How to set up for 2026

Start fresh each year with a clean Budget Dog template while preserving your setup and historical data. This guide walks you through copying your existing template, clearing old transactions, and reconnecting your accounts for the new year.

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

• An active Avery subscription

• Your current Budget Dog template with existing data

• Access to Google Sheets on a laptop or desktop (mobile has limited functionality)

Step 1: Make a Copy of Your Current Budget Dog File

Creating a copy preserves your original template with all last year's data while giving you a fresh file for the new year.

1. Open your current Budget Dog file in Google Sheets

2. Click File in the top menu

3. Select Make a copy

4. In the dialog box, name your copy (e.g., "Budget Dog 2025")

5. Choose the Google Drive folder where you want to save it

6. Click Make a copy

Google Sheets will open your new copy automatically. The copy includes all your tabs, formulas, categories, and transaction data from the original file.

Step 2: Rename the Copy for the New Year

Give your new template a clear name so you can easily distinguish it from previous years.

Option 1: Rename in Google Sheets

1. Click the file title at the top of the screen

2. Delete the old name and type your new name (e.g., "Budget Dog 2025")

3. Press Enter to save

Option 2: Rename in Google Drive

1. Go to Google Drive and locate your copied file

2. Right-click the file name

3. Select Rename

4. Enter your new name and press Enter

Step 3: Clear Out the Previous Year's Data

Remove last year's transactions to start fresh. You have two options depending on whether you want to keep your category mappings and settings.

Option A: Manual Clear (Preserves Everything Except Transactions)

1. Open the Avery_Transactions tab in your new copy

2. Click the row number 2 to select the first data row (below the headers)

3. Hold Shift and scroll down, then click the last row with data to select all transaction rows

4. Right-click the selected rows and choose Clear contents

5. Repeat for monthly Actuals tabs if you want to reset those as well

Option B: Use the Reset Button (Full Reset)

1. In your Google Sheet, click Extensions in the top menu

2. Select Avery to open the sidebar

3. Scroll down and click Reset BudgetDog

4. Confirm the reset when prompted

This clears all monthly Actuals tabs, resets category mappings, and empties the Avery_Transactions tab. Your bank connections remain intact.

Step 4: Reconnect or Edit Accounts

Verify your bank connections are working and update them if needed.

Check Existing Connections

1. Open the Avery sidebar (Extensions > Avery)

2. Look for your connected bank accounts in the sidebar

3. If accounts appear and show recent connection dates, they're still active

Bank connections typically carry over when you copy a Google Sheet. Plaid connections expire every 1-2 years, so you may not need to reconnect unless you see an error.

Reconnect Expired or Missing Accounts

1. In the Avery sidebar, click Link Bank Account

2. Select your country (North America uses Plaid, Europe uses GoCardless)

3. Search for and select your bank

4. Log in and authorize Avery to access your accounts

5. Choose which accounts to connect

6. Select the date range for importing transactions (e.g., January 1, 2025 onward)

Edit Account Names

1. In the Avery sidebar, find the account you want to rename

2. Click the account name

3. Type the new name and press Enter

4. Click the refresh icon to sync changes

After Setup: Final Steps

Once your new template is ready, complete these tasks to ensure everything works smoothly:

1. Set auto-update schedule: In the Avery sidebar, configure when transactions automatically import (e.g., daily at 9 AM). If you already have auto-update enabled on your old sheet, you'll see a warning asking you to confirm moving it to the new sheet.

2. Review categories: Open the Budgeted Expenses - Estimate tab and verify your category list matches your current budget needs. Learn more about using categories.

3. Run categorization: Click Categorize Transactions in the sidebar to map new transactions to your categories

4. Check the dashboard: Review your dashboard for accuracy and adjust any budget alerts or targets

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Duplicate Accounts After Reconnecting

If you see the same bank account listed twice in the Avery sidebar:

1. Click the 3-dot menu next to the duplicate account

2. Select Delete

3. Keep only the most recently connected version

Transactions Not Categorizing Correctly

AI categorization rules don't transfer when you reset the template. To fix:

1. Open the Avery_Transactions tab

2. Review Column J (Category column)

3. Manually assign categories to recurring transactions (e.g., "Jacinta Moore" → "Rent")

4. The AI will learn and auto-categorize similar transactions going forward

For detailed guidance, see Reviewing and Fixing Your Budgetdog Template.

Sync Failures or Missing Transactions

If transactions aren't importing,:

• Bank connection issues: If your bank connection needs attention, you'll see a prompt in the sidebar asking you to re-consent. This will restore transaction syncing. If you need further help, email us at [email protected]

Need More Help?

If you run into issues during your yearly reset:

• Check our step-by-step setup guide for detailed bank linking and categorization instructions

• Contact our 24/7 live chat support directly in your Google Sheet sidebar