> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.platform.softwareone.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.platform.softwareone.com/extensions/cloud-tools/budgets.md).

# Budgets

Define cloud budgets and assign them to groups within your business or cloud service provider.

Budgets allow you to define cloud budgets and assign them to groups within your business or cloud service provider. You can assign individual budgets in the following two areas:

* **Custom groups** - Allows you to assign individual budgets to Custom Groups defined within Custom Groups. This allows you to manage time and monetary values for your spending, defined by your business.
* **Service Provider** - Allows you to assign individual budgets to Enrollments, Subscriptions, or Tenants (depending on the provider terms). Service provider budgets enable you to manage time periods and monetary values for your spending tied to your providers.

To access Budgets, navigate to the main menu of the Client Portal and select **Cloud tools** > **Budgets**.

## Budget cost models

If you have purchased any Reserved Instances, you can choose between the following two cost models:

* **Actual Cost** - Represents the Reserved Instance purchase cost as a one-time cost (single spend record).
* **Amortized Cost** - Equally distributes the Reserved Instance purchase cost across the months of the reservation period.

## Budget notifications <a href="#budget-creation-and-change-notifications" id="budget-creation-and-change-notifications"></a>

When a budget is created or changed by someone other than the budget owner, the owner will receive a notification regarding the change, including when:&#x20;

* A new budget is created.
* The budget amount has changed.
* The budget name has been changed.
* The start date or end date of the budget has been changed.


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