FAQ

Do I need to be good with spreadsheets to use this?

No — that's exactly who it was built for. You never write a formula or do any calculation yourself. You type in what you spend, and everything else updates on its own. If you can fill in a date and an amount, you can use SteadyCent.

What's the Stress Score?

It's a single number from 0 to 100 that tells you honestly how you're doing this month, instead of leaving you to interpret a wall of figures. It blends three things — how much of your income you're spending, how much you're saving, and how funded your safety buffer is — then gives you a plain-language read: Low Stress, Moderate, or High. Most budget templates show you numbers. This one tells you what they mean.

Does it work with Excel and Google Sheets?

Yes, both. One file, no add-ons, no extra software. For Google Sheets, upload the file to Google Drive, right-click, and choose "Open with → Google Sheets."

Can I change the categories to fit my life?

Every category is editable. Rename them, delete what you don't need, add what you do — tuition, childcare, a wedding fund, student loans. It takes a couple of minutes and the whole workbook adapts around your choices.

How long does setup take?

A few minutes, once. After that it's a few seconds a day — one row per expense or paycheck. That's the only ongoing habit.

Is this a subscription?

No. One-time purchase, lifetime access. No recurring fees, no upsells, no expiry.

How do I receive it?

Instantly. A download link arrives by email the moment your payment clears — nothing is shipped, and there's no waiting.

What's the Safety Buffer, and how is it different from savings?

It's your cushion for surprises, and it's cumulative — it doesn't reset each month like your spending categories do. Save $100 in May and $200 in June, and it shows $300 total, with a progress bar tracking you toward the goal you set. Watching it climb month after month is what keeps most people going.

Can I track more than one month?

Yes. Everything goes into one continuous log, and the Dashboard has a dropdown to switch between months instantly. There's also a Progress tab charting your income, expenses and buffer over time — so you can see whether you're actually improving, not just guess.

What if I've tried budgeting before and given up?

That's the specific problem this was built around. Most budgeting tools fail because they ask a lot and give back raw numbers. SteadyCent asks for one row a day and hands you a plain-English summary and an honest read on where you stand. It's designed to be sustainable, not impressive.

What if I have a problem or a question?

Reply to your order confirmation email and a real person will help you — there's no support ticket queue and no bot. SteadyCent is a small independent shop, and I read every message myself.