Recurring transactions
Create recurring bills and income
Turn repeat paychecks, subscriptions, bills, and planned transfers into a reliable future forecast.
Recurring transactions let CalBudget project future months without entering the same bill or paycheck over and over.
Common recurring items
- Paychecks
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Streaming subscriptions
- Debt payments
- Savings transfers
Editing a recurring item
When you edit a recurring item, choose whether the change applies to one occurrence or the recurring series. Use one occurrence for an exception. Use the series for a permanent change.
Keep schedules realistic
If a bill date changes, update the series. If a single charge is higher than usual, edit only that occurrence.
When to make something recurring
Use recurring transactions for items that repeat on a reliable schedule. If an item is uncertain, enter it once until the pattern is clear.
| Item type | Good recurring fit? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paycheck | Yes | Use the real pay cadence. |
| Rent or mortgage | Yes | Usually a fixed monthly date. |
| Utilities | Sometimes | Recurs monthly, but amounts may need edits. |
| Groceries | Sometimes | Use planned spending if amounts vary widely. |
| One-time purchase | No | Add it once on the expected date. |
Build a recurring series
- Create the first transaction on the correct date.
- Choose the repeat schedule.
- Confirm the amount, account, category, and title.
- Save the series.
- Move to a future month and confirm the expected copies appear.
- Review the running balance around the repeated dates.
Edit one occurrence or the whole series
Choose one occurrence when only a single payment is different. Choose the series when the normal amount, date, title, or schedule has changed going forward.
Recurring transaction review
Set aside a few minutes each month to review recurring items. Subscriptions change, utility bills shift, and paydays can move around holidays. A quick review keeps the forecast from drifting away from reality.
Recurring cleanup checklist
- Confirm the first occurrence is correct before creating the series.
- Use clear titles, such as Rent or Paycheck, instead of vague labels.
- Review the next two generated occurrences.
- Edit one occurrence for exceptions.
- Edit the series only for a permanent schedule or amount change.
If future months look crowded
Look for old recurring series, duplicate subscriptions, or bills that were entered once and then entered again as recurring. Clean those up before making new forecast decisions.
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