Recording a Transaction

Overview

This guide walks you through recording a financial transaction in the Cashflow App, whether it's an expense, income, or transfer between accounts.

Time Required: ~2 minutes Skill Level: Beginner

Prerequisites

Before recording a transaction, ensure you have:

• At least one account set up (see Getting Started)
• Categories configured for your transaction type
• Access to the transaction details (date, amount, payee)

Recording an Expense

Step 1: Navigate to Transactions

Navigate to the Transactions page by clicking Transactions in the sidebar or going to /cashflow/transactions.

Step 2: Start New Transaction

Click the Add Transaction button in the upper right corner of the page.

Step 3: Enter Transaction Details

Fill in the transaction form with the following information:

Step 4: Save the Transaction

Click Save to record the transaction. The transaction will appear in your transaction list and update your account balance.

Recording Income

Step 1: Navigate to Transactions

Go to the Transactions page from the sidebar.

Step 2: Add New Transaction

Click the Add Transaction button.

Step 3: Enter Income Details

Fill in the form for income:

Step 4: Save the Transaction

Click Save to record the income.

Categorizing Imported Transactions

If you import transactions from CSV or sync from YNAB, you may need to categorize them:

Step 1: Filter Uncategorized Transactions

1. Go to the Transactions page
2. Open the filter panel
3. Filter by Category: Uncategorized

Step 2: Select Transactions

Use the checkboxes to select one or more transactions that belong to the same category.

Step 3: Assign Category

1. Click the Assign Category button in the toolbar
2. Select the appropriate category from the list
3. Click Apply to assign the category to all selected transactions

Expected Results

After recording a transaction, you should see:

• Transaction appears in the transaction list
• Account balance updates to reflect the new transaction
• Dashboard quadrant updates (Income or Expenses)
• Budget tracking updates if applicable
• Net worth calculation adjusts

Troubleshooting

Issue: Transaction Not Appearing

Solution:

1. Refresh the page
2. Check the date filter - ensure it includes the transaction date
3. Verify the transaction saved (check for error messages)

Issue: Wrong Account Balance

Solution:

1. Verify the transaction amount is correct (negative for expenses, positive for income)
2. Check if the transaction is marked as cleared or uncleared
3. Review other recent transactions for duplicates

Issue: Category Not Available

Solution:

1. Navigate to Categories page
2. Create the missing category
3. Return to the transaction and assign the new category

Tips for Efficient Recording

• Use the keyboard: Tab between fields for faster data entry
• Consistent payee names: Use the same payee name for recurring transactions to enable easier filtering
• Regular reconciliation: Mark transactions as cleared when they appear on your bank statement
• Bulk operations: Use multi-select and bulk category assignment for imported transactions
• Scheduled transactions: Set up recurring transactions to auto-record regular expenses/income

Related Workflows

• Getting Started - Initial setup guide
• Features - Full feature documentation
• FAQ - Common questions answered