Setting Up Your Accounts

Before You Begin

Setting up your accounts is the first real step toward conscious spending. It's also the moment where many people feel a knot in their stomach.

That's normal.

Looking at all your accounts in one place—really looking—can bring up feelings. Shame. Anxiety. Maybe even relief that you're finally doing this.

Whatever comes up, let it be there. This isn't about judgment. It's about clarity.

You don't need to fix anything right now. You just need to see where you are.

What Counts as an Account?

In Solvent, an “account” is anywhere money lives or flows. This includes:

Bank Accounts

• Checking accounts
• Savings accounts
• Money market accounts

Credit & Debt

• Credit cards
• Lines of credit
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car loans
• Mortgages

Cash & Other

• Cash on hand (yes, the jar on your dresser counts)
• PayPal, Venmo, or other digital wallets
• Prepaid cards

Business Accounts (if you're a freelancer or business owner)

• Business checking
• Business savings
• Business credit cards

Don't worry about getting every single account right now. Start with the ones you use regularly. You can always add more later.

Step by Step: Adding Your First Account

Step 1: Navigate to Accounts

From your dashboard, click on “Accounts” in the main navigation. You'll see an empty state prompting you to add your first account.

Step 2: Click “Add Account”

You'll be asked for a few simple pieces of information:

• Account name: Something you'll recognize (e.g., “Main Checking” or “Chase Visa”)
• Account type: Bank account, credit card, loan, cash, etc.
• Category: Personal, Business, or House (if you track household finances separately)
• Current balance: The balance as of right now

Step 3: Enter the Current Balance

This is the part that matters most. Be honest.

For bank accounts, this is your current available balance.

For credit cards and loans, this is what you owe—enter it as the amount due.

Step 4: Save and Repeat

That's it for this account. Now repeat for your other accounts.

A Note on Balances

Some people find this step emotional. If your total debt is higher than you expected, or your savings lower, take a breath.

This is data, not a verdict.

Knowing where you are is the first step to getting somewhere better.

How Many Accounts Should You Add?

For the free tier, you can track up to 3 accounts. This is enough to get started—maybe your main checking, one credit card, and a savings account.

If you have more accounts than that, you can either:

• Start with your most-used accounts and add others later
• Upgrade to Personal ($9/month) for up to 10 accounts
• Upgrade to Business ($19/month) for unlimited accounts

There's no wrong approach. Start where you are.

Organizing Your Accounts

Solvent lets you categorize accounts as Personal, Business, or House. This helps if you:

• Run a freelance business and need to separate personal and business finances
• Share household expenses with a partner
• Want different views for different parts of your financial life

You can toggle between these views in the app, or see everything together.

What Comes Next

Once your accounts are set up, you have a snapshot of your financial reality. This is your starting point.

Next, you'll create your first spending plan—deciding where your money should go before it goes anywhere. That's where conscious spending really begins.

But for now? Take a moment to appreciate what you just did. You looked. You entered the numbers. You started.

That's not nothing. That's everything.