Linking Transactions to Goals
Assign individual transactions to manual goals for a clear record of every contribution.
Connect Transactions Directly to Manual Goals
For goals you're saving up manually, NivoaFlow lets you record contributions either by typing an amount with the Add Funds button or by attaching an existing transaction directly to the goal. Linking a transaction gives you a clear audit trail — you can see exactly which deposits made up your progress.
This applies to manual goals only. Account-linked goals already track their progress from the linked balance, so attaching individual transactions has no extra effect.
How to Link a Transaction
The simplest way to log a contribution is the Add Funds button on a manual goal row — it pops a small sheet where you pick an amount (preset chips or custom) and an optional note. That records the contribution in the goal's history without touching any transaction.
If you want to associate a specific transaction with the goal as well, do it from the transaction:
- Open the transaction in Activity > Transactions
- Use the Goal field to select a manual goal
- Save your changes
The transaction now shows as linked to the goal, and the amount is reflected in your progress.
How Linked Transactions Affect Goals
The direction of the amount matters:
- Positive amounts add to goal progress — money moving toward your goal (e.g. a savings deposit)
- Negative amounts subtract from goal progress — money moving away (e.g. a corrective entry)
Example
| Transaction | Amount | Goal Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer to savings | +$200 | Adds $200 to goal |
| ATM withdrawal from savings | -$50 | Subtracts $50 from goal |
| Bonus deposited to savings | +$500 | Adds $500 to goal |
Linking vs. Account-Linked Goals
| Link a transaction | Link to account | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | You attach individual transactions to a manual goal | The goal mirrors a chequing/savings/LOC account balance |
| Effort | Per-transaction | Set once |
| Flexibility | Full control over what counts | Whatever's in the account counts |
| Best for | Irregular contributions, one-off deposits, savings spread across accounts | A dedicated savings account |
If you have a dedicated account for the goal, linking the goal to the account is usually simpler. If your savings come from multiple sources, manual goals plus transaction links give you the most flexibility.
Tips
- Link at review time — when processing "Needs Review" transactions, check if any should be attached to a goal
- Use for one-off contributions like birthday money, tax refunds, or bonuses that don't follow a regular pattern
- Combine with tags for extra organisation — tag a transaction with #emergency-fund AND link it to your Emergency Fund goal