Create a Goal

Step-by-step guide to creating a financial goal in Forbidden Finance, including choosing a goal type, setting targets, and adding a starting balance.

Overview

Creating a goal in Forbidden Finance takes about a minute. You choose a goal type, give it a name, set a target amount and date, and optionally add a starting balance if you have already saved toward it. Once created, your goal immediately starts tracking progress and projecting when you will reach your target.

Goals are available on all tiers. Some goal types (Investment target and FIRE target) require Pro or Premium plans.

How to Create a Goal

Open the Goals tab

Tap Goals in the navigation menu. If you have no goals yet, you see a welcome screen with a prompt to create your first one.

Tap Create Goal

Tap the Create Goal button (or the + icon in the top right if you already have existing goals).

Choose a goal type

Select the type that best fits what you are working toward:

Savings target -- saving for something specific (vacation, down payment)
Debt payoff -- tracking progress on paying off a debt
Emergency fund -- building a financial safety net
Sinking fund -- saving for a known future expense
Investment target -- reaching a portfolio value (Pro+)
FIRE target -- financial independence number (Premium)

Name your goal

Give your goal a clear, specific name. "Europe Trip Summer 2027" is better than "Travel" because it keeps you motivated and makes the goal concrete.

Add a description (optional)

Add notes about the goal -- why it matters, what it will enable, or any details you want to remember.

Set your target amount

Enter the total amount you need to reach. For a debt payoff goal, this is the outstanding balance. For a savings goal, this is the amount you want to save.

Set your target date

Choose the date by which you want to reach the goal. Forbidden Finance uses this to calculate your required monthly contribution.

Add a starting balance (optional)

If you have already saved toward this goal, enter the current balance. For example, if you want to save $10,000 for a down payment and you already have $3,000 set aside, enter $3,000 as your starting balance.

Save your goal

Tap Save. Your goal appears on the Goals screen with an initial progress snapshot.

After Creating Your Goal

Once your goal is created, take these next steps to get the most out of it:

Link a budget item -- Connect a budget category to your goal so progress updates automatically when you allocate and spend within that category. See Linking Budgets and Accounts.
Link a bank account -- Connect a savings or investment account for real-world verification of your balance.
Check your required monthly contribution -- The goal screen shows how much you need to contribute each month to hit your target date. If the number is too high, consider extending your target date or increasing your savings rate.

Example: Creating a Vacation Goal

Field	Value
Type	Savings target
Name	Hawaii Trip - March 2027
Description	10-day trip with flights, hotel, and activities
Target amount	$5,000
Target date	March 1, 2027
Starting balance	$800

After saving, the goal shows: $800 of $5,000 (16% complete). With 11 months to go, the required monthly contribution is $382. The projected completion date -- based on no contributions yet, since you just created it -- will update as you start contributing.

Tips

Be specific with your target amount. Research the real cost of what you are saving for. A vague "$5,000 for a trip" is less motivating than "$5,000 for a 10-day Hawaii trip including flights and hotel."

Set realistic target dates. If the required monthly contribution feels unachievable, extend the date rather than ignoring the number. A plan you can follow beats an ambitious plan you abandon.

The starting balance is a one-time entry when creating the goal. After creation, progress is tracked through linked budget items, linked accounts, and manual contributions.