Automatic Categorization

Manually categorizing every transaction is tedious. JE-PFM provides automatic categorization to handle the bulk of the work, with full control to override and customize the rules.

How It Works

When a new transaction is imported, JE-PFM checks the payee name against your categorization rules. If a rule matches, the transaction is automatically assigned to that category. If no rule matches, the transaction is left uncategorized for you to assign manually.

Rules are evaluated in order of specificity — an exact match on a payee name takes priority over a partial match.

Built-In Categories

JE-PFM comes with a set of common spending categories:

• Groceries
• Dining & Restaurants
• Transportation
• Utilities
• Housing
• Entertainment
• Healthcare
• Shopping
• Insurance
• Income
• Transfers

You can rename, reorder, or delete any of the built-in categories, and you can add your own custom categories at any time.

Creating Rules

To create a categorization rule:

1. Open any uncategorized transaction and assign it a category.
2. JE-PFM will offer to create a rule based on the payee name so that future transactions from the same payee are categorized automatically.
3. You can also manage rules directly from Settings > Categorization Rules, where you can add, edit, and reorder rules.

Rules support:

• Exact match — the payee name must match exactly.
• Contains — the payee name must contain the specified text (useful for merchants whose names vary slightly between transactions).

Bulk Recategorization

If you create a new rule and want to apply it retroactively, use the Apply to existing option. This scans your entire transaction history and updates any matching uncategorized transactions.

Overriding Categories

You can always change the category on any individual transaction, regardless of rules. Manual overrides are preserved even if you later edit the underlying rule.