Skip to main content

​
Detect recurring schedules from statements

Recurring detection scans statement history for repeated bills and income. Instead of importing every past row as a calendar transaction, this mode helps you create future recurring schedules from patterns CalBudget finds.

​
When to use recurring detection

Use this mode when you want CalBudget to find predictable items such as:
  • Paychecks
  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Subscriptions
  • Utilities
  • Insurance premiums
  • Loan or credit card payments
For best results, upload a statement file with at least 2-3 months of history. A shorter file may not contain enough repeats for CalBudget to identify a pattern.

​
What CalBudget detects

CalBudget looks for repeated transaction names, amounts, and timing. It can suggest frequencies such as:
  • Daily
  • Weekly
  • Bi-weekly
  • Twice monthly
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
Each suggestion includes a confidence level, number of occurrences, next expected date, amount, income or expense type, and a suggested merchant URL when CalBudget can infer one.

​
Review before saving

Nothing is saved until you approve it. In the review screen, you can:
  • Include or exclude each suggestion
  • Rename the item
  • Change income vs expense
  • Change the frequency
  • Choose a category
  • Change the start date
  • Add or edit the merchant URL
Low-confidence suggestions are not selected by default. Review them carefully before including them.

​
Create recurring schedules

After review, select Import Recurring. CalBudget creates the selected recurring schedules and places future occurrences on your calendar. This mode creates recurring schedules, not one transaction for every row in the statement file. If you want to add posted historical rows, use reconciliation instead.

​
If no patterns are found

If CalBudget reads the transactions but finds no recurring patterns, try a file with a longer date range or more repeated activity. Some statements contain too little history, irregular amounts, or transaction names that change too much for reliable detection.

​
Keep the forecast honest

Recurring detection is a fast starting point, but your forecast is only as good as the schedules you keep. Remove suggestions that are one-off purchases, adjust dates that do not match real due dates, and confirm income amounts before relying on the forecast.