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Create a cost and your first Budget

General Last change: 2026-10-11

Start with starter.ca. Add Cloud storage, then build a three-cost budget. Allow about 10–15 minutes.

Open Records ↗

These guides use fictional practice data and generic EUR amounts. The screenshots show the October 2026 interface. Adapt example dates and planning periods if practicing later. Recording bills and payments does not transfer money.

Before you start

Download starter.ca below, then use File → Open → Computer → Choose .ca file. Work in the separate practice Catalog; save any existing work first.

Code is optional. Use it only if a short reference helps you; you can leave it blank. Number formats can vary with settings.

Online saving requires your usual signed-in account and edit access. Keep computer-only practice by exporting the complete Catalog.

Select New Record

Open New Record from the toolbar.

Select New Record — Open New Record from the toolbar.

Choose Cost element

Select the Cost element type.

Choose Cost element — Select the Cost element type.

Choose Create New

Start a fresh cost instead of linking an existing record.

Choose Create New — Start a fresh cost instead of linking an existing record.

Enter the name

Type Cloud storage.

Enter the name — Type Cloud storage.

Optional: add a code

Code is optional. Enter CLOUD if you want a short reference, or leave Code blank and continue. The name is enough to create this cost.

Optional: add a code — Code is optional. Enter CLOUD if you want a short reference, or leave Code blank and continue. The name is enough to create this cost.

Continue to the cost fields

Choose Next.

Continue to the cost fields — Choose Next.

Choose EUR

Search the Currency field and choose EUR.

Choose EUR — Search the Currency field and choose EUR.

Enter the price

Enter 12 as the fixed value.

Enter the price — Enter 12 as the fixed value.

Choose Monthly

Set Price every to Monthly; Every remains 1.

Choose Monthly — Set Price every to Monthly; Every remains 1.

Set the deadline

Use 15 October 2026 in this practice example.

Set the deadline — Use 15 October 2026 in this practice example.

Open the full record

Choose Open Record to review all fields.

Open the full record — Choose Open Record to review all fields.

Save the cost

Choose Save. The new cost appears in the list.

Save the cost — Choose Save. The new cost appears in the list.

Search for Budget

Open New Record and search Budget. This finds Budget / Estimate.

Search for Budget — Open New Record and search Budget. This finds Budget / Estimate.

Choose Budget / Estimate

Select the Budget / Estimate type.

Choose Budget / Estimate — Select the Budget / Estimate type.

Choose Create New

Start a new estimate.

Choose Create New — Start a new estimate.

Name the budget

Enter My first budget.

Name the budget — Enter My first budget.

Continue

Choose Next to reach the contents fields.

Continue — Choose Next to reach the contents fields.

Open the record editor

Choose Open Record, then scroll to the Cost elements section. Use its structured picker to add separate cost rows.

Open the record editor — Choose Open Record, then scroll to the Cost elements section. Use its structured picker to add separate cost rows.

Add Cloud storage

Choose Add beside Cloud storage.

Add Cloud storage — Choose Add beside Cloud storage.

Add Example domain

Choose Add beside the 48 EUR yearly domain cost.

Add Example domain — Choose Add beside the 48 EUR yearly domain cost.

Add New router

Choose Add beside the 85 EUR one-time router.

Add New router — Choose Add beside the 85 EUR one-time router.

Save the estimate

Choose Save.

Save the estimate — Choose Save.

Select the Budget / Estimate view

Open the Budget / Estimate list.

Select the Budget / Estimate view — Open the Budget / Estimate list.

Open My first budget

Inspect its 12-month total. In this example it is 277 EUR.

Open My first budget — Inspect its 12-month total. In this example it is 277 EUR.

Choose Until end of year

Use Planning period to see October–December. The example includes 169 EUR due on the billing schedule.

Choose Until end of year — Use Planning period to see October–December. The example includes 169 EUR due on the billing schedule.

Keep your work

For an online Catalog choose File → Save Catalog. For a computer-only exercise, select All Records and export the complete .ca file. The illustration shows that menu in the variable-bill exercise.

Keep your work — For an online Catalog choose File → Save Catalog. For a computer-only exercise, select All Records and export the complete .ca file. The illustration shows that menu in the variable-bill exercise.
Practice Catalog: starter.caFictional EUR practice data. Open in Records from File → Open → Computer.

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