Making the Most of the Family Group / Getting started with the Family Dashboard.

Managing family finances can be challenging, but the Family Dashboard in the TimelyBills app makes it easier than ever to stay organized and informed. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the Family Dashboard, its key features, and how you can use it to manage your family’s financial data effortlessly.

Getting Started: Accessing the Family Dashboard

Once you’ve set up your family group in the app, you’ll need to sign in again to access the Family Dashboard. At the top right corner of the dashboard, you’ll find a toggle that allows you to switch between Family Mode and Personal Mode, so you can easily navigate between group and individual finances.

What is the Family Dashboard?

The Family Dashboard is a central console for managing all financial data related to your family group. It features several cards, each designed to provide insights into different areas of your finances. Let’s explore the key cards and what they offer:

1. Budget Card

The Budget Card is your go-to tool for keeping track of your family’s overall budgets. At a glance, it shows:

• Monthly Budget Progress: A visual representation of how much of your allocated budget has been spent so far. The progress bar helps you instantly see if you're staying on track.
• Family Member Contributions: A breakdown of how each family member has contributed to the budget, making it easier to identify who’s handling specific categories.

2. Expenses Card

The Expenses Card simplifies tracking where your family’s money is going. This includes:

• Top Spending Categories: The card highlights your biggest spending categories, such as Food, Transportation, or Shopping, so you can quickly identify high-expense areas.
• Family Member Spending: A breakdown of individual contributions to the overall expenses, giving you a clear picture of each member’s spending habits.

Actionable Alerts:

At the bottom of the card, you’ll find actionable insights like, “You’ve exceeded your dining budget this month. Consider cutting back.” These insights are designed to help you make smarter financial decisions.

Trends:

Swipe left to view expense trends over the past six months. This trend analysis allows you to:

• Compare monthly expenses to spot unusual spikes or seasonal trends.
• Plan ahead for recurring expenses like holidays or back-to-school shopping.

3. Bills Card

The Bills Card aggregates all your family’s bills into one concise view. It provides:

• Upcoming Bills: A list of bills due soon, ensuring you never miss a payment.
• Overdue Bills: A quick reminder of unpaid bills, helping you avoid late fees.
• Paid Bills: A summary of bills already settled, so you can track what’s been cleared.

This information is visually summarized in a donut pie chart, making it easy to understand the distribution of your bills.

Actionable Alerts:

At the bottom of the card, you’ll see alerts like, “You have 2 overdue bills totaling $150. Pay now to avoid penalties.” These prompts help you stay proactive about your payments.

Forecast:

Swiping left reveals a forecast of the total bills you’re expected to pay over the next six months. This feature is invaluable for planning ahead and ensuring you have enough funds allocated for upcoming payments.

4. Cash Flow Card

The Cash Flow Card offers a snapshot of your family’s financial health by combining income and expenses into a single view. It includes:

• Total Income for the Current Month: The combined income from all family members.
• Total Expenses for the Current Month: A real-time update of how much has been spent.
• Contribution Breakdown: A detailed view of how much each family member has contributed to income and expenses.
  
  

Why it’s useful:

This card helps you answer important questions like:

• Are we spending more than we’re earning?
• Which family member is contributing the most to our finances?
  
  

By understanding your family’s cash flow, you can make better decisions about saving, investing, or cutting back on unnecessary expenses.

Customizing the Dashboard

One of the best features of the Family Dashboard is how customizable it is. You can:

• Hide or Show Cards: Only display the cards you use most frequently.
• Rearrange Cards: Organize the dashboard layout to suit your priorities. For example, place the Budget Card at the top if it’s your main focus.

With this flexibility, the Family Dashboard adapts to your unique financial needs.

Additional Features of the Family Dashboard

The Family Dashboard isn’t limited to just these four cards. You’ll also find other useful tools, such as:

• Accounts Card: Track all your family’s balances in one place.
• Money Tips Card: Access practical financial advice tailored to your needs.

Why Use the Family Dashboard?

The Family Dashboard is more than just a collection of financial data—it’s a tool that empowers you to manage family finances collaboratively and effectively. Whether it’s staying on top of expenses, tracking bills, or analyzing cash flow, the dashboard keeps everything organized and easily accessible.

Conclusion

With the Family Dashboard in the TimelyBills app, managing family finances has never been easier. It offers a comprehensive view of your family’s financial health, actionable insights, and customizable tools to suit your needs.

We hope this guide helps you make the most of the Family Dashboard. If you haven’t explored all its features yet, now is the perfect time to start!