Abstract: A computer-implemented centralized budgeting system and method can include a central budget account containing a quantity of electronic funds housed in a computer system of a financial institution. A plurality of cards can be distributed to account holders to provide access to the funds in the central budget account. A control database can be provided and stored in a server computer system. The control database can include one or more sets of rules for controlling the approval or denial of card requests to access the funds in the central budget account. A web-interface can be provided to enable a client to establish and/or modify the one or more sets of rules for controlling the approval or denial of card requests. Secondary account holders can be provided access to the funds in the central budget account upon one or more different sets of rules than the primary account holder(s).