Split Transactions Across Categories

Split transactions allow you to divide a single purchase across multiple budget categories. This is perfect for shopping trips where you buy items from different categories in one transaction, like groceries, household items, and clothing all from Target.

What Are Split Transactions?

A split transaction assigns portions of a single purchase to different categories:

Instead of:

• $150 Target purchase → 100% to Groceries

You can split:

• $150 Target purchase → $80 to Groceries + $40 to Household + $30 to Clothing

This gives you accurate budget tracking by putting each dollar in the right category.

When to Use Split Transactions

Common Split Scenarios

Big box stores (Target, Walmart, Costco):

• Groceries + household items + personal care
• Clothing + home goods + electronics
• Food + party supplies + gifts

Amazon orders:

• Multiple items from different categories
• Book + household item + gift
• Electronics + clothing + kitchenware

Gas station purchases:

• Gas ($45) + snacks ($8) + drinks ($5)
• Split between Transportation and Groceries/Dining

Restaurant + tip:

• Meal ($50) + tip ($10)
• Usually keep together as Dining Out
• Unless tracking tips separately

Pharmacy visits:

• Prescriptions ($30) + toiletries ($15) + snacks ($8)
• Split between Healthcare, Personal Care, Groceries

When NOT to Split

Don’t over-complicate:

• Small amounts (under $10) - not worth the effort
• Mostly one category with tiny other amounts
• When 90%+ is one category
• Simple restaurant meals (meal + tip stays together)

Example: $52 groceries + $3 candy bar → Just categorize entire $55 as Groceries. The extra precision isn’t worth the effort for $3.

How to Split a Transaction

Step 1: Open Transaction Details

1. Go to Transactions tab
2. Tap the transaction you want to split
3. Transaction details page opens

Step 2: Start Category Selection

1. Tap “Category” section
2. Category selection page opens
3. You’ll see two summary cards:
   • Transaction Amount: Total from bank
   • Categorized Amount: How much you’ve assigned so far

Step 3: Select First Category

1. Tap your first category
2. Amount input appears under that category
3. Category Amount card shows with amount field
4. Enter the amount for this category (e.g., $80 for Groceries)
5. Tap outside the input or tap another category

The category now shows with the amount you entered.

Step 4: Select Additional Categories

1. Tap another category
2. Amount input appears
3. Enter amount for this category (e.g., $40 for Household)
4. Repeat for all categories needed

Watch the Categorized Amount card at the top - it updates as you add categories.

Step 5: Verify Amounts Match

Look at the two cards at the top:

• Transaction Amount: $150.00 (from bank - unchangeable)
• Categorized Amount: $150.00 (sum of your categories)

These MUST match exactly to save the transaction.

Color coding:

• Match (equal): Both show normal colors
• Under-categorized: Warning appears
• Over-categorized: Warning appears

Step 6: Save the Split

1. Verify amounts match: Categorized = Transaction
2. Tap “Save Transaction” button
3. Returns to Transactions tab
4. Transaction shows with multiple category badges

Category Amount Cards

Each selected category displays an amount card showing:

Category Name

The budget category name (e.g., “Groceries”)

Amount Input Field

Where you enter the dollar amount for this category

To edit amounts:

1. Tap the amount input field
2. Keyboard appears
3. Enter new amount
4. Categorized Amount updates automatically

Remove Category

Tap the category again to remove it from the split (amounts adjust automatically).

Transaction Summary Cards

At the top of the category selection screen:

Transaction Amount Card

Shows: Total amount from your bank Example: $150.00

Contains:

• “Transaction Amount” label
• Dollar amount (large text)
• Info icon (tap for transaction details)

Cannot change this - it’s what your bank reported.

Tap the card to see full transaction details including merchant name, location, and original description.

Categorized Amount Card

Shows: Total amount you’ve assigned to categories Example: $150.00

Updates automatically as you:

• Add categories
• Remove categories
• Change category amounts

Must equal Transaction Amount to save.

Amount Validation

Balance ensures your split amounts are accurate:

Matching Amounts (Correct)

✅ Transaction Amount: $150.00
✅ Categorized Amount: $150.00
✅ Status: Can save - amounts match!

Example split:

• Groceries: $80.00
• Household: $40.00
• Clothing: $30.00
• Total: $150.00 ✅

Under-Categorized (Too Low)

❌ Transaction Amount: $150.00
❌ Categorized Amount: $130.00
❌ Status: Cannot save - $20 unassigned

Fix: Add more to existing categories or add another category for the remaining $20.

Over-Categorized (Too High)

❌ Transaction Amount: $150.00
❌ Categorized Amount: $165.00
❌ Status: Cannot save - $15 over

Fix: Reduce amounts in one or more categories by total of $15.

Save Button State

• Enabled (clickable): Amounts match exactly
• Disabled (gray): Amounts don’t match

You cannot save until amounts match.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Target Run

Transaction: $127.43 at Target

Receipt breakdown:

• Groceries: $75.00
• Household (cleaning supplies): $32.43
• Personal Care (shampoo): $20.00

Steps:

1. Tap transaction
2. Tap “Category”
3. Tap “Groceries” → Enter $75.00
4. Tap “Household” → Enter $32.43
5. Tap “Personal Care” → Enter $20.00
6. Verify: Transaction $127.43 = Categorized $127.43 ✅
7. Tap “Save Transaction”

Result: Budget updates with accurate amounts in each category.

Example 2: Amazon Order

Transaction: $89.47 from Amazon

Order contained:

• Book ($15.99) → Entertainment
• Coffee maker ($52.48) → Household
• Phone case ($21.00) → Electronics

Steps:

1. Tap transaction
2. Tap “Category”
3. Tap “Entertainment” → Enter $15.99
4. Tap “Household” → Enter $52.48
5. Tap “Electronics” → Enter $21.00
6. Verify: Transaction $89.47 = Categorized $89.47 ✅
7. Tap “Save Transaction”

Example 3: Gas Station

Transaction: $58.23 at Shell

Breakdown:

• Gas: $50.00
• Drinks and snacks: $8.23

Steps:

1. Tap transaction
2. Tap “Category”
3. Tap “Transportation” → Enter $50.00
4. Tap “Groceries” → Enter $8.23
5. Verify: Transaction $58.23 = Categorized $58.23 ✅
6. Tap “Save Transaction”

Example 4: Costco Trip

Transaction: $347.86 at Costco

Cart contents:

• Food items: $210.00
• Household/paper goods: $87.50
• Gas (separate transaction): $50.36

Steps:

1. Tap Costco purchase transaction
2. Tap “Category”
3. Tap “Groceries” → Enter $210.00
4. Tap “Household” → Enter $87.50
5. Categorized shows $297.50 (under by $50.36)
6. Check receipt - gas was separate transaction ✅
7. Adjust amounts or add category for remaining
8. Save once amounts match

Tips for Accurate Splits

Keep Receipts

• Take photo of receipt when shopping
• Reference when splitting transaction
• Ensures accurate amount allocation
• Helpful for returns/exchanges

Round Strategically

• Small differences (under $1) - round to major category
• Don’t overthink pennies
• $80.47 and $69.53 can become $80 and $70 (adjust by $0.47)

Be Consistent

• Establish rules with partner for common splits
• “Target grocery trips: Estimate groceries vs other”
• “Gas stations: Gas to Transport, store items to Groceries”
• Consistency matters more than perfection

Estimate When Needed

• Don’t have receipt? Estimate reasonably
• $120 Target trip without receipt:
  • Roughly 60% groceries ($72)
  • Roughly 40% household ($48)
• Close enough for budget purposes

Use Multiple Categories Wisely

• 2-3 categories: Perfect
• 4-5 categories: Still manageable
• 6+ categories: Probably over-complicating

Editing Split Transactions

You can always change splits later:

To modify split amounts:

1. Tap the transaction
2. Tap “Category” section (shows current categories)
3. Adjust amounts in existing categories
4. Add or remove categories as needed
5. Ensure amounts match
6. Tap “Save Transaction”

To convert single category to split:

1. Tap transaction
2. Tap “Category”
3. Add additional categories
4. Distribute the amount
5. Save when amounts match

To convert split to single category:

1. Tap transaction
2. Tap “Category”
3. Remove all but one category (tap category to deselect)
4. Adjust remaining category to full amount
5. Save

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Math errors:

• Double-check your addition
• Use calculator if needed
• Balance validates, so you can’t save with errors

Forgetting tax:

• Transaction amount includes tax
• Your split must include tax too
• Don’t just add up item prices without tax

Over-splitting:

• Don’t split $20 purchases
• Not worth the time for small amounts
• Save splitting for $50+ purchases

Inconsistent splitting:

• One partner splits everything
• Other partner never splits
• Discuss and agree on splitting approach

Working with Your Partner

Splitting Strategy

Discuss:

• Minimum amount to split ($50? $100?)
• Which stores typically need splitting
• How to estimate without receipts
• Who handles splits (or both)

Common approaches:

1. Share work: Whoever sees it first, splits it
2. Assigned: One partner handles all splits
3. Account-based: Each handles their card’s transactions

Communication

When you split a transaction:

• Partner sees the split immediately
• Categories update in real-time
• Both can see the category breakdown
• Discuss if unsure about split decision

Troubleshooting

Can’t Save - Amounts Don’t Match

Check:

1. Look at Categorized Amount vs Transaction Amount
2. Are you over or under?
3. Adjust categories to match exactly
4. Even $0.01 difference prevents saving

Category Amount Won’t Update

Try:

1. Tap outside the input field
2. Tap another category then back
3. Delete the amount and re-enter
4. Exit and start over if needed

Lost Track of Amounts

Solution:

1. Look at Transaction Amount (target)
2. Look at Categorized Amount (current)
3. Difference is what you need to adjust
4. Add or subtract from categories

Too Many Categories

Simplify:

1. Combine smaller amounts into one category
2. Remove categories and redistribute
3. Pick the dominant category for small amounts

Next Steps

Now that you understand split transactions:

• Categorizing Transactions - Basic categorization
• Bulk Categorizing - Multiple similar transactions
• Editing Transactions - Modify transaction details
• Managing Categories - Organize your budget categories

Need help? Contact our support team - we’re here to assist!