Banzai users first allocate income to their jars according to their present needs, the rest is put into something we call the Reserves jar. In a real pinch, the Reserves jar can be used to meet unexpected expenses.

The Reserves jar balance is the key indicator of your financial health. A negative balance means that you are in debt, a positive balance that you’re setting aside money for the future. Banzai users have only one goal: to increase the balance of their Reserves jar. Putting money into the jar indicates you’re making progress towards financial independence.

Removing money from Reserves represents a setback. Always seek to identify trade-offs with other jars before using the Reserves jar to support unplanned spending. For example, you might choose to pay unexpected vacation expenses with money from your Gifts jar. Though you’ll have less to spend around the holidays, the expense had no impact upon your overall financial health.