Step 1
Choose what you want to track
- Open Categories
- Built-in and custom are different
- This walkthrough does not save
Open Categories.
Pennie has built-in categories and custom categories you create.
This walkthrough shows their real controls with synthetic examples; nothing is saved.
Step 2
Start with the built-in choices
- Find Default Categories
- Dining is a built-in example
- Edit budget changes its limit
Scroll to Default Categories.
Dining is a built-in expense category.
Its Edit budget button lets you change the spending limit; it does not create a purchase.
Step 3
Built-in basics stay fixed
- The name is read-only
- The purpose is disabled
- The built-in icon stays fixed
In the built-in editor, Groceries cannot be renamed.
Its Expense purpose is disabled, and there is no custom icon picker.
Edit its budget, not its identity.
Step 4
Custom categories fit your life
- Pet Care has an editable name
- The icon control is available
- Check the category purpose
A custom category such as Pet Care has an editable name and icon control.
Its purpose describes what you track.
Choose a useful name rather than duplicating an existing category.
Step 5
Expense means a purchase
- Choose Expense
- Name the spending purpose
- Setup is not a saved purchase
Choose Expense for purchases, like weekend hobbies.
Use a name describing what the money bought.
Setting up this category does not record an expense or teach notification suggestions.
Step 6
Savings means money set aside
- Choose Savings
- Travel fund is a sample goal
- Goals do not make deposits
Choose Savings for money you set aside.
Travel fund is our synthetic goal.
You can later configure a goal or contribution plan, but record actual deposits separately.
Step 7
Debt has two directions
- Choose Debt
- Use it for borrowing or lending
- Check who owes the balance
Choose Debt for borrowing or money lent to someone else.
Family borrowing is a sample name.
The direction determines whether you owe money or somebody owes you.
Step 8
A credit card is still Debt
- Use Debt with You owe
- Turn on Credit card
- It is not a fourth purpose
For a credit card, use Debt with You owe.
Turn on Credit card to place it in the card group.
Credit card is a Debt configuration, not a fourth purpose.
Step 9
Money lent means Owe you
- Choose Owe you for lending
- It belongs to Money lent
- A collection target is not payment
For money lent, choose Owe you.
Pennie groups that Debt category under Money lent.
A collection target is a plan, not money you have already received.
Step 10
Keep these boundaries clear
- New choices: Expense, Savings, Debt
- Subcategories go with transactions
- Next: unlock custom categories
Existing Income categories may appear, but the new editor offers only Expense, Savings and Debt.
Enter subcategories with transactions, not here.
Next, learn how to unlock custom categories.