Budget Line is a free daily number puzzle. Your team has sent in more requests than the budget can cover. Approve the ones that add up to the budget exactly. From Tuesday there are extra rules, such as “at most one Travel request”, and only one choice keeps them all. Monday has 6 requests. Friday has 12 requests and 3 rules.
No sign-up and nothing to install. It runs in your browser on a computer or a phone, and your progress is saved on your device.
- Exactly on the line. Not under the budget and not over it.
- Rules turn green. Each rule shows a green tick when it is met and a red cross when it is broken.
- One answer. Several choices can hit the budget, but only one keeps every rule.
- Stuck? The lightbulb fixes one request for you. Hints and undo are free.
How to play Budget Line
- Tap a request to approve it, or drag it into the Approved box.
- Watch the bar. It shows how much is spent and how much is left.
- Read the rules next to the bar. Every one of them has to be green.
- Tap or drag a request back to take it out. You win when the budget is spent exactly and all rules are green.
The rules you will meet
| Rule | What it means | First appears |
|---|---|---|
| Spend exactly the budget | The approved costs add up to the budget, not more and not less. | Monday |
| Approve exactly N requests | The number of approved requests is fixed. | Tuesday |
| At least one of a kind (from Wednesday also: at least two) | The kinds are Hardware, Software, Training and Travel. Each has its own colour. | Tuesday |
| At most one of a kind | Two requests of that kind cannot both be approved. | Tuesday |
| A and B cannot both be approved | Pick one of the two, or neither. | Thursday |
| If you approve A, approve B too | A is only allowed together with B. B alone is fine. | Thursday |
Tips for landing on the line
- Start with the rules, not the sums. A rule like “at most one Travel request” removes many combinations at once.
- Look at the last digit. If the budget ends in 7, the last digits of the approved costs must add up to a number ending in 7.
- Big requests decide the shape. Try with and without the most expensive request.
- Use what is left. When 9k is left, look for one request of 9k or two that make 9k.
- A linked pair counts as one. If A needs B, treat them as a single request with both costs.
How the week gets harder
| Day | Requests | Extra rules | What is new |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 6 | None | Only one combination hits the budget. |
| Tuesday | 7 | 1 | Two to four combinations hit the budget. One rule picks the right one. |
| Wednesday | 8 | 2 | Rules about the number of requests and about kinds. |
| Thursday | 10 | 2 | One of the two rules links two requests. |
| Friday | 12 | 3 | Many combinations hit the budget. Three rules, two of which link requests. |
Saturday plays like a Wednesday and Sunday like a Tuesday.
Frequently asked questions
Is Budget Line free?
Yes. There is no account, no download and no paywall.
What does 12k mean?
It is the cost of a request in thousands. The currency does not matter for the puzzle.
Is there more than one answer?
No. Every puzzle has exactly one answer, and every rule is needed to find it.
Do I have to do the sums in my head?
No. The bar shows what is spent and what is left after every change.
When does the new puzzle appear?
At midnight in your local time.
Can I play earlier puzzles?
Yes. Open the calendar button at the top of the game and pick any day from the past eight weeks.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Tap a request to approve it, or drag it with your finger.
More to play on WiseChecker
- Browser Games: every WiseChecker game in one place.
- Clean Desk: remember the desk and find what is gone.
- No Blind Spots: place cameras so that no square is a blind spot.
- Cell Value: find the number behind every letter.
- File Pairs: turn over two cards and find the pairs.