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Create a categorization rule

Define a rule so matching transactions are categorized automatically.

Prerequisites​

  • Big Picture Money is unlocked
  • Categories exist (default categories are seeded on first run)

Steps​

  1. In the left navigation, click Categories & rules.
  2. Open the Categorization Rules tab.
  3. Click Add rule.
  4. Enter a Name (optional, for your reference).
  5. Choose Match type:
    • Contains — description or payee includes the text (case-insensitive)
    • Exact — description or payee equals the text exactly
    • Regex — pattern match (advanced)
    • MCC — merchant category code from card data
    • Account — applies only to a specific account
  6. Enter the Pattern — for example, STARBUCKS for a contains rule.
  7. Select the Category to assign — for example, Food & Drink → Restaurants.
  8. Set Priority (lower numbers run first; default 100).
  9. Click Save.
  10. Optionally click Test and enter a sample description to preview whether the rule matches.

Expected result​

  • The new rule appears in the rules list
  • New transactions whose description contains STARBUCKS are categorized as Restaurants
  • Existing uncategorized transactions matching the rule can be updated via Apply to uncategorized
  • The transaction detail shows an explanation such as "Matched rule: STARBUCKS → Restaurants"