Custom Categories in FIN

Freelancers wear many hats — and their expenses wear many labels. From coworking space fees to software subscriptions, contractor payments to business lunches, the variety of spending categories in freelance life is endless. That’s why cookie-cutter budgeting tools with rigid categories often fall short.

With FIN, you’re not limited to someone else’s idea of what your budget should look like. Instead, you can create custom budget categories that reflect the true nature of your freelance lifestyle. Think beyond "Office Supplies" and "Transportation" — this is about building a budgeting system that actually fits how you earn and spend.

Why Default Categories Don’t Cut It

Most budgeting apps and spreadsheets come with standard categories like "Utilities," "Groceries," or "Rent." While these work fine for typical household budgets, they miss the nuances of freelance finances.

For example:

• Where do you put co-working memberships?

• How do you separate client-specific expenses?

• What about ongoing education or course purchases for professional development?

Default categories force you to cram diverse freelance expenses into generic buckets, making it harder to see where your money is truly going. Worse, it can lead to missed tax deductions or skewed spending insights.

Creating custom categories means you can track exactly what matters to you — and make smarter decisions based on accurate, relevant data.

Personalizing With Icons, Labels & More

When your categories are tailored, tracking feels less like a chore and more like a helpful daily check-in. FIN lets you go beyond simple names: personalize your categories with custom labels, emojis, and even icons that make your dashboard instantly clear and visually engaging.

A few smart ideas:

• Use ✈️ for travel expenses to client sites.

• Add 🎓 for online courses and professional growth.

• Label income streams by client name or project.

These little customizations bring big clarity. At a glance, you’ll know exactly where your money is flowing — and where you might need to adjust.

Build a Budget That Reflects You

Freelancing is all about freedom and flexibility, and your budget should be too. Standard tools don’t always understand the reality of variable income and unpredictable expenses. But when you build your own system with custom categories, you turn your budget into a true business tool.

If you’re looking for a smarter, more personal way to stay on top of your money, managing everything through FIN might be exactly what you need. With the freedom to create custom categories that match your freelance life, FIN helps you take control — and feel confident in your financial decisions.