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Getting Started with Spendtrails

Welcome to Spendtrails! Take about 20 minutes to set up your account and get a complete overview of your finances.

Quick Start Guide​

1. Connect Your First Account​

Link your bank, credit card, or investment account to start tracking your finances automatically.

How to connect:

  1. Tap "Add Account" on your dashboard
  2. Search for your financial institution
  3. Securely log in through Plaid
  4. Select which accounts to sync

Troubleshooting: Bank not connecting?

2. Review & Categorize Transactions​

Spendtrails automatically categorizes your transactions, but you can customize them to fit your needs.

What to do:

  • Review imported transactions
  • Update categories if needed
  • Set rules for recurring transactions
  • Split transactions across categories
tip

After reviewing 30 transactions, Spendtrails' auto-categorization gets smarter!

Learn more about categories

3. Create Your First Budget​

Based on your spending history, we'll help you create a realistic budget.

Steps:

  1. Go to Budgets → Create Budget
  2. Choose your budget period (monthly recommended)
  3. Set amounts for each category
  4. Turn on budget alerts

Popular approach: Start with your actual spending, then adjust down gradually.

4. Set a Financial Goal (Optional)​

Track savings goals, debt payoff, or big purchases.

Examples:

  • Emergency fund ($5,000)
  • Vacation savings ($2,000)
  • Pay off credit card ($3,500)

Create your first goal

5. Customize Your Dashboard​

Make Spendtrails work for you by personalizing your view.

You can:

  • Rearrange dashboard widgets
  • Set your preferred currency
  • Choose notification preferences
  • Enable two-factor authentication (recommended!)

Customize settings

What Happens Next?​

✅ Transactions sync daily – New transactions appear automatically

✅ Get budget alerts – We'll notify you when you're close to limits

✅ Weekly insights – See spending patterns and trends

✅ Monthly reports – Review your financial progress