Set up Crashout Calendar in 15 minutes

Bills shouldn't feel like a panic attack—and neither should setting up your bill tracker. Crashout Calendar is built to get you calm and organized in minutes, not hours. This checklist walks you through every setup step, from your first bill to sharing costs with roommates.

Before you start

• Download Crashout Calendar from the App Store
• Gather your recent bills (check email, bank app, or physical statements for the last 30 days)
• Find your billing cycle dates if you split costs with roommates

Most people finish this entire setup in under 15 minutes. You don't need your bank login, account numbers, or anything sensitive. Just the bill names, amounts, and due dates.

Step 1: Add your first bill

1. 01Tap the + button on your calendar
2. 02Start typing the bill name (e.g., "Netflix", "Rent", "Phone")
3. 03Let smart categorization suggest the type—accept it or pick your own
4. 04Enter the amount you pay
5. 05Set the due date
6. 06Choose the recurrence (monthly, weekly, yearly, or custom)
7. 07Tap Save

The form learns as you type. If you've added Netflix before, it'll suggest the category, amount, and recurrence next time. You can add a bill in seconds.

Step 2: Add 7 more bills (3 minutes total)

1. 01Go through your last month of spending
2. 02Add any bill that comes back regularly (subscriptions, utilities, rent, insurance, phone, internet, gym, etc.)
3. 03Don't worry about perfect dates yet—you can edit anytime
4. 04Repeat until you've captured the main ones

Step 3: Check your breathing room

1. 01Open the calendar and look at the monthly view
2. 02Find the breathing room indicator—it shows your best days between bills
3. 03This tells you which weeks are calmer and which are tight
4. 04Use this insight when planning big purchases or unexpected costs

Step 4: Unlock cancel guides (if you want to cut subscriptions)

1. 01Open Settings from the menu
2. 02Scroll to "Cancel Guides"
3. 03Browse the 20+ built-in guides for services like Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, and more
4. 04If you spot a subscription you want to cancel, tap the guide and follow the steps

These guides are written step-by-step—no tricks, no concierge fees, just clear instructions to actually cancel. Many people use this feature to finally drop subscriptions they forgot about.

Step 5: Enable splits (if you have roommates)

1. 01Go to Settings and tap "Roommate Tools"
2. 02Enter your roommates' names
3. 03Go back to a shared bill (like rent or utilities)
4. 04Tap "Split" and choose who pays what
5. 05Crashout calculates who owes whom—no math, no awkwardness

You don't need roommates to download the app. They can see splits in a simple summary without needing to track their own bills. For more on this, read our guide on recurring payments and split subscriptions made kind.

Step 6: Review and breathe

1. 01Tap the calendar to see your full month at a glance
2. 02Check that all due dates are correct
3. 03Verify amounts match your actual bills
4. 04Notice which weeks feel tight and which feel open
5. 05Done—your tracker is live

Everything is stored locally on your device. No bank login, no credentials floating in the cloud, no privacy concerns. This is intentional. Learn more about how Crashout Calendar makes bills feel less scary.

Common setup questions

Do I need exact due dates right now?

No. Rough dates work fine at first. You can edit any bill anytime to correct the date, amount, or recurrence. The app is forgiving on purpose.

What if a bill changes amount every month?

Add it with an average amount. You can update the amount in the month it changes, and Crashout will track the actual cost separately from the recurring bill.

Can I share my calendar with someone else?

Splits let roommates see what they owe without accessing your full bill list. For anything beyond that, you can screenshot or export—the choice is yours.