#Who can access the finances section?
Financial management is an Admin-only feature (Circle Owner and Secondary Admin). Family members, Relatives, and Friends cannot access bank account data, budgets, or transaction history.
#How do I add a bank account?
- Go to Finances in the navigation
- Click Add Bank Account
- Select your bank from the provider list
- Enter the account name (e.g., "Joint Current Account"), account type, and current balance
- Save
You can add as many accounts as your household has — current accounts, savings accounts, ISAs, and more.
#Does SimpliHome connect directly to my bank?
SimpliHome supports automatic balance syncing for connected accounts. Where a bank integration is available, your balance updates automatically. For banks without direct integration, you can manually update the balance or import transactions via CSV.
Check the bank account record to see whether an automatic sync option is available for your provider.
#How do I import bank transactions via CSV?
- Export a transaction CSV from your online banking portal (most UK banks support this)
- Go to Finances → [Account name]
- Use the Import CSV option
- Select your downloaded CSV file
- Map the columns if prompted (date, description, amount)
- Import
Imported transactions appear in your transaction history for that account. Read the full CSV import guide for step-by-step instructions and CSV format requirements.
#How do I categorise transactions?
Open any transaction and assign it a category (e.g., Groceries, Dining Out, Utilities, Entertainment). Once categorised, transactions are grouped in the budget overview so you can see where money is going.
You can also set up auto-categorisation rules — SimpliHome will apply your chosen category to transactions matching a specific description or merchant automatically. Read the Categorising Transactions guide for details.
#How does the budget work?
- Go to Finances → Budget
- Create budget categories (Groceries, Utilities, Entertainment, etc.)
- Set a monthly spending target for each category
- As you categorise transactions, SimpliHome tracks actual spending against your budget
The budget overview shows how much you've spent vs. your target in each category for the current month, giving you an instant view of where you're over or under.
#Can I set budgets for individual spending categories?
Yes. You can create as many budget categories as you need and set a monthly limit for each. Common categories include:
- Groceries
- Eating out / takeaways
- Utilities (if not tracked via the bills section)
- Entertainment / streaming
- Clothing
- Transport / fuel
- Holiday savings
#Does the budget include bill costs?
Bills tracked in the Bills section with an annual cost can feed into the financial overview. Bills essentially represent committed spend, and the finances section can show them alongside your discretionary transaction spending for a complete household cost picture.
#What currencies does SimpliHome support?
SimpliHome supports multiple currencies. You can set your preferred currency in account settings, and bank accounts can be held in different currencies. Exchange rates are applied automatically for accounts held in foreign currencies so balances are shown in your preferred currency equivalent.
#How do I update a bank account balance manually?
Open the bank account record and use the Update Balance option. Enter the current balance and save. Manual balance updates are useful for accounts where automatic sync isn't available.
#Can I see a history of balance changes over time?
Yes. Bank account records show a balance history over time, allowing you to track how account balances have changed month by month.
#Can I delete a bank account?
Yes. Open the bank account and use the Delete option. This removes the account and all its associated transaction history from SimpliHome. If you still hold the account but want to stop tracking it, consider leaving the record in place and simply not updating it.
#Is the finances section visible to other household members?
No. The finances section is Admin-only. Other Circle members (Family, Relatives, Friends) cannot see bank account balances, transactions, or budget data.
#Where can I learn more?
Full guides covering the finances features: