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Budgeting that actually works

Our AI-powered Budget Planner shows you exactly where your money goes — and how to make it go further.

What is the Budget Planner?

Budget Planner is a powerful set of tools inside your Starling app that helps you understand and control your spending.

Every transaction is automatically categorised — groceries, transport, eating out, bills, entertainment — without any work from you. Over time, you build a detailed picture of your spending habits.

Set monthly budgets per category, get friendly warnings when you're approaching limits, and ask our AI questions in plain English like 'How much did I spend on coffee last month?'

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Smarter than a spreadsheet

Automatic categories

Every transaction is sorted into categories automatically. Costa becomes 'Eating & Drinking', Tesco becomes 'Groceries', TFL becomes 'Transport'. You can recategorise anything with one tap — the app learns from your preferences.

Beautiful insights

Monthly breakdowns with clear, colourful charts. See exactly where every pound goes. Compare months side-by-side to spot trends.

Budget alerts

Set a monthly limit per category — £200 for eating out, £400 for groceries, £50 for coffee. Get friendly warnings at 50%, 75% and 100% of your limit. No guilt trips, just gentle nudges.

Ask our AI

Type questions in plain English: 'How much did I spend at Starbucks this year?', 'What are my top 5 merchants?', 'Am I spending more on groceries this month?' Get instant, accurate answers.

Budget Planner FAQs

Is it free?
Yes. Budget Planner is included free with every Personal and Joint Account.
Can I change categories?
Yes. Tap any transaction and choose a different category. The app remembers your preference for that merchant going forward.
Does it include direct debits and standing orders?
Yes. All outgoing payments are included — card purchases, direct debits, standing orders, transfers.

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