Adding Transactions

The Three Transaction Types

HOB supports three kinds of transactions. Understanding the difference is key to accurate tracking.

Adding a Basic Transaction

Let's walk through adding a simple expense - like buying groceries.

To add a transaction:

1. Click the green + button in the bottom-right corner of any page
2. Or go to Transactions → Add Transaction
3. Select the date - when did this happen? (defaults to today)
4. Choose the account - which account did the money come from?
5. Select a category - what type of spending was this?
6. Choose Expense (or Income/Transfer)
7. Enter the amount - how much did you spend?
8. Add a description (optional but recommended) - "Trader Joe's", "Gas at Shell", etc.
9. Click Add Transaction

Adding Income

Income transactions follow the same process, just select "Income" instead of "Expense".

Common income categories:

• Salary - Your regular paycheck
• Freelance - Contract work, side hustle income
• Bonus - Work bonuses, commissions
• Interest - Bank interest, investment dividends
• Gifts - Birthday money, cash gifts
• Refunds - Tax refunds, purchase returns

Transfers Between Accounts

Transfers move money between your accounts without creating income or expense.

Common transfers:

• Checking → Savings - Building your emergency fund
• Checking → Credit Card - Paying off credit card debt
• Checking → Investment - Contributing to retirement
• Savings → Checking - Using emergency fund for an emergency

To add a transfer:

1. Click the + button
2. Select the date
3. Choose Transfer
4. Select the From account (where money is leaving)
5. Select the To account (where money is going)
6. Enter the amount
7. Add a description like "Monthly savings" or "Credit card payment"
8. Click Add Transaction

Split Transactions

Sometimes one transaction belongs in multiple categories. That's what split transactions are for.

When to use splits:

• Target run: $50 groceries + $30 household items + $20 clothes
• Gas station: $45 gas + $15 snacks and drinks
• Walmart: Mix of groceries, pharmacy, and entertainment
• Paycheck: Split between checking and retirement contribution

To create a split transaction:

1. Start adding a transaction normally
2. Click Split Transaction
3. For each category, enter the amount and select the category
4. Make sure the splits add up to the total amount
5. Click Add Transaction

Editing and Deleting Transactions

Made a mistake? No problem - transactions are easy to fix.

To edit a transaction:

1. Go to Transactions
2. Find the transaction in the list
3. Click on it to open the details
4. Click Edit
5. Make your changes
6. Click Save Changes

To delete a transaction:

1. Open the transaction
2. Click Delete
3. Confirm the deletion

Best Practices

When to enter transactions:

Enter transactions as soon as they happen (ideal) or at the end of each day. Don't wait until the end of the week - you'll forget details and it becomes a chore instead of a habit.

Writing good descriptions:

• Include the merchant: "Starbucks" not just "Coffee"
• Add context if helpful: "Target - birthday gift for mom"
• Keep it short: 2-5 words is usually enough
• Be consistent: Always use "Trader Joe's", not sometimes "TJ's"

Pending transactions:

Don't enter pending transactions! Wait until they actually clear your account. Otherwise you'll end up with duplicates or confusion when amounts change.

Troubleshooting

My balance doesn't match my bank:

• Look for transactions you forgot to enter
• Check for duplicate entries
• Verify you didn't enter pending transactions
• Look for typos in amounts (did you enter $15.00 instead of $150.00?)
• Check that transfers are recorded in BOTH accounts

I can't find a transaction:

• Use the search box at the top of the transactions page
• Filter by account if you know which account it's in
• Filter by date range
• Filter by category

I entered it in the wrong account:

• Edit the transaction and change the account
• Or delete and re-add it in the correct account

Quick Tips

• 💪 Make it a habit: Enter transactions daily, takes less than 2 minutes
• 📱 Use the PWA: Install HOB on your phone for quick entry on-the-go
• 🔄 Transfers aren't expenses: Moving money between accounts is neutral
• ✂️ Split when needed: Don't overthink it - if it's mostly one category, just use that
• 📝 Good descriptions help: "Costco - party supplies" is better than "Costco"
• ⏰ Wait for cleared transactions: Don't enter pending transactions

Next Steps

Now that you know how to track transactions:

• Budget Basics - Create your first budget using your transaction categories
• Recurring Transactions - Automate reminders for regular bills
• Using Reports - Analyze your spending patterns