Getting Started with LimitKid: A Complete Setup Guide

Welcome to LimitKid!

You've decided to take control of your family's financial education. That's a big step, and we're here to make it easy.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with LimitKid. In about 10 minutes, you'll have a complete system for tracking your child's money, setting savings goals, and building healthy financial habits.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Head to LimitKid and sign up. You can create an account with:

• Email address
• Google account

If you're signing up with email, check your inbox for a verification link. Click it to activate your account.

Pro Tip: Start with the free plan to explore features. You can upgrade to Pro anytime with a 14-day free trial—no credit card required to start the trial.

Step 2: Create Your First Family Space

Once logged in, you'll be prompted to create a family space. This is the hub for tracking your child's finances.

Add Your Child's Profile

• Enter your child's name
• Upload a photo (optional but makes it more personal)
• Set their starting balance (the money they currently have)

Don't worry about getting the starting balance perfect. You can adjust it later if needed.

Step 3: Set Up Your First Savings Goal

This is where things get exciting. Ask your child what they want to save for. It could be:

• A toy or game they've been wanting
• A special activity or outing
• Something bigger like a bike or tablet

Create the savings goal:

• Name it specifically ("LEGO Star Wars Set" not just "toy")
• Enter the target amount
• Optionally set an initial amount if they're starting with some money already earmarked for this goal

Important: Let your child choose the goal. Their motivation is what makes this work.

Step 4: Log Your First Transaction

Now let's record something. Did your child just receive allowance? Spend money at a store? Receive birthday money?

For Income (Money In):

• Tap "Add Transaction"
• Select "Income"
• Enter the amount
• Choose a category (allowance, gift, chore payment, etc.)
• Add a note if you want (e.g., "Weekly allowance")

For Expenses (Money Out):

• Tap "Add Transaction"
• Select "Expense"
• Enter the amount
• Choose a category (snacks, toys, clothes, etc.)
• Add a note about what they bought

Watch the balance update in real-time. This immediate feedback is what makes tracking feel rewarding rather than tedious.

Step 5: Allocate Money to Savings Goals

When your child receives money, decide together how much goes to savings goals versus spending money.

A common approach: 50% to savings goals, 50% available for spending. But this is flexible based on your family's values and your child's age.

To add money to a savings goal:

• Go to the savings goal
• Tap "Add to Goal"
• Enter the amount

Watch the progress bar move forward. Show this to your child—the visual progress is incredibly motivating.

Step 6: Review the Visual Spending Meter

On the main dashboard, you'll see the visual spending meter. It shows whether spending this month is on track (green), needs attention (yellow), or is over the guideline (red).

Initially, this might not mean much. But after a few weeks of transactions, you'll see patterns emerge. That's when the meter becomes a powerful teaching tool.

Step 7: Invite Other Guardians (Optional)

If co-parents, grandparents, or other guardians will be involved in managing your child's finances, invite them to the family space.

• Go to Family Space Settings
• Click "Invite Guardian"
• Enter their email address

They'll receive an invitation and can join with their own account. Everyone will see the same information, ensuring consistency across households.

Pro users: You can set different permission levels for each guardian.

Your First Week: Building the Habit

The first week is about establishing a routine. Here's how to make it stick:

Make Logging Easy

Keep your phone handy when your child spends money. Log transactions immediately—waiting until later means you'll forget details.

Involve Your Child

Have your child help log transactions. They tap the buttons, enter amounts, choose categories. This involvement increases their engagement.

Check In Daily

Spend 30 seconds each day looking at the balance and savings goal progress together. Keep it brief and positive.

Weekend Review

At the end of the first week, sit down together and review:

• What did you spend money on this week?
• How much progress did we make on savings goals?
• Is the spending meter green, yellow, or red? Why?

These questions turn data into insights and insights into learning.

Common Setup Questions

Should I track cash only or all money?

Track everything—cash, digital payments, transfers, and card transactions. The more complete the picture, the better the insights.

What if I forget to log a transaction?

No problem. You can add transactions with past dates. Just go to "Add Transaction" and adjust the date field.

My child has multiple kids. Do I need multiple family spaces?

Yes. Create separate family spaces for each child. The free plan supports one child; Pro plan supports multiple children in separate family spaces.

Should I start with Free or Pro?

Start with Free to learn the system. Once you're comfortable and want features like multi-guardian permissions or advanced insights, try the Pro free trial.

You're Ready!

That's it. You've now got a complete system for teaching your child about money management. The hard part—getting started—is done.

From here, it's about consistency. Log transactions regularly. Review together weekly. Celebrate when savings goals are reached. Discuss patterns you notice in the spending meter.

These small habits, practiced consistently, build financial literacy that will serve your child for life.

Welcome to the family. Let's teach the next generation to be confident, capable, and smart with money.