Getting Started with SavePoint: Complete Setup Guide

You've downloaded SavePoint and you're ready to take control of your finances. This guide walks you through setting up the software from scratch so you can start tracking, budgeting, and planning right away.

Step 1: Installation and License Activation

After downloading SavePoint, run the installer and follow the setup wizard. When you first launch the application, you'll see a license validation window displaying your unique hardware ID. Copy this ID and visit the SavePoint license redemption page on our website. (Note, for both the download and license redemption page, you must be logged in). Next, enter your hardware ID to receive your activation code, then paste it back into SavePoint to activate.

Step 2: Complete the Setup Wizard

SavePoint's setup wizard guides you through creating your first budget in about 10-15 minutes. You'll configure:

Fiscal Year: Enter the year you want to budget for (e.g., 2026).

Income Sources: Add your monthly income. Enter your take-home pay, freelance earnings, or any other regular income. SavePoint automatically calculates annual totals.

Spending Goals: Set your target allocation using the 50/30/20 rule as a starting point (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings), then adjust as needed.

Expense Categories: Assign monthly budgets to each category and classify them as Needs or Discretionary.

Step 3: Add Your Accounts

After completing the wizard, add your financial accounts. Go to Accounts and click Add New Account. For each account, select the account type (Checking, Savings, Credit Card, 401k, etc.) and the appropriate asset class. Several accounts may already be added by default. You can mark these as inactive or change them to suit your needs. For each account, enter your current balance or leave blank. SavePoint uses this information for balance sheet tracking and net worth calculations.

Step 4: Enter or Import Transactions

You have two options for getting transaction data into SavePoint. You can enter transactions manually as they occur, or import historical transactions from CSV files downloaded from your bank. The import wizard walks you through mapping your bank's columns to SavePoint fields and helps you categorize transactions.

Step 5: Explore Your Dashboard

Once you have some data in SavePoint, the dashboard gives you an instant overview: income and expenses, net worth, budget progress, and savings rate. You can customize which modules appear and how they're arranged. Check your dashboard weekly to stay aware of where you stand.