Tags
Track spending across any theme.
Add tags to transactions to follow spending patterns that cross category lines — projects, trips, people, or anything else that matters to you.
Categories tell you what. Tags tell you why.
When you want to track a project or theme that spans multiple budget categories, tags give you the view that categories can't.
Categories are great for budgeting — they tell you where your money is going each month. But some questions cross category lines. How much did the home renovation actually cost, counting materials, labor, furniture, and everything else? How much did the family vacation total across lodging, dining, activities, and flights?
Tags let you answer those questions. Apply any label to any transaction — a transaction can have multiple tags, and tags don't change the category or affect your budget. They're purely additive.
The Tag Summary chart on your dashboard breaks down spending by tag at a glance. Combined with transaction filtering, you can drill into exactly what any project or theme cost over any time period.
Flexible tracking without the overhead
Multiple Tags per Transaction
A transaction can have one category but as many tags as you like. Tag a dinner as both "Date Night" and "Chicago Trip" without changing its category.
Cross-Category Insights
See total spending for a tag across all categories. A "Home Renovation" tag shows you the full cost: materials, labor, furniture, and appliances in one view.
Tag Summary Chart
The dashboard includes a Tag Summary chart that visualizes spending by tag across income and expense categories — no manual filtering required.
Powerful Filtering
Filter your transaction list by one or multiple tags, combined with date ranges, accounts, and categories. Find exactly what you're looking for.
Custom Colors
Give each tag its own color so they're easy to spot at a glance in your transaction list.
No Budget Impact
Tags are purely for organization and analysis. They don't affect your budgets, income totals, or expense reports — so you can use them freely without worrying about side effects.
Frequently asked questions
How are tags different from categories?
A category is how FreeBudget classifies a transaction for budgeting — it can only have one. A tag is a freeform label you add for your own tracking purposes, and a transaction can have as many as you like. Tags don't affect your budget comparisons; they're purely for analysis and filtering.
What are good examples of tags to use?
Tags work best for projects with a defined scope, recurring themes, or relevant people. Examples: a "Kitchen Remodel" tag to track all renovation costs across categories; a "Work Expenses" tag for reimbursable items; a "Summer Vacation" tag for trip spending; a "Joint" tag for shared expenses with a partner.
Can I see total spending for a tag across all my accounts?
Yes. The Tag Summary chart on the dashboard shows spending by tag. You can also filter your transaction list by tag and see the totals, giving you a clear picture of how much a given project or theme has actually cost.
What happens if I delete a tag?
Deleting a tag removes it from all transactions it was applied to. If you want to stop using a tag without losing the history, you can mark it inactive instead — it won't appear in future transaction entry but the historical data remains.
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