I’ve tried every budgeting app out there. YNAB was too complex. Mint just tracked spending without helping me decide. As someone with bipolar 2, I needed something that worked when my brain couldn’t do math or make decisions.

So I built Cake Budget - the only budgeting app with traffic lights that tell you instantly if you can spend.

The Problem With Traditional Budgeting Apps

Most budgeting apps assume you:

Love spreadsheets
Can do mental math instantly
Remember to categorize every transaction
Have consistent income and expenses
Update everything daily

But ADHD and neurodivergent brains don’t work that way. We need:

Visual cues, not numbers
Instant answers, not calculations
Automation, not manual tracking
Real-time updates, not daily syncs

How the Traffic Light System Works

Instead of showing you numbers, Cake Budget shows you colors:

🟢 Green (>$500): You’re good to spend. Buy that coffee without guilt. 🟡 Yellow (>$0): Be careful. Maybe skip the impulse purchase. 🔴 Red (<$0): Stop. Wait until your next paycheck.

Real-Time Sync: No More Waiting

Unlike other apps that update once a day, Cake Budget uses webhooks to sync instantly:

Buy coffee → See it in seconds
Get paid → Traffic light updates immediately
No more checking tomorrow to see today’s balance

Built for Executive Dysfunction

After 2+ years of personal use and refinement, every feature is designed for when your brain won’t cooperate:

Slices (Virtual Envelopes)

Your paychecks automatically fund your budget categories
No manual allocation needed
Visual progress bars show what’s funded

Smart Rules

Transactions categorize themselves
Set up once, runs forever
No daily maintenance required

Automation Everything

Funding schedules distribute paychecks
Rules sort transactions
Your budget literally manages itself

Who This Is For (And Not For)

Perfect if you:

Have ADHD, bipolar, or other neurodivergent conditions
Live paycheck to paycheck
Work gig jobs with irregular income
Failed at YNAB, Mint, or spreadsheets
Need visual cues, not complex math

Not great if you:

Love detailed spreadsheets
Want manual control over everything
Don’t want to connect your bank

Simple, Honest Pricing

Budget Pro ($10/month): 2 bank connections, 5 accounts
Family ($20/month): 5 connections, 12 accounts, up to 3 users

Both include:

Real-time transaction sync
Unlimited slices
Full automation
Traffic light system
30-day free trial (no credit card required)

Start Your 30-Day Free Trial

No credit card needed. Just connect your bank and see your traffic light in minutes.

I built this because I needed it. After 2+ years of refining it for my own ADHD and bipolar brain, I’m confident it can help yours too.

Try Cake Budget Free →

Fisher is the founder of Cake Budget. Diagnosed with bipolar 2, they built Cake Budget after failing at every other budgeting app. They live in the Bay Area with their partner, 2 cats, and 2 dogs.