Manual Recurring Rules

Overview

Sometimes you know about a recurring charge before the system detects it. Maybe you just signed up for a new subscription, or you have a bill that varies too much for automatic detection to pick up. Manual recurring rules let you tell Forbidden Finance exactly what to expect, so your bill calendar and cash flow forecast stay accurate from day one.

Manual rules work identically to auto-detected rules once created. They appear in your upcoming bills, trigger reminders, and factor into your cash flow projections.

When to Use Manual Rules

• New subscriptions: You just signed up and there is only one charge so far. Auto-detection needs at least two matching transactions.
• Variable amounts: A utility bill that changes significantly each month. Enter an estimated amount.
• Future charges: An annual insurance premium that is months away. Create the rule now so it appears in your forecast.
• Cash or check payments: Recurring expenses paid outside your bank accounts, like a weekly cleaning service paid in cash.
• Charges not detected: Occasionally auto-detection misses a pattern. A manual rule fills the gap.

How to Create a Manual Rule

Open the Recurring tab

Open the Transactions screen and tap the Recurring segment to open Recurring transactions. Tap the + button.

Enter the merchant

Type the name of the company, service, or person in Merchant. This is used for matching against future transactions.

Set the amount

Enter the expected Amount. For variable charges, enter your best estimate.

Choose the frequency

Select how often it happens: Weekly, Biweekly, Semi-monthly, Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-annual, or Annual.

Set the expected date

Pick the Expected date of the next occurrence. Future dates are worked out from this date and the frequency.

Choose the type

Select Subscription, Bill, Income, Loan, or Transfer. This organizes your recurring items and decides whether the rule counts as money coming in or going out in your forecast.

Pick an account (optional)

Choose an account in Account (optional) to only match charges from that account, or leave it empty to match any of your accounts.

Save the rule

Tap Save. Your rule is now active and appears in your upcoming bills and cash flow forecast.

Setting an Exact Schedule

The Expected date you pick sets the schedule. A monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual rule keeps the same day of the month, so a rule expected on the 15th stays on the 15th. If you pick a day some months don't have, like the 31st, it falls on the last day of shorter months. A weekly or biweekly rule keeps the weekday of the date you picked. Semi-monthly means twice a month, 15 days apart, such as the 1st and the 16th.

Manual rules are available on every plan, including Free, with no limit on how many you create.

Review Suggested Rules

On Starter and up, Forbidden Finance also looks for recurring patterns in your synced transactions. When it finds some, a Suggested section appears on the Recurring screen. Tap Review N patterns to go through them one at a time, highest confidence first, and tap Accept or Reject on each. Nothing is confirmed without you.

Editing and Managing Rules

After creating a manual rule, you can modify it at any time:

• Edit details: Tap the rule to change its merchant, amount, frequency, expected date, type, or account.
• Pause a rule: If a subscription is on hold or a bill is temporarily suspended, pause the rule. Paused rules do not generate upcoming occurrences or trigger notifications, but they are not deleted. Resume them anytime.
• Delete a rule: Remove a rule permanently when you cancel a subscription or pay off a loan. Past occurrences that were already matched remain in your transaction history. Every rule can be deleted. Swipe it away in its section, or use the menu on the rule's detail screen.
• Cancelled rules: When you disconnect a bank account, its recurring rules move to a Cancelled section labeled "Account disconnected" instead of silently lingering. They stop generating upcoming bills; delete them whenever you no longer want the history.

Manual vs. Auto-Detected

Both types are equal once active. The only difference is how they are created.

Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a rule for a charge that has not happened yet?

Yes. Set the Expected date to the date of the first charge. The rule immediately appears in your upcoming bills and cash flow forecast.

What if I set the wrong frequency?

You can edit the rule at any time. Tap the rule, change the frequency, and future occurrences are recalculated automatically.

Does pausing a rule affect my past data?

No. Pausing only stops future occurrences from being generated. All past matched transactions remain unchanged.

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