gnucash doesn't save balance forward

I'm trying to do something pretty simple - all I really want to do here is to set up a "petty cash in pocket" thing, where i can track what i do with cash. there are actually several "wallet accounts" here - my cash, wife's cash, grocery cash... and then "regular" account/categories. Trying to get started (I'm probably handicapped by having used quicken for many years) all I really wanted to do was set up regular accounts and begin with a balance forward in my pocket. the startup seems to allow that, but it doesn't get saved, and then i don't seem to be smart enough to put the balance forward in by hand...

any help?