Fruition Launches Zero-Based Budget Tool to Support 64% of U.S. Households with No Long Term Financial Plan

Flexible budget tool narrows gap between real spending decisions and long-term financial planning with AI-enhanced accuracy

ATLANTA, Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fruition, the financial empowerment platform that aggregates personal financial data in one place and provides tools and experienced human mentors to help members find financial security, today announced its flexible Budget feature is available to all members. This powerful tool arrives as 90% of Americans report budgeting their money, with 95% stating that budgeting is more important than ever according to a 2024 survey from Debt.com.

The Budget feature eliminates the traditional method involving paper statements, receipts, calculators, and spreadsheets into an intuitive process that uses connected data from members' Folio to build a custom budget. While conventional budgeting tools leave unallocated funds; Fruition's zero-based budgeting philosophy ensures every dollar has a purpose – for spending, saving, or investing – creating order out of financial chaos. Alongside the Fruition Debt Paydown tool, members can see how their daily spending decisions impact their full financial picture.

Underpinned by real-time transaction feeds from connected financial institutions, members can create a budget in minutes. With Bud Financial's AI-powered Enrich technology, transaction categorization accuracy has improved by 42.6% meaning instead of members spending time correcting misidentified transactions, they can focus on building financial security.

"Most budgeting tools tell you what you spent. Ours shows you how to spend with intention," said Joshua Bauder, VP of Product at Fruition. "By combining zero-based budgeting with AI-enhanced transaction accuracy, we're delivering more than just an expense tracking experience for members, we're illuminating possibilities."

While 89% of budgeters credit the practice with helping them escape or avoid debt (Debt.com 2025 Budgeting Survey), only 36% of U.S. households have a long-term financial plan according to Charles Schwab's 2023 Modern Wealth Survey. Fruition is bridging this gap with the release of Budget, a tool to help members build positive financial momentum by seeing how their spending and budget trend weekly or monthly.

Fruition's flexible Budget tool offers members:

• Zero-Based Budget Philosophy: All income must be allocated, ensuring every dollar has a purpose
• Auto Budget: Create a personalized budget in seconds using analysis from three months of transaction data
• Custom Budget: Build a budget one expense or category at a time across needs, wants, and savings
• Flexible Options: Toggle between weekly or monthly views to match individual financial rhythms and view budgets as dollar amounts or percentages, with granular control over primary categories and subcategories
• Real-Time Adaptability: Edit and adjust budgets as life happens, with changes automatically reflected across the platform

"Building a budget is about progress, not perfection. According to Federal Reserve data, only 51% of adults are spending less than their income. Naturally, financial futures feel uncertain and our Budget tool makes financial progress achievable," said Lauren FitzHugh, VP of Growth at Fruition. "Wherever you are on your financial journey, building a budget is a critical first stride to finding financial wellness."

Alongside Budget, Fruition offers members access to qualified financial Mentors in 20-minute or 50-minute virtual, private sessions. Mentors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge on saving more, spending less, and managing debt. With guidance from a Mentor, creating a realistic budget goes from chore to milestone.

The Budget tool is available today to all Fruition members in their Folio on both desktop and mobile applications. New members can experience the full capabilities of Budget, alongside Debt Paydown through a 30-day free trial.

To see an interactive demo of Budget visit https://www.meetfruition.com/products/features/budget/.

About Fruition
Fruition is the only personal finance management platform that consolidates financial data feeds in one place while providing actionable insights, educational resources, and real human mentorship for consumers and employees. The fintech startup is on a mission to help Americans break free from their $1.2 trillion of credit card debt and find financial freedom by partnering with benefits brokers and employers to offer financial wellness benefits for employees.

For more information on our solutions for employers visit workplaces.meetfruition.com and to see your full financial picture in one place visit meetfruition.com.

SOURCE Fruition Personal Finance, LLC