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Setting and managing budgets

Setting and managing your AWS budgets is a key component of Budgeting & Forecasting. Once you set budgets, you’re able to compare your budgeted AWS spend to how much you’re forecasted to spend, as well as make historical comparisons between your budgeted and actual spend for the defined period.

Budgeting & Forecasting operates on a per context basis. For each context you have in your system, you can see forecasted costs and set budgets. This enables you to see and manage the details for the resources in only the context that is relevant to you.

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Setting a budget for the first time

You can set budgets in two ways: from the Analytics landing page; and from within a context view pane (when you have already selected a context to view).

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From the Analytics landing page

1. Select the group that you want to edit their budget.
2. Select  in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and select "Edit Context".
3. Set your desired budget for the remaining fiscal year by month. Filling in information for one of the fields will dynamically update all related fields. You will not be able to enter budgets for months that have already elapsed.
4. Press Save in the top right to save these budgets.

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From the Menu

In the menu on the left, select "Cost" and then "Budget & Forecast"

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Updating existing budgets

You can manage and update budgets in two ways: from the Analytics landing page; and from within a context view pane (when you have already selected a context to view).

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From the Analytics landing page

1. Select the group that you want to edit their budget.
2. Select  in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and select "Edit Context".
3. Set your desired budget for the remaining fiscal year by month. Filling in information for one of the fields will dynamically update all related fields. You will not be able to enter budgets for months that have already elapsed.
4. Press Save in the top right to save these budgets.

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Comparing historical budgets vs. actuals

Naturally, you want to compare how your budgeted costs compared to your actual costs. Here’s how you can do it using Budgeting & Forecasting. Note that if you have not set a budget for the prior time period, you will not be able to see this comparison.

1. Navigate to Budgeting & Forecasting for the context you’d like to compare budget vs. actual.
2. By default, you’ll be taken to the current time period (month, quarter, or year). Under the Budgeting & Forecasting section, use the arrows to navigate to the month you’d like to see. Alternatively, you can select the Time Frame dropdown at the top of the screen to select the time period.
3. Assuming you have a budget set, you’ll see the budget line for the selected time period and see actual costs as compared to that in the Budgeting & Forecasting section. Red on the graph indicates where you’ve gone over budget, and green is where you’re under budget.

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Using Forecasting to predict future AWS costs

Once in Budgeting & Forecasting, it’s easy to see right away what your future costs will look like. See the Navigating Budgeting & Forecasting section to see details about all of the console elements.

1. Select whether you want to view your forecast by month, quarter, or year. The toggle option is available on the top right of the screen.
2. Scroll down to the Budgeting & Forecasting section on the page.
3. On the graph here you will see a line for Predicted Cost. Follow this line to see what your forecasted AWS cost is for the selected time period.

If you have set a budget for the selected time period, your forecast will interact with your set budget to indicate whether you are forecasted to go over budget.

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Setting up alerts to stay on top of your budget

Getting alerted at the right time is critical to effectively managing your budget and making sure you meet your budget expectations. Budgeting & Forecasting provides alerts for when you have gone over budget as well as for when you’re trending to go over budget based on your AWS spend forecast.

1. Click Image Removed in the top right corner of the screen and select "Edit Context"
2. Navigate to the Alerts & Notifications tab.
3. Scroll down to the Alerts & Reporting Preference and mark which alerts you want to receive. You can choose to get alerts when you’ve gone over budget and when you’re forecasted to go over budget. You can get these alerts sent to a Slack channel or sent via email.