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Category naming conventions that work
Action-based names, prefixes for groups, a Misc bucket.
Last updated: 2026-05-243 min read
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Category names in Extrack become labels on every chart, totals strip and Reports section. Short, distinct names beat clever ones. Aim for 10–20 categories total, named after how you actually spend. Use prefixes (e.g. "Food: ") if you want grouping; Extrack uses a flat list, no hierarchy.
Patterns that work
Patterns that survive a year of real use:
- Action-based — "Groceries", "Eating out", "Transport", "Subscriptions".
- Prefixes for grouping — "Food: groceries", "Food: eating out".
- One word for the common ones — "Rent", "Salary", "Refunds".
- A "Misc" bucket for the long tail you do not want to detail.
Patterns that fail
And the ones that fail:
- Too granular — "Coffee shops weekdays" vs "Coffee shops weekends". You will not maintain it.
- Too abstract — "Personal", "Lifestyle". Means nothing in Reports.
- Brand-as-category — "Amazon" includes books and groceries and electronics. Use the actual purpose.
Frequently asked
Should Salary be a category?
Yes — categories work for income too. Income categories drive the Reports Income totals the same way expense categories drive Expense.
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