step 2: Add Your Debts (3 minutes)

Now let's add any money you owe.

Psychology Moment: The Debt Shame Trap

Seeing your total debt can trigger shame or anxiety. Remember: Debt is just a tool that got you something you needed (education, transport, a home). Now you're taking control of it.

Every millionaire has had debt. The difference? They tracked it, planned for it, and conquered it. You're doing the same.

Common Debts to Include

  • Credit cards
  • Student loans
  • Car loans
  • Mortgage
  • Personal loans

How to Add a Debt

  1. Stay in the Portfolio tab
  2. Use the Add Items dropdown in the header and select Liability
  3. Choose the type:
    • Credit Card - For revolving credit
    • Loan - For personal or auto loans
    • Mortgage - For home loans
  4. Enter:
    • Name (e.g., "Visa Card" or "Car Loan")
    • Current balance owed
    • Interest rate (this is already the rate you pay)
    • Credit limit (for credit cards)
  5. Tap Save

Your Net Worth Reality Check

Once you've added your accounts and debts, check the Portfolio tab to see your net worth - this is what you own minus what you owe.

Common Reaction: 'My Net Worth is Negative!'

If you're young or have student loans, negative net worth is completely normal. You're not behind - you're exactly where many successful people started.

Think of it this way: You've invested in yourself (education) or your life (home, car). Now you're building the income and habits to flip that number positive. Track the trend, not just the total.

Step 3: Set Up Your Monthly Budget (5 minutes)

Understanding your cash flow is crucial for reaching your goals.

Add Your Income

  1. Go to the Budget tab
  2. Use the Add Items dropdown in the header and select Income
  3. For your salary:
    • Name: "Salary" or "Paycheck"
    • Amount: Your take-home pay
    • Frequency: How often you're paid
    • Source: External
    • Target: Cash Flow
  4. Tap Save

Add Your Essential Expenses

Start with your must-pay bills:

  1. Use the Add Items dropdown in the header and select Expense
  2. For each bill, enter:
    • Name (e.g., "Rent", "Electric Bill")
    • Amount
    • Frequency (usually monthly)
    • Target: External
  3. Common expenses to add:
    • Housing (rent/mortgage)
    • Utilities
    • Insurance
    • Groceries
    • Transportation
    • Debt payments

For any debt payments:

  1. When adding the expense, choose the liability as the target
  2. This helps Doughsense track your payoff progress

Step 4: Create Your First Goal (2 minutes)

Let's start with a simple but important goal: an emergency fund.

Why Emergency Fund First?

Your brain has an amount of cash that makes it feel "safe." Until you hit that number, you'll struggle to invest or take smart risks. It's not about the maths - it's about sleeping well at night.

Start with 3 months of expenses. Too much? Start with £1,000. Too little? Go for 6-9 months. The "right" amount is the one that lets your nervous system relax.

Setting Up an Emergency Fund Goal

  1. Go to the Plans tab
  2. Use the Add Items dropdown in the header and select Plan
  3. Enter:
    • Name: "Emergency Fund"
    • Description: "Save 3 months of expenses"
    • Type: Goal
  4. Set the condition:
    • Choose your savings account
    • Set to "greater than or equal to"
    • Enter 3x your monthly expenses
  5. Tap Save

Watch the Magic

Return to the Dashboard to see:

  • When you'll reach your goal
  • How your finances will look along the way
  • Your progress updated automatically

Step 5: Explore Your Financial Future

Now that you have the basics set up:

Check Your Dashboard

  • See your net worth trend
  • View your monthly cash flow
  • Track goal progress

Explore the Timeline

  • Tap any future date to see your projected finances
  • Try changing some values to see "what if" scenarios

Review Your Metrics

  • Check your savings rate
  • See your debt-to-income ratio
  • Monitor your liquidity

What's Next?

Congratulations! You now have a solid foundation. Here are some next steps:

  1. Add More Detail - Include all your accounts and expenses for a complete picture
  2. Set More Goals - Try debt payoff or saving for something special
  3. Optimise - Use Doughsense's suggestions to reach goals faster
  4. Update Monthly - Keep your balances current for accurate projections

Celebrate This Moment

You just did something 70% of people never do: looked at your complete financial picture. That took courage.

The hardest part is done. From here, it's just small steps forward. Every update, every goal, every projection makes you more financially aware than you were yesterday.

Future You is already grateful.

Need Help?

Remember: The more complete your data, the more accurate and helpful Doughsense becomes. Take your time and build up your financial picture step by step.

Pro Tip: Set a monthly reminder to update your account balances. This keeps your projections accurate and helps you stay engaged with your financial progress.