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Obligations

Never miss a payment again. Obligations help you track and manage all your recurring financial commitments—from rent and utilities to subscriptions and loan payments.

What Are Obligations?​

Obligations are recurring financial commitments that happen on a regular schedule. Think of them as templates that remind you when payments are due or automatically create transactions for you.

Obligations Include:​

  • 🏠 Bills - Rent, utilities, phone, internet
  • 📺 Subscriptions - Netflix, Spotify, gym memberships
  • 🚗 Loans - Car payments, student loans, mortgages
  • 💳 Credit Cards - Minimum payments
  • 🏥 Insurance - Health, auto, home insurance
  • 📦 Regular Services - Cleaning, lawn care, childcare

What Makes It an Obligation?​

An obligation must be:

  1. Recurring - Happens on a schedule (weekly, monthly, yearly)
  2. Predictable - You know roughly when and how much
  3. Required - You're committed to paying it
Not an Obligation?

One-time purchases, irregular expenses, and varying amounts are better tracked as regular transactions. For example:

  • ❌ Grocery shopping (varies each time)
  • ❌ Gas fill-ups (irregular timing)
  • ✅ Monthly utility bill (recurring)
  • ✅ Netflix subscription (fixed amount)

Creating an Obligation​

Via Web/Mobile App​

  1. Navigate to Obligations tab
  2. Click/tap "Add Obligation" button
  3. Fill in the details (see below)
  4. Click "Save"

Obligation Details​

Basic Information​

Name (required)

  • Clear, descriptive name
  • Examples: "Rent", "Netflix Premium", "Car Payment"

Amount (required)

  • Expected payment amount
  • Can be approximate for variable bills

Frequency (required)

  • Weekly, Bi-weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Yearly, Custom

Start Date (required)

  • When does this obligation begin?
  • First payment date

End Date (optional)

  • For obligations that expire
  • Example: 3-year car loan ending Dec 2028
  • Leave blank for ongoing obligations

Payment Settings​

Account (required)

  • Which account do you pay from?
  • Example: "Chase Checking"

Category (optional)

  • Helps organize spending
  • Example: "Housing", "Entertainment", "Transportation"

Due Day (required)

  • What day of the period is it due?
  • Examples: "1st of month", "Every Friday", "15th"

Auto-Pay (toggle)

  • Is this automatically deducted from your account?
  • Affects reminder behavior

Advanced Options​

Reminders

  • Get notified before due date
  • Options: 1 day, 3 days, 7 days before

Auto-Create Transactions

  • Automatically create transaction on due date
  • Or wait for manual confirmation

Variable Amount

  • For bills that change each month
  • Example: electricity, water

Tags

  • Add custom labels
  • Example: "Tax Deductible", "Shared Expense"

Example: Netflix Subscription​

{
  "name": "Netflix Premium",
  "amount": 19.99,
  "frequency": "monthly",
  "startDate": "2026-01-15",
  "endDate": null,
  "account": "Chase Checking",
  "category": "Entertainment",
  "dueDay": 15,
  "autoPay": true,
  "autoCreateTransactions": true,
  "variableAmount": false,
  "reminders": [3],
  "tags": ["streaming", "family"]
}

Example: Electricity Bill​

{
  "name": "PG&E Electric",
  "amount": 120,
  "frequency": "monthly",
  "startDate": "2026-01-01",
  "endDate": null,
  "account": "Chase Checking",
  "category": "Utilities",
  "dueDay": 20,
  "autoPay": false,
  "autoCreateTransactions": false,
  "variableAmount": true,
  "reminders": [3, 7],
  "tags": ["utilities", "essential"]
}

Managing Obligations​

Viewing Your Obligations​

List View shows:

  • Obligation name and amount
  • Next due date
  • Status (paid, pending, overdue)
  • Quick actions

Calendar View shows:

  • All obligations on a monthly calendar
  • Color-coded by category
  • See payment schedule at a glance

Timeline View shows:

  • Chronological list of upcoming payments
  • Next 30/60/90 days
  • Total amount due

Obligation Status​

🟢 Paid

  • Transaction created and marked complete
  • Shows payment date

🟡 Pending

  • Due soon but not yet paid
  • Shows days until due

🔴 Overdue

  • Past due date
  • Shows days overdue

⚪ Scheduled

  • Future obligation
  • Not due yet

Paying an Obligation​

Option 1: Mark as Paid​

  1. Find obligation in list
  2. Click/tap "Mark as Paid"
  3. Confirm amount (can adjust if needed)
  4. Transaction created automatically

Option 2: Pay & Record​

  1. Pay the bill on the provider's website/app
  2. Return to Obligations
  3. Mark as paid with actual amount
  4. Date defaults to today

If obligation has Auto-Create Transactions enabled:

  • Transaction created automatically on due date
  • Review and confirm (or let it auto-confirm)
  • Keeps your records accurate with no effort

Editing an Obligation​

  1. Click/tap obligation name
  2. Click "Edit" button
  3. Update any fields
  4. Click "Save Changes"

What happens to existing transactions?

  • Past transactions remain unchanged
  • Future scheduled transactions update
  • You'll be notified if changes affect pending transactions

Skipping a Payment​

Sometimes you need to skip a scheduled payment:

  1. Find the obligation
  2. Click "Skip Next Payment"
  3. Select reason (optional):
    • On vacation
    • Account closed
    • Service paused
    • Other
  4. Confirm

The next occurrence will be skipped and the schedule continues after that.

Pausing an Obligation​

Temporarily stop an obligation without deleting it:

  1. Open obligation details
  2. Click "Pause" button
  3. No transactions will be created until unpaused
  4. Click "Resume" when ready

Use cases:

  • Gym membership paused for summer
  • Subscription on hold
  • Service temporarily cancelled

Deleting an Obligation​

Permanent Action

Deleting removes the obligation and all future scheduled transactions. Past transactions remain in your history.

  1. Open obligation details
  2. Scroll to bottom
  3. Click "Delete Obligation"
  4. Type obligation name to confirm
  5. Click "Delete Permanently"

Obligation Types​

Fixed Amount Obligations​

Amount stays the same every period.

Examples:

  • Netflix: $19.99/month
  • Car payment: $350/month
  • Rent: $1,500/month

Setup:

  • Set specific amount
  • Leave "Variable Amount" unchecked

Variable Amount Obligations​

Amount changes each period.

Examples:

  • Electric bill (usage varies)
  • Water bill (seasonal changes)
  • Credit card minimum (balance varies)

Setup:

  • Enter typical/average amount
  • Check "Variable Amount" box
  • Update actual amount when paid

Auto-Pay Obligations​

Automatically deducted from your account.

Examples:

  • Most subscriptions
  • Some utilities
  • Automatic loan payments

Setup:

  • Enable "Auto-Pay" toggle
  • Enable "Auto-Create Transactions"
  • Transactions appear when due
  • Review for accuracy

Manual Pay Obligations​

You pay manually on due date.

Examples:

  • Rent (write check/transfer)
  • Credit card payment (manual)
  • Bills you pay online

Setup:

  • Leave "Auto-Pay" disabled
  • Set reminders for due date
  • Mark as paid when you pay

Obligation Calendar​

Monthly View​

See all obligations for the month:

February 2026

Sun  Mon  Tue  Wed  Thu  Fri  Sat
                              1
     Rent        Car    Phone
     $1500       $350   $80

 2    3    4    5    6    7    8
                    Netflix
                    $19.99

 9   10   11   12   13   14   15
          Gym   Electric
          $50   $120

...

Filters​

  • View by category
  • Show/hide paid obligations
  • Filter by account
  • Search by name

Color Coding​

  • 🟢 Green = Paid
  • 🟡 Yellow = Due soon (within 3 days)
  • 🔴 Red = Overdue
  • ⚪ Gray = Scheduled

Tracking Loan Obligations​

Loans are special obligations that decrease over time.

Setting Up a Loan​

{
  "name": "Honda Civic Car Loan",
  "type": "loan",
  "amount": 425,
  "frequency": "monthly",
  "totalBalance": 18500,
  "interestRate": 3.9,
  "startDate": "2024-01-15",
  "endDate": "2028-12-15",
  "account": "Chase Checking",
  "category": "Transportation",
  "dueDay": 15
}

Loan Features​

Balance Tracking

  • See remaining principal
  • Track interest paid
  • View payoff progress

Payoff Calculator

  • See original loan details
  • Calculate payoff date
  • Show total interest
  • Extra payment scenarios

Amortization Schedule

  • View all future payments
  • See principal vs interest breakdown
  • Track equity building

Example: Car Loan Dashboard​

Honda Civic Car Loan

Balance:        $18,500  ━━━━━━━━━━░░░░░░░░░░  45%
Original:       $24,000
Paid Off:       $5,500

Monthly Payment:    $425
Interest Rate:      3.9%
Remaining Payments: 48
Payoff Date:        Dec 2028

Total Interest Paid:     $850
Estimated Total Interest: $1,900

Next Payment: Feb 15, 2026 ($425)
  Principal: $365
  Interest:  $60

Subscription Management​

Special features for tracking subscriptions.

Subscription Dashboard​

View all active subscriptions:

Monthly Subscriptions ($145.97/month)

Entertainment        $59.97/month
  Netflix Premium      $19.99
  Spotify Family       $16.99
  Disney+              $13.99
  HBO Max              $9.99

Productivity         $35.00/month
  ChatGPT Plus         $20.00
  Notion Team          $15.00

Fitness              $50.00/month
  Gym Membership       $50.00

Subscription Insights​

Find Unused Subscriptions

  • Haven't created transactions recently
  • Suggests you might not be using it

Price Change Alerts

  • Notified when subscription price changes
  • Compare to previous amount

Annual Cost

  • See total yearly cost of each subscription
  • Example: $19.99/month = $239.88/year

Cancellation Tracking

  • Mark subscription for cancellation
  • Get reminder before next billing
  • Track cancellation date

Reminders & Notifications​

Notification Types​

Due Soon (3 days before)

📋 Rent payment due in 3 days
Amount: $1,500
Due: Feb 1, 2026
Account: Chase Checking
[Mark as Paid] [Dismiss]

Due Today

⚠️ Netflix payment due today
Amount: $19.99
Due: Feb 15, 2026
[Mark as Paid] [View Details]

Overdue

🔴 OVERDUE: Electric bill
Amount: $120
Due: Feb 10, 2026 (5 days ago)
[Pay Now] [View Details]

Payment Confirmation

✅ Car payment recorded
Amount: $425
Paid: Feb 15, 2026
Remaining: 47 payments

Notification Settings​

Configure in Settings → Notifications → Obligations:

  • Due Soon: 1, 3, 7, or 14 days before
  • Overdue: Immediately, daily reminders
  • Payment Confirmed: Optional
  • Upcoming Week: Sunday preview of week's obligations
  • Monthly Summary: Total obligations due this month

Delivery Methods​

  • Push notifications (mobile)
  • Email
  • In-app notifications
  • SMS (premium feature)

Reports & Analytics​

Monthly Obligations Report​

Obligations for February 2026

Total Obligations:     $2,564.99
  Paid:               $1,200.00
  Pending:            $1,364.99
  Overdue:                $0.00

By Category:
  Housing:            $1,500.00 (58%)
  Transportation:       $425.00 (17%)
  Utilities:            $280.00 (11%)
  Entertainment:         $59.99  (2%)
  Other:                $300.00 (12%)

Payment Status:
  ✅ Paid:     5 obligations
  🟡 Pending:  4 obligations
  🔴 Overdue:  0 obligations

Year-Over-Year Comparison​

Annual Obligations

2026:  $30,779.88
2025:  $28,450.00
Increase: $2,329.88 (+8.2%)

Largest Increases:
  Rent:        $1,500 → $1,600 (+$100/mo)
  Electric:      $100 →   $120 (+$20/mo)
  Internet:       $60 →    $70 (+$10/mo)
Subscription Costs Over Time

Jan 2026: $125.97
Feb 2026: $145.97 (+$20)
Mar 2026: $145.97 (no change)

Changes:
+ Added HBO Max ($9.99)
+ Added Notion Team ($15.00)
- Cancelled YouTube Premium (-$11.99)

Best Practices​

🎯 Set Everything Up Once​

Invest time upfront:

  1. Add all recurring obligations
  2. Set up reminders
  3. Enable auto-transactions
  4. Configure accounts

Then enjoy automated tracking!

📅 Review Weekly​

Every Sunday:

  • Check upcoming week's obligations
  • Confirm sufficient funds
  • Mark any paid obligations

🔍 Audit Quarterly​

Every 3 months:

  1. Review all subscriptions
  2. Cancel unused services
  3. Negotiate better rates
  4. Update changed amounts

💡 Use Categories Wisely​

Organize obligations by:

  • Housing: Rent, utilities, insurance
  • Transportation: Car payment, gas subscription
  • Entertainment: Streaming, gaming, hobbies
  • Health: Insurance, gym, prescriptions
  • Debt: Loans, credit card minimums

🎨 Color Code​

Assign colors to:

  • Priority level (essential vs optional)
  • Account paid from
  • Category
  • Provider

🏷️ Tag Strategically​

Useful tags:

  • tax-deductible - For business expenses
  • shared - Split with roommate/partner
  • flexible - Can pause if needed
  • locked-in - Contract commitment

Troubleshooting​

Obligation didn't create transaction​

Possible causes:

  • Auto-create disabled
  • Account not selected
  • Obligation paused
  • Date hasn't arrived yet

Solution:

  1. Check obligation settings
  2. Ensure "Auto-Create Transactions" enabled
  3. Verify account selected
  4. Check pause status

Wrong amount charged​

For variable obligations:

  1. Mark transaction as paid
  2. Update to actual amount
  3. System learns typical range

For fixed obligations:

  1. Update obligation amount if permanent change
  2. Or adjust one-time in transaction

Missing old obligations​

To add historical obligations:

  1. Create obligation with past start date
  2. Enable "Create Historical Transactions"
  3. Select date range
  4. Review and confirm

Too many notifications​

Adjust in Settings → Notifications:

  • Reduce reminder frequency
  • Group daily notifications
  • Disable low-priority alerts
  • Use summary mode (one daily digest)

Advanced Features​

Obligation Templates​

Save common obligation setups:

Use templates for:

  • Standard utilities
  • Common subscriptions
  • Typical loan structures

Create template:

  1. Set up obligation perfectly
  2. Click "Save as Template"
  3. Name it
  4. Reuse for similar obligations

Bulk Operations​

Manage multiple obligations at once:

Bulk actions:

  • Mark multiple as paid
  • Update category for several
  • Pause group of obligations
  • Export to CSV

How to:

  1. Select obligations (checkboxes)
  2. Choose action from bulk menu
  3. Confirm changes

API Integration​

Automate with our API:

// Create obligation via API
const response = await fetch('/api/obligations', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    name: "Rent",
    amount: 1500,
    frequency: "monthly",
    dueDay: 1,
    accountId: "acc_123",
    category: "Housing"
  })
});

→ See API Documentation

Next Steps​

Now that you understand obligations:

  1. Set up your obligations
  2. Explore Relationships - Track entities and vendors
  3. Create Resources - Set savings goals

Or learn more:

  • Transactions Guide - Record payments
  • Budgets Guide - Plan spending
  • Reports Guide - Analyze patterns

Questions? Check our FAQ or contact support