Overview
The box method is envelope budgeting with plan-first boxes. Before you spend, you divide monthly income into purpose boxes. During the month you spend from the matching account. On refill day you fund again and start fresh.
Why envelopes work
Cash envelopes make overspending obvious: when the envelope is empty, that category is done. Digital envelopes (boxes) keep the same clarity without stuffing paper. The habit is: give money a job first, then spend only from that job.
Four steps in Liquify
1. Split income into purpose boxes
Before you spend, divide monthly income into boxes—rent, groceries, savings, subscriptions, goals.
2. Fund each box
Give each box a fixed monthly amount, dated expenses, or an optional goal. In Accounts, Liquify compares your linked balance to Needed, Goal, or Planned—whichever applies. See Kinds of boxes.
3. Spend from the matching account
Link each box to an account—bank, cash, card, or crypto—when you want that comparison. Spend from that place; the box shows what the money is for. A funded plan is your green light.
4. Refill each month
On refill day, fund boxes from income again. Rebalance leftovers and start the next month with a fresh plan. Liquify does not roll category debt into the next month; see Overspending.
In the app
The in-app tutorial (Settings → Help) walks these four steps with examples. Plan is where you edit income and boxes; Accounts is where linked balances show vs the plan.