Frequently Asked Questions

What is envelope budgeting?

Envelope budgeting is a time-tested method where you divide your money into categories (envelopes) at the start of each month. Each envelope gets a specific amount, and you only spend what's in that envelope. It helps you avoid overspending and ensures every dollar has a purpose.

Spenvelopes brings this classic method into the digital age by automatically syncing your transactions and letting you assign them to your digital envelopes with a single tap.

How do I get started with Spenvelopes?

Getting started is simple:

1. Download the app from the App Store (coming soon)
2. Connect your bank account through Plaid
3. Create your Spenvelopes (e.g., Groceries, Dining, Gas, Entertainment)
4. Allocate money from your bank balance to each spenvelope
5. As transactions come in, assign them to the appropriate spenvelope

Do I need to manually enter transactions?

No! That's the beauty of Spenvelopes. Once you connect your bank account, transactions sync automatically. You just need to assign them to your Spenvelopes—no data entry required. (Note: Free users can only enter information in manually, but once you upgrade to Premium, automatic syncing will occur.)

Is it safe to connect my bank account?

Yes. Spenvelopes uses Plaid, a trusted financial technology company used by thousands of apps including Venmo, Robinhood, and Acorns. When you connect your bank:

• Your credentials go directly to Plaid, never through our servers
• Your financial data stays on your device and in your private iCloud
• We never see or store your bank login credentials
• All connections are encrypted with bank-level security

Which banks are supported?

Spenvelopes supports over 12,000 banks and credit unions in the United States through Plaid. This includes all major banks like Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Capital One, and thousands of smaller institutions.

If your bank isn't supported, you can contact us and we'll work with Plaid to add it.

Can Spenvelopes access my money or make transactions?

No, absolutely not. Spenvelopes has read-only access to your transactions and account balances. We cannot:

• Move money between accounts
• Make purchases or payments
• Modify your account in any way
• Access your bank login credentials

Only the app on your device can read your transaction history to help you budget; we never see it. Your financial data stays completely under your control.

Where is my financial data stored?

Your transaction data, account balances, and budget information are stored:

• On your iPhone/iPad: Locally using SwiftData (Apple's secure database)
• In your iCloud: Optionally synced to your private iCloud account (if you enable sync)

We do NOT store your financial data on our servers. The only thing we store is your device token (for push notifications), which is just a random identifier—it contains no financial information.

What's the difference between "Pocket Money" and Spenvelopes?

Pocket Money is the amount in your bank account that hasn't been allocated to any spenvelope yet. It's calculated as:

Pocket Money = Bank Balance - Total Allocated to Spenvelopes

When you assign a transaction to "Pocket Money," it means the expense doesn't belong to any specific budget category—it's unallocated spending.

Can I use Spenvelopes with multiple bank accounts?

Currently, Spenvelopes is designed to work with one checking account at a time. This keeps the budgeting experience simple and focused. If you have multiple accounts, connect the one you use for day-to-day spending. Support for multiple accounts will be added in a future version.

Do I get notified about new transactions?

Yes! If you enable push notifications, you'll receive alerts when new transactions post to your account. This helps you stay on top of your spending in real-time.

Can I categorize transactions automatically?

Transactions come pre-categorized from your bank (e.g., "Groceries," "Gas," "Restaurants"). You can then assign them to your Spenvelopes with one tap. If you'd like to add automatic allocation, you can do so in the Transaction detail for any merchant.

Does Spenvelopes work with credit cards?

Spenvelopes is designed for checking accounts and debit card transactions. Credit card support may be added in a future update based on user feedback.

Does my data sync across devices?

Spenvelopes is designed for iPhone. If you enable iCloud backup, your budget data is automatically backed up to your private iCloud account. This means when you get a new phone or restore your device, your budgets will come back automatically, and your transaction data will resync once you connect your bank account again through Plaid. You won't have to start from scratch!

How much does Spenvelopes cost?

Spenvelopes costs $7.99 per month, or $79 per year, billed through the App Store. There are no hidden fees, no per-transaction charges, and no limits on Spenvelopes.

Is there a free trial?

There is! Free users can use Spenvelopes without connecting their bank accounts to try out the system, or forever if they want to manually enter all their transactions. You can upgrade to a Premium account at any time in Settings.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes! You can cancel your subscription anytime in your iPhone Settings under Subscriptions. If you cancel, you'll retain access until the end of your current billing period. Your data stays on your device even after canceling.

What payment methods are accepted?

Payment is handled entirely through the Apple App Store. You can use any payment method associated with your Apple ID, including credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and Apple Gift Cards.

Can I get a refund?

Refund requests must be submitted to Apple. To request a refund:

1. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com
2. Sign in with your Apple ID
3. Find your Spenvelopes charge and select "Request a refund"

If you're experiencing issues with the app, please contact us first—we're happy to help resolve any problems.

What iOS version do I need?

Spenvelopes requires iOS 17.0 or later. This ensures you have access to the latest SwiftData and security features.

Is there an Android version?

Not currently. Spenvelopes is built specifically for iPhone (iOS). We're focused on delivering the best possible experience for iPhone users. If demand is high, we may consider Android or iPad versions in the future.

Does Spenvelopes work offline?

Yes! Since all your data is stored locally on your device, you can view and manage your budgets offline. However, syncing new transactions and sending push notifications requires an internet connection.

What happens if I delete the app?

If you delete Spenvelopes:

• Your local data will be deleted from your device
• Your iCloud backup will remain if you enabled backup
• Your subscription will continue until you cancel it in Settings
• Your device token becomes inactive (Apple stops delivering notifications to deleted apps)

To completely remove your data from our servers, disconnect your bank account in the app before deleting, or email us at support@spenvelopes.app.

If you reinstall the app and sign in with the same Apple ID, your budget data will restore from iCloud backup.

My bank isn't connecting. What should I do?

Try these steps:

1. Make sure you're entering the correct bank credentials
2. Check if your bank requires multi-factor authentication (MFA) and complete it
3. Verify your bank is supported by Plaid at plaid.com/institutions
4. Contact your bank to ensure third-party access isn't blocked
5. If problems persist, contact our support team

Transactions aren't syncing. What's wrong?

Transaction sync can take a few minutes to a few hours, depending on your bank. If transactions aren't appearing:

• Check your internet connection
• Try manually refreshing by pulling down on the transactions list
• Verify the bank account is still connected in Settings
• Wait up to 24 hours—some banks have delays

If sync issues persist, disconnect and reconnect your bank account.

I'm not receiving push notifications. How do I fix this?

Check the following:

1. Notifications are enabled in iPhone Settings → Notifications → Spenvelopes
2. Notifications are enabled in the Spenvelopes app Settings
3. Your device has an active internet connection
4. Do Not Disturb is turned off

If notifications still don't work, try disabling and re-enabling them in the app.

Can I export my data?

Data export functionality is planned for a future update. Currently, your data is accessible on your device and iCloud. You can view all transactions, Spenvelopes, and allocations within the app.

Do you sell my data?

Absolutely not. We don't collect your financial data, so there's nothing to sell. The only data we have is your device token for notifications, which is meaningless to anyone else. We make money from subscriptions, not from selling user data.

Can you see my bank transactions?

No. Your transactions are stored locally on your device and optionally in your private iCloud account. We have zero access to your transaction history, balances, or any financial information.

What happens to my data if Spenvelopes shuts down?

Since all your data is stored on your device and iCloud (not our servers), you'll retain full access to your budgeting history even if we shut down. You can screenshot your data at any time.

Can't find the answer you're looking for? We're here to help!