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Goals

Set up savings targets and track your progress toward financial milestones. Goals help you stay motivated and on track.

Setting Up Goals#

Goals in Zerosum help you save for specific purposes. Whether it's an emergency fund, a vacation, or a new laptop, goals keep you motivated by showing exactly how much you need to set aside each month.

Creating a Goal

  1. Navigate to a category – Goals are attached to specific budget categories
  2. Click "Add Goal" – Or click the goal icon next to the category
  3. Choose your goal type – Select how you want to track progress (more on this below)
  4. Set the target amount – How much do you want to save?
  5. Set the cadence – How often does this goal repeat (monthly, yearly, or custom)?
  6. Save your goal – Zerosum calculates how much you need to budget each month

Tip

Start with your most important goals first. An emergency fund goal is a great first choice – it provides a safety net for unexpected expenses.

Goal Types#

Zerosum offers three types of goals, each tracking progress differently:

Save Amount

Track how much you budget to this category. Previous savings don't count – you must budget the target amount fresh each period.

Best for:

  • Recurring savings contributions
  • Monthly retirement savings
  • Regular debt payments
Example: "Save $500/month for retirement" – You need to budget $500 each month, regardless of what's already in the category.

Have Available

Track your available balance. Carryover from previous months counts toward your goal. Great for building up savings over time.

Best for:

  • Monthly bills (have enough when due)
  • Annual expenses (car insurance, subscriptions)
  • Building an emergency fund
Example: "Have $1,200 for rent by the 1st" – If you have $400 left over and budget $800, you've met your goal.

Reach Target

Save toward a total amount by a specific date. Zerosum calculates the monthly amount needed to reach your target on time.

Best for:

  • Vacation savings
  • Large purchases (new car, laptop)
  • Holiday gift funds
Example: "Save $3,000 for vacation by June" – If it's January, you need ~$500/month for 6 months.

Which Type Should I Choose?

If you need a specific amount by a specific date, use "Reach Target." If you want to ensure a balance is maintained (like for rent), use "Have Available." If you want to track consistent contributions, use "Save Amount."

Tracking Progress#

Once you've set up goals, Zerosum shows your progress in several ways:

Progress Indicators#

On Track

You've budgeted enough to meet your goal for this period. Keep it up!

Underfunded

You haven't budgeted enough yet this period. The goal shows how much more you need to budget.

Progress Bar

A visual indicator showing percentage completion toward your monthly target.

Goal Metrics#

For each goal, you can see:

  • Monthly Target – How much you need to budget this month to stay on track
  • Funded This Month – How much you've already budgeted or have available
  • Needed This Month – The remaining amount to fully fund your goal
  • Progress Percentage – Visual progress toward your monthly target

Snoozing Goals#

Sometimes you can't fully fund a goal. Instead of seeing a warning every day, you can snooze the goal for the current month:

  • The underbudgeted warning disappears for this month
  • The goal reactivates next month
  • Your progress tracking remains accurate

Info

Snoozing doesn't delete or pause the goal – it just hides the warning so you can focus on other priorities.

Goal Cadences#

The cadence determines how often your goal resets or recurs:

Monthly

The goal resets every month. Good for recurring monthly expenses like rent, utilities, or groceries.

Example: Have $1,200 available for rent by the 1st of each month

Yearly

The goal targets a specific date each year. Zerosum spreads the required amount across the months leading up to the target date.

Example: Save $600 for car insurance by March 15th each year ($50/month)

Custom

Set a one-time target date, or create custom recurring intervals. Perfect for unique savings goals.

Example: Save $5,000 for a vacation by July 2026 (one-time goal)

Effective Date

You can set an "effective from" date for goals. The goal only applies to months on or after this date. This is useful when:

  • Setting up goals for future expenses
  • Starting fresh with a new savings strategy
  • Planning ahead for life changes

Goal Examples#

Here are some common ways to use goals in Zerosum:

Emergency Fund

Type: Reach Target

Amount: $10,000 (or 3-6 months of expenses)

Cadence: Custom (no end date, save at your own pace)

Build up your emergency fund gradually. Once you reach your target, the goal stays green as long as you maintain the balance.

Annual Car Insurance

Type: Have Available

Amount: $1,200

Cadence: Yearly (due in March)

Zerosum calculates you need $100/month. When March comes, you'll have the full amount ready.

Retirement Contribution

Type: Save Amount

Amount: $500/month

Cadence: Monthly

Ensures you budget $500 each month for retirement, regardless of what's already in the category.

Holiday Gifts

Type: Reach Target

Amount: $600

Cadence: Yearly (target December 1st)

Starting in January, save $50/month. By December, you'll have $600 ready for holiday shopping!

Next: Managing Accounts

Learn about different account types and how to track all your financial accounts in Zerosum.

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