Set up categories
Categories are the backbone of your finances: expenses, income, goals, assets and liabilities. Set them up once and change them any time without losing data.
Step by step
- The first time you open Home Finance, the wizard suggests ready-made categories (Housing, Food, Transport…) or lets you start from scratch.
- Open the Categories tab and choose the type at the top: Expenses, Income, Goals, Assets or Liabilities.
- New category adds a top-level category. Type the name, confirm with Enter and pick an icon (or Skip).
- Add a subcategory from the category menu: the ⋯ button or right-click → Add subcategory.
- To change the layout, drag a category onto another one. The “Drop here…” area at the bottom turns it into a top-level category.
Try it: drag “Internet” onto “Entertainment” — the amount moves with the category and the totals recalculate.
This is an example in the browser; nothing is saved. In the app it works the same: a moved category takes its transactions and plan with it, so you can change the structure any time without losing data.
List or map
You can see categories as a list (default, handy on a phone) or as a map with lines. Switch the view with List / Map in the tab bar. Your choice is saved in your account.
- Open the “Transport” category menu: in the list with the ⋯ button, on the map with a right-click.
- Choose “Add subcategory”.
- Type a name, e.g. “Servicing”, and confirm with Enter.
- Choose an icon (or “Skip”) — the new category is ready and visible in both views.
- Right-click a category.
- The menu shows the available actions: rename, icon, subcategory, collapse, delete.
- “Add icon” opens the icon picker in groups — you can also type a name, e.g. “fuel”.
- The clicked icon appears next to the category straight away.
Good to know
- A moved category takes its transactions and plan with it. You can move a category only within its type.
- Double-click a name to edit it straight away. The arrow next to a category collapses its subcategories.
- In Income, the category menu has Linked account: income from this category immediately increases the chosen account (e.g. your current account) in Net worth.
- Assets and Liabilities are items with a balance — see Track what you own and owe. Goals — see Save towards a goal.
FAQ
Can I change the category layout when I already have transactions?
Yes. A moved category takes its transactions and plan with it, and totals recalculate on their own. If you only want a different layout, move the category instead of deleting it.
How many levels of subcategories can I have?
As many as you need. In practice two levels work best: a group (e.g. Housing) and categories (Rent, Utilities).
Are the list and map views different data?
No, they are the same categories. Collapsed branches are the same in both views.