The money planning way

Discover why money planning beats traditional budgeting every time

The problem with traditional budgeting

Traditional budgeting feels like putting your money in jail. You create rigid categories, set strict limits, and then spend your time tracking every expense to make sure you're "staying on budget." When life inevitably happens and you overspend in one category, you feel guilty and frustrated.

The result? Most people abandon their budgets and give up before long. Budgets are too restrictive and don't reflect how money actually flows in real life.

What is money planning?

Money planning is like cash flow management for your personal finances. Instead of focusing on categories and limits, you focus on the flow of money...when it comes in, when it goes out, and how to optimize that timing.

Just like successful businesses manage their cash flow to ensure they have money when they need it, money planning ensures you have the right amount of money available at the right time for your priorities.

Key differences

Traditional budgeting

  • • Rigid categories and spending limits
  • • Focuses on restricting expenses
  • • Requires constant tracking and monitoring
  • • Creates guilt when you "break" the budget
  • • Backward-looking (what did I spend?)
  • • One-size-fits-all approach
  • • Can feel punitive

Money planning

  • • Flexible allocation based on priorities
  • • Focuses on optimizing cash flow
  • • Simple and easy to understand
  • • Adapts to your changing needs
  • • Forward-looking (what do I need?)
  • • Personalized to your unique situation
  • • You're in control

How money planning works

1

Identify your money goals

Instead of creating spending categories, you start by defining what you want your money to accomplish. Emergency fund, vacation, debt repayment, bills, etc. become your "money buckets."

2

Optimize your cash flow

When money comes in, use Fortana to allocate it to your money buckets. The app helps you give all of your money a purpose.

3

Automate and adjust

Let your money flow to where it needs to go. As your life changes, you can adjust your allocations. Say goodbye to guilt and endless hours of tracking. The Fortana app gives you financial clarity and peace of mind.

Think like a business

Growing businesses are adept at managing cash flow. They try to speed up the time it takes to get money in, they put off paying bills as long as possible, and they look for ways to save money.

Your personal finances deserve the same strategic approach. Money planning is a simple cash flow management system for your personal life. It helps you make smarter decisions about your money without the overhead of traditional budgeting.

Ready to take control of your money?

If you have ever given up on budgeting because it was too restrictive, you're not alone. You are fully capable of managing your money, and achieving your financial goals.

Budgets are great for corporations and governments, but they're not a good fit for individuals. In the real world, you need a more flexible approach. Money planning succeeds where budgets fail.

Start your first money plan

Why I built this

For the longest time, I was stuck in a cycle where I felt like I was always behind, always playing catch up. I kept failing to stick to a budget, if I even had the motivation to start one. I'm not a financial expert, but I knew there had to be a better way.

In 2019, I decided to take control. I started with a simple notes app to plan my money allocations. That's how I discovered money planning. By 2021, I'd "upgraded" to a spreadsheet template that worked great, but I craved something more user-friendly that could show me the big picture of my financial progress.

Fortana is the app I wish I had when I was younger. It's brought me financial clarity and peace of mind, and I've been able to reach my goals without the stress and guilt of traditional budgeting. If you're ready to take control of your money, you can get started in minutes.

The Fortana app

Crafted by a software engineer, Fortana is the simple way to manage your money and reach your financial goals.

— Martin, Founder