Goals in Forbidden Finance

An overview of how financial goals work in Forbidden Finance, including goal types, progress tracking, and how goals connect to your budget.

Overview

Goals in Forbidden Finance help you save for specific targets -- whether that is an emergency fund, a vacation, paying off debt, or reaching financial independence. Each goal has a name, a target amount, a target date, and a progress tracker that shows exactly how close you are. Goals are available to all tiers, with some advanced goal types reserved for higher plans.

Goals work alongside your budget, not as a replacement. Your budget controls how you allocate money each month. Goals give that allocation a purpose by connecting specific budget items and bank accounts to concrete targets. When you put $200 toward your "Emergency Fund" budget category, your Emergency Fund goal updates automatically.

What Goals Track

Every goal in Forbidden Finance displays:

Metric	What It Shows
Current balance	How much you have saved or paid toward this goal so far
Target amount	The total amount you are working toward
Progress percentage	Current balance divided by target amount
Target date	When you want to reach the goal
Projected completion	When you will actually reach the goal based on your current contribution rate
Required monthly contribution	How much you need to contribute each month to hit your target date

Goal Types

Type	Description	Tier
Savings target	Save toward a specific amount (vacation, down payment, new car)	All tiers
Debt payoff	Track progress paying down a specific debt	All tiers
Emergency fund	Build a safety net, typically 3-6 months of expenses	All tiers
Sinking fund	Save for a known future expense (insurance premium, holiday gifts)	All tiers
Investment target	Reach a specific invested portfolio value	Pro+
FIRE target	Track progress toward financial independence	Premium

How Goals Connect to Your Budget

Goals become powerful when you link them to your budget. Here is how the connection works:

Link a budget item to a goal. For example, link your "Emergency Fund" budget category to your Emergency Fund goal. When you allocate and spend within that category, the goal tracks it as progress.
Link a bank account for verification. Connect a savings or investment account to a goal. The account balance serves as real-world confirmation of your progress.
Add manual contributions. Record one-time contributions that happen outside your regular budget flow.

This layered approach gives you both the plan (budget linkage) and the proof (account balance) for every goal.

Tips

Start with one goal. It is tempting to create five goals at once, but focusing on a single target builds momentum. Add more goals once your first one is on track.

Use the projected completion date to reality-check your plan. If the projection says you will reach your goal six months after your target date, either increase your contributions or extend the deadline.

History depth depends on your tier. Free accounts see 6 months of goal history, Starter sees 12 months, and Pro sees 24 months. Upgrade if you need longer tracking periods.