CREDITS: 09

THE
BUDGET
FORGE

🔨
◆ APP · WORKBOOK · GPT ◆

The app runs the cycle.
The workbook keeps the record.
The GPT moves data between them.

▶ PRESS START ◀
▌ LEVEL 01 ▐

THE 3 PIECES

Meet your party members

📱

THE APP

Your phone-side control panel. Torches bills, logs caps, catches Dammit Mug spending, flips subscriptions, updates goals. Lives in the current cycle.

📒

THE WORKBOOK

The historical record in Drive. Stores statements, debt balances, 3-month averages, transaction history, and the Monthly Control Center. Keeps the long-term truth.

🤖

THE GPT

The bridge. Applies Forge Reports to the workbook. Generates snapshots back for the app. It translates. It does not decide.

▌ LEVEL 02 ▐

THE LOOP

The whole machine in one move

APP
LIVE CYCLE
▶
REPORT
COPY/PASTE
▶
GPT
APPLY
▶
WORKBOOK
UPDATED
▶
SNAPSHOT
JSON OUT
▶
APP
RELOADED
⚠ RULE OF THE LOOP Nothing flows to the workbook during the pay period unless you generate a Forge Report and ask the GPT to apply it. Until then, the app carries the live state.
▌ LEVEL 03 ▐

NORMAL FLOW

The 90% path — every pay cycle

  1. 01
    USE THE APPPaycheck, Torch, Caps, Dammit Mug, Goals. All cycle activity lives here.
  2. 02
    COPY THE REPORTMenu → Forge Report → Copy Report. Or Download TXT if you want a file.
  3. 03
    GPT APPLIES ITPaste report into the Translator. Attach the current workbook.
  4. 04
    READ THE SUMMARYCatch wrong amounts or flags now. Do not skip this.
  5. 05
    IMPORT THE SNAPSHOTFresh cycle. Caps reset. Bills not paid. Ready to play.
▌ LEVEL 04 ▐

WHO OWNS WHAT

When in doubt, check the tag

SITUATIONAPPWORKBOOKGPT
Paid a bill / torched itYES—Later
Spent against a capYES—Later
Off-script spendDAMMIT MUG—Later
Canceled subscription mid-cycleYES—End-cycle apply
Credit card statement dropped—DEBTSSnapshot after
Apple statement dropped—APPLE REFSnapshot after
Need next cycle loaded on phone——SNAPSHOT
▌ LEVEL 05 ▐

END-CYCLE

The safest exact sequence

  1. 01
    OPEN APP, COPY REPORTMenu → Forge Report → Copy Report (or Download TXT).
  2. 02
    TELL GPT TO APPLY"Apply this report to the workbook." Attach workbook or let it pull from Drive.
  3. 03
    GPT UPDATES + ARCHIVESBumps version, updates pay-cycle fields, paid status, caps, monthly changes, goals.
  4. 04
    READ THE SUMMARYEvery Action change, Status change, paid item, cap total, Dammit total, flag.
  5. 05
    SNAPSHOT + IMPORTGenerate snapshot, copy JSON, import to app. Start the next cycle clean.
🛑 STOP SIGN If the summary looks wrong, fix it BEFORE importing a snapshot. Once you import, the app resets per-cycle logs for the new cycle.
▌ LEVEL 06 ▐

SPECIAL MOVES

When the path isn't normal

WHAT CHANGED?
Credit card statementWorkbook → Debts. Save. GPT generates snapshot.
Apple statementWorkbook → Apple Ref + Transactions. GPT generates snapshot.
Goal target / extra $App. Next Forge Report carries it to workbook.
Mid-cycle workbook fixAvoid. If needed: edit workbook, immediately snapshot back to app.
Full app resetApply any pending report first. Then reset and reload from workbook.
★ RULE OF THUMB Current-cycle actions → app. Historical / statement truth → workbook. GPT only moves data between them.
▌ LEVEL 07 ▐

GPT RULES

Bridge — not budget coach

► WILL DO

  • Apply a Forge Report to the workbook
  • Generate a snapshot for the app
  • Save updated files back to Drive
  • Flag mismatches and rule violations
  • Stop and ask when uncertain

✖ WON'T DO

  • Invent data or fill in blanks
  • Touch Transactions or Apple Ref without a statement
  • Update Debts without new balances
  • Make creative budget recommendations
  • Skip vocabulary validation
⚠ VOCABULARY MATTERS Status, Action, Override, and Category must match approved lists. Small name differences break matching. Names stay EXACT between app and workbook.
▌ LEVEL 08 ▐

BUG FIXES

Symptom → cause → safe fix

PROBLEMCAUSEFIX
GPT can't find an itemNames don't match exactlyPick one canonical name everywhere
Goal change missingOlder app report didn't flag itRe-check inputs.emergencyTarget / propaneTarget
Snapshot erased cap spendingSnapshot resets per-cycle logsOnly import AFTER applying report
v5.8 JSON but v5.9 titleCosmetic hardcoded label bugIgnore. Fix later in app code
GPT updated something wrongToggle or conflict rule changed itRead FLAGS. Roll back if needed
Two pay periods openA cycle was skippedGenerate report now; apply remaining app data
🔴 RED BUTTON RULE When app and workbook seem out of sync: apply any pending report FIRST, then snapshot back to app. Never edit both sides at once.
▌ FINAL BOSS ▐

GOLDEN RULES

The seven commandments

01

App = current cycle brain

02

Workbook = history brain

03

GPT translates only

04

Exact names matter

05

Apply report before snapshot

06

Read summary every time

07

When in doubt, stop

APP
▶
REPORT
▶
GPT APPLY
▶
WORKBOOK
▶
SNAPSHOT
▶
APP

YOU
WIN

◆ FORGE MASTERED ◆

Run the loop. Read the summary. Trust the system.

▶ INSERT COIN TO CONTINUE ◀
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