# Shelter - Full Reference

> A read-only AI money guardian that forecasts the next 30 days and explains cash-flow risk before payday.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-23

## What Shelter is

Shelter is personal-finance software published by Next Aura Labs Inc. It connects to supported financial accounts through Plaid with read-only access. Shelter uses account balances, posted transactions, expected income, recurring bills, debt payments, subscriptions, and observed spending to build a versioned 30-day cash-flow forecast.

Shelter turns that forecast into a plain-language brief: what is already spoken for, when the account is likely to be tight, why the risk exists, and one action the user can consider.

## What Shelter cannot do

- Move, hold, withdraw, transfer, or spend user funds
- Initiate payments or change bank settings
- Cancel subscriptions or negotiate bills on the user's behalf
- Guarantee that a forecast or alert will prevent a fee
- Replace legal, tax, credit, investment, or individualized financial advice

## How the forecast works

1. Begin with the latest usable connected-account snapshot.
2. Put expected income and known commitments on their expected posting dates.
3. Build reproducible whole-window paths for uncertain everyday spending.
4. Accumulate the balance across each complete path and calculate lower, middle, and upper outcomes.
5. Publish one record with source versions, policy version, currency, cutoff time, and checksum.

The current discretionary-spending policy uses a deterministic block bootstrap with 200 paths. Missing or incompatible money data suppresses forecast-dependent guidance rather than being coerced to zero. Full method and limitations: https://shelter.money/forecast-methodology

## Core capabilities

### Cash-flow forecasting

- Daily balance outlook across a 30-day horizon
- Expected income and commitment calendar
- Lower, middle, and upper balance outcomes
- Lowest-balance day and cash-shortfall detection

### Bills and subscriptions

- Recurring-charge detection from posted transaction evidence
- Upcoming bill and renewal timing
- Charge-change and stale-pattern handling
- Review and cancellation guidance without executing a cancellation

### Safe-to-spend guidance

Safe to spend is not the displayed bank balance. It is a forecast-dependent amount that accounts for money already committed inside the relevant window and preserves a safety margin. If the underlying forecast is unavailable, Shelter does not fabricate the amount.

### Chat and proactive updates

Shelter chat is the coaching and explanation layer. It can answer questions about affordability, upcoming risk, bills, subscriptions, and debt timing using the user's authorized Shelter data. Shelter can also send proactive updates through supported app channels and optional Telegram delivery.

### Agent API and MCP

Shelter publishes a read-only Agent API and the open-source @shelter.money/mcp adapter. Users create scoped, revocable API keys; Shelter stores only a SHA-256 hash of each full key. The adapter lets an authorized MCP client request forecast, runway, affordability, alert, bill, and subscription context. Details: https://shelter.money/developers Source: https://github.com/nextauralabs/shelter-mcp

## Limitations and uncertainty

- A 30-day forecast is a short-term estimate, not a guarantee.
- New purchases and transfers can change the result immediately.
- Income may arrive late or for a different amount.
- Billers can change amounts and posting dates.
- A disconnected or delayed institution can make the account picture incomplete.
- Institution support varies; no finance app should claim universal bank coverage.
- Users should confirm their current bank balance and provider terms before acting.

## Security and privacy boundaries

- Plaid is used for supported bank connections; Shelter's access is read-only.
- Shelter does not receive or store a user's bank password.
- Stored Plaid access tokens are encrypted with AES-256-GCM using a fresh initialization vector and authentication tag.
- Clerk handles authentication; Shelter validates Clerk-issued identity tokens.
- Stripe handles web card entry; native purchases use the platform app stores.
- Shelter has no third-party ads and does not sell personal financial data.

Code-backed details and current caveats: https://shelter.money/security
Privacy terms: https://shelter.money/privacy

## Pricing

- Monthly: $9.99/month
- Annual: $79/year
- Web trial: 14 days; card required; billing begins after the trial unless canceled

Current pricing and billing disclosures: https://shelter.money/pricing

## Who Shelter is designed for

- People who need to understand whether they can safely make it to the next payday
- People who want forward-looking cash-flow guidance without maintaining a detailed manual budget
- People with recurring bills, debt payments, subscriptions, or uneven income timing
- People who prefer read-only guidance over a product that moves money or extends credit

Shelter is not an investment tracker, bank, lender, payment service, subscription-cancellation service, or replacement for a qualified financial professional.

## Reviews, corrections, and source policy

Official app listings and any store-published customer reviews are linked at https://shelter.money/trust. Shelter does not publish a hand-picked aggregate rating on its own site. Product claims, comparisons, and corrections follow https://shelter.money/editorial-policy. Questions and correction requests can be sent to support@shelter.money.

## Primary Shelter sources

- [Forecast methodology](https://shelter.money/forecast-methodology): Source data, recurring commitments, spending uncertainty, safeguards, limitations, and backtesting behind the 30-day forecast
- [Reviews and trust](https://shelter.money/trust): Official App Store and Google Play listings, security evidence, and how to report corrections
- [Security](https://shelter.money/security): Read-only Plaid connection, access-token encryption, authentication and payment providers, with each claim tied to the code
- [Editorial policy](https://shelter.money/editorial-policy): How Shelter reviews, sources, and corrects its money content
- [Privacy](https://shelter.money/privacy): How Shelter collects, uses, and protects personal and financial data
- [Pricing](https://shelter.money/pricing): Monthly and annual plans, trial terms, and billing disclosures
- [About the publisher](https://shelter.money/about): Who publishes Shelter (Next Aura Labs Inc.), how its read-only guidance works, and the standards behind its content

## Compare Shelter with other finance apps

- [Compare hub](https://shelter.money/compare): Shelter alongside Mint, Rocket Money, YNAB, Copilot Money, and Monarch Money
- [Rocket Money vs Shelter](https://shelter.money/rocket-money-vs-shelter): Subscription tracking, cash-flow forecasting, and overdraft prevention compared
- [Rocket Money alternative](https://shelter.money/rocket-money-alternative): An alternative focused on cash-flow forecasting and overdraft prevention rather than subscription cleanup
- [Rocket Money alternatives in Canada](https://shelter.money/rocket-money-alternative-canada): Whether Rocket Money works in Canada, and four alternatives compared by Canadian bank support and billing
- [Mint alternative](https://shelter.money/mint-alternative): Shelter as a Mint alternative, with cash-flow forecasting and proactive guidance
- [YNAB alternative](https://shelter.money/ynab-alternative): Forecast-aware spending targets with lighter upkeep than a manual zero-based budget
- [Copilot Money alternative](https://shelter.money/copilot-money-alternative): Shelter compared with Copilot Money on forecasting, coaching, and device support
- [Monarch Money alternative](https://shelter.money/monarch-money-alternative): Category tracking compared with a forward-looking guardian approach

## Calculators and tools

- [Safe-to-spend calculator](https://shelter.money/safe-to-spend-calculator): Estimate what is safe to spend before payday after bills, debt payments, and a buffer; no signup or bank login
- [Safe-before-payday worksheet](https://shelter.money/safe-before-payday-checklist): A practical checklist for finding what hits next, the lowest-balance day, and the first move before payday
- [Bills before payday calculator](https://shelter.money/bills-before-payday-calculator): Whether upcoming bills and subscriptions leave enough room before the next paycheck
- [Paycheck runway calculator](https://shelter.money/paycheck-runway-calculator): How many days the current balance can last after bills, daily spending, and a cushion
- [Biweekly paycheck budget calculator](https://shelter.money/biweekly-paycheck-budget-calculator): Plan a biweekly paycheck around bills, spending, and the next deposit
- [Upcoming bills calculator](https://shelter.money/upcoming-bills-calculator): Total and calendar upcoming bills and subscriptions before the charges land
- [Paycheck to paycheck calculator](https://shelter.money/paycheck-to-paycheck-calculator): Subtract the bills and spending due before payday to see whether the check stretches
- [Overdraft fee calculator](https://shelter.money/overdraft-fee-calculator): Monthly and yearly cost of NSF and overdraft fees
- [Debt payoff calculator](https://shelter.money/debt-payoff-calculator): Payoff date and interest under the debt avalanche and snowball methods
- [Subscription savings calculator](https://shelter.money/subscription-savings-calculator): Annual cost of monthly subscriptions and the potential savings from an audit
- [Job loss runway calculator](https://shelter.money/job-loss-runway-calculator): How long savings last during a job search, from cash, bills, living costs, and EI or gig income
- [Tariff impact calculator (Canada)](https://shelter.money/tariff-impact-calculator-canada): Estimate how Canada-US tariffs affect household costs from monthly spending
- [All calculators](https://shelter.money/calculators): Overdraft, subscription, and debt-payoff calculators in one place

## Guides

- [Complete guide to cash flow forecasting](https://shelter.money/complete-guide-to-cash-flow-forecasting): What cash-flow forecasting is, how it works, common methods, and how to forecast personal finances
- [How to stop overdrafting your bank account](https://shelter.money/how-to-stop-overdrafting-your-bank-account): Find the pattern, protect the low-balance days, and set up an early warning before payday
- [Overdraft protection for beginners](https://shelter.money/overdraft-protection-for-beginners): Bank coverage, transfer backups, and low-balance alerts explained
- [Avoid overdraft and NSF fees in Canada](https://shelter.money/avoid-overdraft-fees): Canada-specific: NSF versus overdraft rules, bill timing, and payday forecasting
- [How to avoid bank fees](https://shelter.money/how-to-avoid-bank-fees): Which fees to tackle first (overdraft, NSF, returned payment), starting with timing and then bank settings
- [How much to keep in checking](https://shelter.money/how-much-should-i-keep-in-checking): Choosing a checking-account buffer that covers bills and the gap between deposits
- [Budgeting for irregular income](https://shelter.money/budgeting-app-for-irregular-income): Planning around uneven deposits, bills, and tight weeks as a freelancer, gig worker, or variable earner
- [Stop living paycheck to paycheck](https://shelter.money/stop-living-paycheck-to-paycheck): Why the problem is often timing, and how a 30-day forecast helps bills, paydays, and spending stop colliding
- [Debt avalanche vs snowball](https://shelter.money/avalanche-vs-snowball): How the two payoff methods differ on interest saved, motivation, and cash-flow fit
- [How to get out of debt fast](https://shelter.money/how-to-get-out-of-debt-fast): Pay down high-interest balances first, plug the cost leaks funding the cycle, and prevent regression

## Product pages

- [Website](https://shelter.money): Shelter home page
- [App Store](https://shelter.money/download?platform=ios&source=llms&surface=llms_full): Shelter for iPhone
- [Google Play](https://shelter.money/download?platform=android&source=llms&surface=llms_full): Shelter for Android
- [Features](https://shelter.money/features): Spending forecasts, proactive alerts, bill tracking, and subscription audits
- [Cash flow forecasting](https://shelter.money/cash-flow-forecasting-app): The 30-day balance forecast and the lowest-balance day
- [Overdraft alerts](https://shelter.money/overdraft-alert-app): Predicted overdraft risk, the risky day, and its cause
- [Job finder](https://shelter.money/jobs): Search for resume-matched job leads with apply links and salary insight, alongside the same cash-flow context
- [For AI agents](https://shelter.money/developers): Connect authorized AI agents to the financial context in your own Shelter account through the MCP adapter and read-only Agent API
- [Open-source MCP adapter](https://github.com/nextauralabs/shelter-mcp): Source for the @shelter.money/mcp adapter

## Optional

- [Blog](https://shelter.money/blog): Free guides on cash flow forecasting, overdraft prevention, safe-to-spend math, payday planning, debt payoff, and subscription audits
- [Support and corrections](https://shelter.money/support): Help with accounts, billing, bank connections, forecasts, and alerts, and where to send corrections

## Indexable articles

- [How Long Will Savings Last If Unemployed?](https://shelter.money/blog/how-long-will-savings-last-unemployed) - Divide cash by monthly burn to estimate job-search runway. A simple method plus a free calculator for bills, living costs, and EI income. (2 min read; published 2026-09-09)
- [How to Budget While Job Searching](https://shelter.money/blog/how-to-budget-while-job-searching) - A job-search budget that protects runway: must-pay bills first, essentials second, and a weekly check on what is safe to spend. (1 min read; published 2026-09-09)
- [How Much Money Can I Spend Before Payday?](https://shelter.money/blog/how-much-money-can-i-spend-before-payday) - Stop doing mental math in the checkout line. Here is the exact formula to calculate how much money you can spend before your next paycheck arrives. (2 min read; published 2026-06-23)
- [How to Prevent Overdraft Fees in Canada: The Ultimate Guide](https://shelter.money/blog/how-to-prevent-overdraft-fees-in-canada) - Canadian banks charge up to $48 for NSF fees. Learn the difference between NSF and overdraft fees in Canada, and how to prevent them entirely. (2 min read; published 2026-06-23)
- [Overdraft Protection Alternatives Banks Hide](https://shelter.money/blog/overdraft-protection-alternatives) - Standard bank overdraft protection just replaces one fee with another. Discover the real alternatives to protect your checking account from dropping below zero. (2 min read; published 2026-06-23)
- [Safe to Spend vs. Bank Balance: What's the Difference?](https://shelter.money/blog/what-does-safe-to-spend-mean) - Why your bank balance is the wrong number to look at, and how calculating your 'Safe to Spend' amount can eliminate financial anxiety. (2 min read; published 2026-06-23)
- [What Actually Happens When You Overdraft Your Account?](https://shelter.money/blog/what-happens-when-you-overdraft) - The hidden consequences of overdrafting your checking account, from cascading fees to ChexSystems reporting, and how to stop the cycle. (2 min read; published 2026-06-23)
- [Why Budgeting Fails for Irregular Income](https://shelter.money/blog/why-budgets-dont-work) - With variable income, rules like 50/30/20 are useless. How to manage your money when you don't know your next paycheck. (2 min read; published 2026-06-23)
- [Why Your Bank Balance Is Lying to You](https://shelter.money/blog/why-your-bank-balance-is-lying) - Your bank app shows a number, but that number is a trap. Learn why checking your balance is causing your overdraft fees and what to do instead. (2 min read; published 2026-06-23)
- [How Shelter AI Helps You Find Job Leads](https://shelter.money/blog/how-shelter-ai-finds-you-jobs) - Shelter helps protect your cash flow first. When earning more is part of the plan, Shelter can search resume-matched job leads and show salary insight in chat. (2 min read; published 2026-06-16)
- [Ask Shelter for Deals Before You Spend](https://shelter.money/blog/never-miss-a-discount-with-guardian) - Hunting for coupon codes is a chore. Ask Shelter to search current public deal pages and coupon links before you make a purchase. (1 min read; published 2026-06-16)
- [Rocket Money vs Shelter: Cleanup vs Cash Flow](https://shelter.money/blog/rocket-money-vs-shelter-subscription-cleanup-vs-cash-flow-control) - How Rocket Money's subscription cleanup compares to Shelter's guided cancellation and forecast-based cash flow control in 2026. (4 min read; updated 2026-09-29)
- [Why Manual Budgeting Fails and What to Do Instead](https://shelter.money/blog/why-manual-budgeting-fails-and-what-to-do-instead) - Manual budgeting fails because it is high-friction, backward-looking, and willpower-dependent. A better way to manage money in 2026. (4 min read; published 2026-04-04)
- [YNAB vs Shelter: Budgeting vs Forecasting](https://shelter.money/blog/ynab-vs-shelter-manual-budgeting-vs-forecast-based-budgeting) - Comparing YNAB and Shelter in 2026: manual zero-based budgeting versus forecast-aware spending targets, safe-to-spend guidance, and lighter budget upkeep. (4 min read; updated 2026-09-29)
- [How Much Should You Keep in Checking to Avoid Overdrafts?](https://shelter.money/blog/how-much-should-you-keep-in-checking) - A practical way to choose the right checking-account buffer based on bill timing, income timing, and overdraft risk. (5 min read; published 2026-03-14)
- [Mint Shut Down: The 5 Best Alternatives for 2026](https://shelter.money/blog/mint-shutdown-best-alternatives) - Intuit retired Mint and moved its users to Credit Karma. Here's what to use instead, from true Mint replacements to apps that do what Mint never could. (7 min read; updated 2026-09-29)
- [How to Avoid Overdraft Fees: 6 Practical Steps](https://shelter.money/blog/how-to-avoid-overdraft-fees) - How to avoid overdraft fees this week: opt out, set alerts, time bills, build a buffer, and forecast your lowest-balance day. Free steps — no signup. (8 min read; updated 2026-09-08)
- [How to Never Miss a Bill Payment Again](https://shelter.money/blog/never-miss-a-bill-payment) - Missed bill payments cost you in late fees and credit score damage. Here are reliable systems to make sure every bill gets paid on time. (6 min read; published 2025-11-28)
- [The Bill Calendar Strategy: Align Bills With Your Paycheck](https://shelter.money/blog/bill-calendar-strategy) - A bill calendar helps you match when bills are due to when you get paid. Learn how to create one and avoid the end-of-month cash crunch. (6 min read; published 2025-11-25)
- [AI Chatbot vs. Financial Advisor: When to Use Each](https://shelter.money/blog/chatbot-vs-financial-advisor) - AI chatbots and human financial advisors serve different purposes. Learn when each makes sense and how to get the most from both. (7 min read; published 2025-11-08)
- [Is It Safe to Link Your Bank via Plaid?](https://shelter.money/blog/is-linking-bank-account-safe) - What Shelter can and cannot do when you connect a bank account through Plaid, plus what to check before trusting any financial app. (4 min read; published 2025-10-25)
- [How Shelter Uses Plaid for Bank Linking](https://shelter.money/blog/how-plaid-protects-your-data) - Shelter uses Plaid in read-only mode. What Shelter requests, what it cannot do, and where to read Plaid-specific security details. (3 min read; published 2025-10-18)