Stop Tagging Manually: Rules vs. AI Automation
The ultimate goal of any budgeting system is to give you clarity without demanding hours of your time. At Monelyx, we believe that tracking your finances should take exactly 0 minutes of manual effort.
To help you reach this "autopilot" state, Monelyx offers two powerful ways to organize your transactions: the Rules Engine and the AI Assistant. Understanding when to use each is the secret to a perfectly organized financial life.
Section 1: The Rules Engine (Rock Solid)
The Rules Engine is deterministic. It follows a strict "If This, Then That" logic. If you have expenses that look exactly the same every month—like your rent, insurance, or salary—this is your best friend.
You can set up rules by going to Settings > Automation or, even easier, by clicking the three dots on any transaction and selecting "Create Rule".
Define the Condition
Choose whether you want to match by Description or Amount. For a subscription like "Netflix", matching the description to "Contains: Netflix" is perfect.
Set the Action
Tell Monelyx what to do when a match is found. Assign it to a Category (e.g., "Entertainment") and optionally add a Label (e.g., "Subscriptions").
Save and Automate
Once saved, every future transaction from Netflix will be categorized automatically the moment it hits your account. No more manual tagging!
Section 2: The AI Assistant (Smart & Adaptive)
Not every transaction is predictable. Sometimes you visit a new restaurant, buy something from a local shop, or have a one-off emergency. This is where the AI Assistant shines.
On your Dashboard, you'll find the Uncategorized Inbox. This is a holding area for any transaction that doesn't fit your existing rules.
Instead of manually picking a category, look for the Magic Categorize button (the sparkles icon ✨). When you click it, Monelyx uses a Large Language Model (LLM) to analyze the merchant name, the amount, and your global spending context to "guess" the correct category.
It’s surprisingly smart—it can distinguish between a "Shell" gas station and a "Shell" seafood restaurant based on the transaction metadata.
Section 3: When to use which?
Choosing the right tool for the job ensures your automation is both accurate and flexible.
The Rule of Thumb: Use Automation Rules for recurring, fixed costs that happen every month (Rent, Netflix, Gym). Use the AI Assistant for everything else—the variable, unpredictable daily spending that makes life interesting.
By combining these two tools, you can ensure that 99% of your transactions are handled automatically, leaving you with nothing to do but enjoy the clarity of your financial reports. Happy tracking!