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Getting Started 🚀

This guide will help you set up Valt and start managing your finances in just a few minutes.

Interface Overview 🖥️

When you open Valt, you'll see three main tabs at the top:

  1. Transactions - Where you manage accounts and record transactions
  2. Reports - Charts and analysis of your data
  3. Average Price - Bitcoin acquisition cost calculation

Step 1: Create Your Accounts 🏦

Before recording transactions, you need to create accounts that represent where your money is.

Creating a Fiat Account

  1. In the Transactions tab, locate the accounts section
  2. Click the + button to add a new account
  3. Select Fiat Account
  4. Fill in the fields:
  5. Name: E.g., "Chase", "Wells Fargo", "Cash"
  6. Currency: Select the currency (Dollar, Euro, etc.)
  7. Initial Balance: The current amount in the account (optional)
  8. Icon: Choose an icon to identify the account
  9. Click Save

Creating a Bitcoin Account ₿

  1. Click the + button to add a new account
  2. Select Bitcoin Account
  3. Fill in the fields:
  4. Name: E.g., "Ledger", "Coinbase", "Cold Wallet"
  5. Initial Balance: The value in satoshis or BTC (optional)
  6. Icon: Choose an icon
  7. Click Save

How many accounts to create?

Create an account for each place where you keep money: banks, exchanges, Bitcoin wallets, cash, etc. This helps you have a complete view of your wealth.

Step 2: Set Up Categories 🏷️

Valt comes with default categories, but you can customize them.

  1. Access the settings menu
  2. Click Manage Categories
  3. Here you can:
  4. Add new categories
  5. Edit existing categories
  6. Create subcategories (categories within categories)
  7. Choose icons and colors

Examples of useful categories:

  • Income: Salary, Freelance, Investments
  • Expenses: Food, Transportation, Housing, Entertainment
  • Transfers: Between accounts

Step 3: Record Your First Transaction 📝

Now let's record a transaction.

Recording an Expense

  1. In the Transactions tab, click the New Transaction button
  2. Select type Fiat Expense
  3. Fill in:
  4. Date: When the expense occurred
  5. Account: Which account the money came from
  6. Amount: How much was spent
  7. Category: Where this expense fits
  8. Description: (Optional) Details about the transaction
  9. Click Save

Recording a Bitcoin Purchase

  1. Click New Transaction
  2. Select type Fiat to Bitcoin
  3. Fill in:
  4. Date: When you bought
  5. Fiat Account: Where the money came from
  6. Bitcoin Account: Where the bitcoins went
  7. Fiat Amount: How much you paid in dollars/euros
  8. Bitcoin Amount: How many satoshis/BTC you received
  9. Click Save

Value in Satoshis

Valt automatically fetches the Bitcoin price on the transaction date. If you record an expense in dollars, the system will automatically calculate how much that represented in satoshis on that day.

Step 4: Explore Reports 📊

With some transactions recorded, go to the Reports tab to view:

Monthly Totals

See your income and expenses month by month in a bar chart.

Spending by Category

Understand where your money is going with a pie chart showing the distribution by category.

All-Time High

Track the peak of your wealth in Bitcoin terms.

Statistics

View metrics like median spending and wealth coverage.

Step 5: Set Up Fixed Expenses (Optional) 🔄

If you have recurring expenses, set them up for easier recording:

  1. In the Transactions tab, access Fixed Expenses
  2. Click Add Fixed Expense
  3. Fill in:
  4. Name: E.g., "Netflix", "Rent", "Gym"
  5. Amount: How much you pay
  6. Frequency: Monthly, Weekly, Biweekly, or Annual
  7. Account: Which account is debited
  8. Category: How to categorize
  9. Click Save

With fixed expenses configured, you can quickly record these recurring costs.

Next Steps

Now that you know the basics, explore:

Final Tips 💡

  1. Be consistent: Record your transactions regularly for accurate data
  2. Use categories: Good categorization makes later analysis easier
  3. Backup: Periodically copy your .valt file to a safe location
  4. Explore reports: The charts reveal patterns you wouldn't notice looking at individual transactions