Frequently asked questions
Trust and your data
Is my financial information safe?
Your data is stored in Canada. The database keeps each account separate, so no account can read another's. You can turn on two-step sign-in with an authenticator app, and you're signed out automatically after 30 minutes without activity. Our Privacy Policy explains what we collect, where it's stored and why.
Does Budget Blueprint connect to my bank?
No. You enter your own numbers. We never ask for a banking login or account numbers, and nothing in Budget Blueprint can move money. Why we built it that way.
Do you sell my data?
No. We never sell your data or share it for advertising. We use it only to show you your own numbers.
Can I download or delete my data?
Yes, you can do both in Settings at any time. Download gives you everything you've entered in a spreadsheet you can open in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets. Delete permanently removes your account and everything in it. Before deleting, we email you a code to confirm it's you.
Is this financial advice?
No. Budget Blueprint organizes the numbers you enter and compares them with published Canadian data. It doesn't give financial, tax, investment or legal advice, and every decision about your money stays yours.
Getting started
How do I get started?
Start with the Audit: 12 questions, about 5 minutes, and you don't need an account to see your result. Then create your account, and your Audit result comes with you. Setup comes next, one question at a time; most households finish in about an hour. Once it's done, your Command Center and every tab are ready.
How long does setup take?
Most households finish setup in about an hour. It asks one question at a time and explains each step. Keep a recent pay stub and your regular bills nearby.
Can I stop partway and come back?
Yes. Your progress is saved as you go, so you can pick up where you left off, even on another device.
Can I use it on my phone?
You can check your Command Center on a phone. For setup and entering your numbers, a computer or tablet works best.
Which languages is it available in?
English and French. The website and the whole tool are available in both. You can switch with EN / FR at the top of the screen or in Settings.
Can I use US dollars?
Budget Blueprint works in Canadian dollars. In your Net Worth, you can enter an account, asset or debt in US dollars, and it's converted to Canadian dollars at the Bank of Canada rate from when you last updated it.
Do I have to enter every transaction?
No. You list your regular expenses once (rent, groceries, subscriptions and so on) and update them when they change. Tracking what you spend each month is optional.
How much time does it take once it's set up?
Most people check in once a month, and it takes a few minutes.
Who it's for
Who is Budget Blueprint for?
Canadian households who want to know whether they're doing okay with their money. Budget Blueprint compares your numbers with Canadian households like yours, using published data from Statistics Canada, CMHC, the Bank of Canada and other Canadian sources. Every source is listed on our References page.
Why isn't my type of household listed?
We compare your income with Canadian households like yours, using Statistics Canada's household types and figures. For some households, such as adults living with their parents or parents living with their grown children, the published data doesn't fit the way we compare, so we've left them out rather than guess. We'll add household types as Statistics Canada publishes new data. Until then, choose the type closest to yours.
Why are the comparisons for all of Canada and not my province or city?
We use national figures from Statistics Canada because they're the most reliable for every household type. The smaller the area, the fewer households Statistics Canada surveys, and the less certain its numbers become. We know costs vary: rent in Toronto or Vancouver is very different from rent in Trois-Rivières. We're looking at regional comparisons and will add them where the data lets us compare fairly.
What if my income changes from month to month?
Budget Blueprint handles that with Sovereign Smoothing. You enter your last few pays from your pay stubs, and it turns them into one steady number to plan from. Your highest and lowest pays count for less, the number stays a little cautious while your pay history is short, and it updates each time you add a pay. It's a planning number only: no money moves, and nothing connects to your bank. You can also set your own number whenever you like.
Can I use it if I live outside Canada?
Budget Blueprint is built for households living in Canada. Its comparisons use Canadian data, so they won't fit a household in another country. To subscribe, you'll need a Canadian billing address and a credit card issued in Canada.
The method
What is the Audit?
The Audit is twelve questions about how you think and feel about your money, and how you manage it today. It's free, takes about 5 minutes and doesn't need an account. Your answers add up to a score that reflects your relationship with money and the system you have for it. You can retake it any time.
What is the Sovereignty Meter?
The Sovereignty Meter is a score out of 100 that recognizes you for the healthy money habits you've put into practice: spending less than you earn, keeping debt manageable, planning for the costs you know are coming, and protecting yourself for when something goes wrong. It doesn't grade how much you earn or own. It updates as you go.
How is the Audit different from the Sovereignty Meter?
The Audit is a reflection: how you think, feel and behave with money, in your own words. The Sovereignty Meter is recognition: it shows the healthy habits you're following through on, day to day. The two don't always agree, and that's worth a look when it happens. You can retake the Audit any time, and the Meter updates as you go. More in Why Start With an Audit? and One Score, Five Real Questions.
Pricing
How much does it cost?
There are two plans. Budget Blueprint is for households. Budget Blueprint for Business is for solo entrepreneurs, contractors and gig workers. Each has its own price, coming soon. The Audit is always free.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Budget Blueprint comes with a 14-day trial with full access.
What happens when my trial ends?
The Audit, guided setup, your income (with Sovereign Smoothing), your Ledger and Ledger Tracking stay free. We keep everything else you've entered, and it comes back as soon as you upgrade.