Set a goal for an envelope

Give a category a monthly target so you can see at a glance whether it is funded.

A goal tells Pentos what a category needs each month. The row then shows whether it is funded, and Fund goals can top up every underfunded category at once.

Goals never move money on their own. They are a target and an indicator; funding is always something you do.

Before you begin

  • The category you want to target.

Steps

To set a goal, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Budget tab and tap Edit Categories.

  2. Tap the category.

  3. Under Goal, choose a kind:

    KindWhat it targets
    Fixed amountThe same amount every month
    Up to (refill)Refills Available back up to a cap each month
    Save by dateA total by a target month, spread over the months remaining
    Linked scheduleWhatever the linked schedule’s occurrences need this month
    Average of N monthsThe trailing average of what you actually spent
    Percent of incomeA share of recent income

  4. Fill in the fields the kind needs, such as Amount, Cap, Target, or Months back.

  5. Tap Done.

The category’s row now shows progress toward the goal.

Choosing a kind

Fixed amount for anything with a known monthly cost. Rent, a subscription.

Up to (refill) for a category you want kept topped up rather than added to. A 200 cap on Car Maintenance asks for 200 the first month, then only what you spent in the months after.

Save by date for a known total on a known deadline: 1,200 for a trip in nine months. Each month it re-spreads whatever is still outstanding over the months left.

Linked schedule for a bill that already exists as a scheduled transaction. The goal follows the schedule, so changing the bill changes the target.

Average of N months for variable spending where your history is better evidence than your estimate.

Percent of income for saving a proportion rather than an amount, which suits irregular income.

Note

Income categories never carry goals. In tracking mode you budget income directly instead, as the amount you expect.

Removing a goal

Set the goal kind to No goal. Assignments you already made stay exactly as they are; only the target and the indicator go away.

Next steps