Notification Settings

Push notifications are coming to Balance! This feature will keep you informed about your budget, transactions, and account activity. Learn what to expect when notifications launch.

Coming Soon!

Current Status: Push notifications are actively being developed and will be released in a future update.

Expected availability: We’re working to bring this feature to you soon. Stay tuned for our official announcement!

What Are Push Notifications?

Push notifications are alerts sent to your device to keep you informed:

• Real-time updates - Know when things happen
• On-screen banners - Brief messages on lock screen or notification center
• Sound and vibration - Optional audio/haptic alerts
• Badge counts - Number indicators on app icon
• Actionable - Tap to open relevant screen in Balance

Types of Notifications

When notifications launch, you’ll be able to receive alerts for:

Transaction Notifications

• New transactions synced - “5 new transactions from Chase Checking”
• Large purchases - “Large expense detected: $450.00”
• Duplicate transactions - “Possible duplicate transaction detected”
• Unusual activity - “Transaction from new merchant”

Budget Alerts

• Category nearing limit - “Groceries: 80% of budget used”
• Category over budget - “Dining Out is $50 over budget”
• Monthly budget summary - “You’ve used 75% of your budget this month”
• Budget milestone - “Great job! You’re under budget this week”

Account Updates

• Bank connection issues - “Please reconnect Chase Bank”
• Sync completed - “10 new transactions synced”
• Low balance warning - “Checking account below $100”
• Account reconnected - “Chase Bank successfully reconnected”

Partner Activity (For Couples)

• Partner categorized transactions - “Sarah categorized 5 transactions”
• Partner added transaction - “John added manual transaction: $45 groceries”
• Budget changes - “Sarah updated Groceries budget to $600”
• New category created - “John created new category: Pet Care”

Subscription & Billing

• Trial ending soon - “Your free trial ends in 3 days”
• Payment successful - “Premium subscription renewed”
• Payment failed - “Please update your payment method”
• Subscription expiring - “Your subscription expires tomorrow”

Security Alerts

• New device login - “Balance accessed from new device”
• Password changed - “Your password was recently changed”
• Email changed - “Your email address was updated”
• Unusual login location - “Login from unusual location detected”

Notification Preferences (Future)

Once available, you’ll have full control over which notifications you receive:

Granular Control

By Category:

• ✅ Turn on/off each notification type
• ⚙️ Set thresholds (e.g., alert only for transactions > $100)
• 🕐 Set quiet hours (no alerts during certain times)
• 📱 Choose notification style (banner, sound, badge)

By Importance:

• Critical - Always notify (security, payment issues)
• High - Important updates (budget warnings, large transactions)
• Medium - Helpful info (sync completed, milestones)
• Low - Optional insights (tips, summaries)

Delivery Options

• Push notifications - On device immediately
• Email digest - Daily or weekly summary
• In-app only - No external notifications
• Do Not Disturb - Pause all notifications temporarily

How to Enable (Future)

iOS Setup

1. When prompted - Allow notifications when you first open Balance
2. Or manually:
   • Device Settings > Notifications > Balance
   • Enable “Allow Notifications”
   • Choose style (banners, alerts, or none)
   • Enable sounds, badges, lock screen as desired

Balance App Settings:

1. Open Balance
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap “Notifications”
4. Toggle on/off by category
5. Adjust thresholds and preferences

[Future Screenshot: iOS notification settings]

Android Setup

1. When prompted - Allow notifications when first opening Balance
2. Or manually:
   • Device Settings > Apps > Balance > Notifications
   • Enable “All Balance notifications”
   • Customize by category

Balance App Settings:

1. Open Balance
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap “Notifications”
4. Choose which notifications you want
5. Set preferences for each type

[Future Screenshot: Android notification settings]

Web Notifications

Browser permissions:

1. Visit app.balancebudget.app
2. Allow notifications when prompted
3. Or enable in browser settings:
   • Chrome: Settings > Privacy > Site Settings > Notifications
   • Firefox: Preferences > Privacy & Security > Permissions
   • Safari: Preferences > Websites > Notifications

Notification Examples

Here’s what Balance notifications might look like:

Transaction Alert

Title: Balance Budget
Message: New transaction: Whole Foods $87.43
Action: Tap to categorize

Budget Warning

Title: Budget Alert
Message: Groceries: 90% of budget used ($540/$600)
Action: Tap to view details

Partner Update

Title: Partner Activity
Message: Sarah categorized 8 transactions
Action: Tap to review

Connection Issue

Title: Action Required
Message: Reconnect Chase Bank to sync transactions
Action: Tap to reconnect

Security Alert

Title: Security Notice
Message: New login from iPhone 15 in San Francisco
Action: Tap if this wasn’t you

Smart Notification Features

When notifications launch, Balance will include intelligent features:

Smart Timing

• No nighttime alerts - Quiet hours respect your sleep
• Batching - Multiple updates grouped together
• Priority sorting - Important alerts first
• Frequency limits - Won’t overwhelm you with too many alerts

Contextual Relevance

• Transaction patterns - Learn your habits
• Budget cycles - Alert at relevant times
• Day of week - Different alerts for weekdays vs weekends
• Month progress - More alerts near month-end

Actionable Notifications

• Quick actions - Categorize from notification
• Deep links - Tap to open relevant screen
• Reply options - Dismiss, snooze, or act
• Rich content - See transaction details without opening app

Privacy & Control

Your notification preferences will be:

Private & Secure

• Device-only - Notification tokens stored on your device
• Opt-in - All notifications are optional
• No sharing - Never shared with third parties
• Encrypted - Notification content encrypted in transit

Fully Controllable

• Granular settings - Control each notification type
• Easy opt-out - Disable anytime
• No spam - Only relevant, helpful alerts
• Pause anytime - Snooze notifications when needed

Current Workarounds

While notifications are being developed:

Email Notifications

Some events currently trigger email notifications:

• Account verification
• Password reset codes
• Subscription updates
• Billing receipts

Manual Checks

Develop a routine:

• Check Balance daily or every few days
• Review transactions in the morning
• Weekly budget check-ins
• Month-end reviews

Calendar Reminders

Set up your own reminders:

• Daily: “Check Balance transactions”
• Weekly: “Review budget progress”
• Monthly: “Balance budget review”
• Payday: “Categorize new transactions”

Widget (Future)

Balance may also include home screen widgets showing:

• Budget overview
• Recent transactions
• Category progress
• Account balances

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will notifications be available?
A: We’re actively developing push notifications. We’ll announce the release date as we get closer to launch.

Q: Will notifications drain my battery?
A: No. Push notifications are designed to be battery-efficient. Balance will use best practices to minimize battery impact.

Q: Can I turn off all notifications?
A: Yes! You’ll have complete control. You can disable all notifications, or just specific types.

Q: Will notifications show transaction amounts on my lock screen?
A: You’ll have control over this. You can choose to hide sensitive information from lock screen notifications for privacy.

Q: Can my partner and I have different notification settings?
A: Yes! Each device has its own notification preferences. You might want budget alerts while your partner might prefer only sync notifications.

Q: Will I get spammed with too many notifications?
A: No. We’re designing notifications to be helpful, not annoying. You’ll have control over frequency and types, and Balance will use smart batching to avoid overwhelming you.

Q: Can I get notifications via SMS instead of push?
A: Initially, notifications will be push-only. SMS notifications may be considered for future updates based on user feedback.

Q: Will there be sound notifications?
A: Yes, you’ll be able to enable or disable sounds for different notification types.

Beta Testing

Want to test notifications before public release?

Join the Beta

1. Email support@balancebudget.app
2. Subject: “Notifications Beta”
3. Include:
   • Device type (iOS/Android)
   • Why you want to test notifications
   • Your Balance account email

Beta benefits:

• Early access to new features
• Provide feedback that shapes the final product
• Help us catch bugs before release
• VIP treatment from our team

Providing Feedback

Help us build the best notification system:

What We Want to Know

• Which notifications matter most? - What do you want to be alerted about?
• Timing preferences - When should we notify you?
• Frequency - How often is too often?
• Content - What information should notifications include?
• Privacy concerns - What should NOT show on lock screen?

How to Share Feedback

• Email: support@balancebudget.app
• Subject: “Notification Feedback”
• Include specific use cases and preferences

Technical Details

When notifications launch:

Platform Support

• ✅ iOS - via Apple Push Notification Service (APNs)
• ✅ Android - via Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
• ✅ Web - via browser push APIs
• ✅ All platforms - Consistent experience

Requirements

• iOS: iOS 14 or later
• Android: Android 10 or later
• Web: Modern browser with notification support
• Permissions: Must allow notifications in device/browser settings

Technical Features

• Reliable delivery - Redundant systems ensure alerts arrive
• Smart scheduling - Respects quiet hours and DND
• Background sync - Updates even when app is closed
• Priority levels - Critical alerts delivered immediately
• Offline queueing - Notifications sent when back online

Next Steps

While waiting for notifications:

• Profile Settings - Manage your account
• Email Verification - Important account emails
• Dark Mode - Another feature in development
• Mobile App Guide - Get the most from Balance

Want early access to notifications? Join our beta program!

Status Update: This article will be updated with full instructions once push notifications are released. Thank you for your patience!