Conservative Rounding

One of CshFlow's core principles is conservative rounding - a financial safety mechanism built into all calculations.

The Principle

When dealing with your finances, it's better to underestimate what you can spend and overestimate what you'll owe.

CshFlow applies this philosophy consistently:

• Available spending: Always rounded DOWN (Math.floor)
• Expected expenses: Always rounded UP (Math.ceil)

This creates a built-in safety buffer that keeps you financially secure.

Examples

Example 1: Available Balance

Calculation: $142.73 available to spend

Without conservative rounding: $142.73
With conservative rounding:    $142.00  ✓

Difference: -$0.73 (safety buffer)

You're told you can spend $142, but you actually have $142.73. The extra 73 cents acts as a cushion.

Example 2: Recurring Expenses

Monthly Netflix subscription: $16.49

Without conservative rounding: $16.49
With conservative rounding:    $17.00  ✓

Difference: +$0.51 (safety buffer)

CshFlow assumes Netflix will cost $17, even though it's $16.49. If prices increase slightly, you're already prepared.

Example 3: Daily Spending Limit

Current balance:        $1,247.83
Days until month end:   12 days
Expected expenses:      $450.37
Safety buffer:          $100.00

Step 1: Calculate available
$1,247.83 - $450.37 - $100.00 = $697.46

Step 2: Divide by days
$697.46 / 12 = $58.12 per day

Step 3: Conservative rounding
Round DOWN: $58.00 per day  ✓

You can safely spend $58/day, but the real calculation suggests $58.12. The difference accumulates as extra safety.

Why This Matters

Financial Anxiety Reduction

When CshFlow says you can spend $50 today, you can confidently spend that $50 without worrying:

• "What if I forgot an expense?"
• "What if prices went up?"
• "Did I calculate correctly?"

The conservative rounding has already accounted for these concerns.

Real-World Variance

Life is unpredictable:

• Subscription prices increase
• Taxes and fees vary
• Processing dates shift
• Unexpected charges appear

Conservative rounding provides a buffer against this variance.

Compound Safety

Over a month, small rounding differences add up:

Daily spending rounded down:  $2.00 savings/day
Monthly expenses rounded up:  $15.00 buffer
Total monthly safety buffer:  ~$75.00

This buffer means you're much less likely to overdraft or run out of money unexpectedly.

When It's Applied

Conservative rounding is used in:

1. Daily Spending Calculator

   • Available balance rounded down
   • Expenses rounded up
   • Final daily limit rounded down

2. Vendor Analysis

   • Monthly averages rounded up
   • Frequency estimates rounded up

3. Target Optimizer

   • Savings estimates rounded down (conservative on savings too!)

4. Income Predictions

   • Expected income rounded down
   • Days until income rounded up

Disabling Conservative Rounding

You can disable this feature in Settings if you prefer exact calculations:

1. Go to Settings (gear icon)
2. Toggle "Conservative Rounding" off
3. Calculations will now use exact amounts

WARNING

Disabling conservative rounding means you'll need to manage your own safety buffer. Consider keeping at least $50-100 as an emergency cushion.

The Math

CshFlow uses JavaScript's built-in rounding functions:

// Available spending - round DOWN
Math.floor(availableAmount)  // $58.99 → $58

// Expected expenses - round UP
Math.ceil(expenseAmount)     // $16.01 → $17

These functions are deterministic and consistent across all calculations.

Philosophy

Conservative rounding embodies CshFlow's core philosophy:

Financial tools should help you stay safe, not just track numbers.

Other budgeting apps show you precise calculations down to the penny. CshFlow shows you what you can actually do without financial stress.

Related Concepts

• Daily Spending Calculator - See conservative rounding in your daily limit
• Vendor Analysis - View how recurring expenses are estimated
• Settings Panel - Customize conservative rounding preferences

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Understanding conservative rounding helps you use CshFlow with confidence. Your daily spending limits are always safe to follow!