How to Use Mint’s Manual Transaction Feature on Your iPhone or iPad

Mint is the go-to mobile app for tracking activity across multiple bank and credit accounts, but until recently, there wasn’t an easy way to enter cash or check transactions on your iPhone or iPad. That’s all changed with the addition of a new feature that allows you to manually enter in cash or pending transactions, so you can get the most accurate view of your spending. Using an intuitive entry-form, you can now record cash you’ve spent or received, checks you’ve written, and other transactions that haven’t cleared your bank yet.

Manual cash entries flow through to both budgets and trends, so using this tool regularly can help you narrow down your spending habits. Here’s how to get the most out of this new feature.

Cash Transactions

Consider a situation where you’re having lunch with a group of friends. Instead of forcing your server to run six credit card tabs, you decide to split the bill and pay with cash. Instead of waiting until you got home to enter this expense, by logging on to Mint.com, you can enter your share of that group luncheon right from the table.

To create the transaction, tap the pencil icon on the top left corner of your iPad.

A calculator-like screen will appear. Here you should enter the amount of the transaction.  Meanwhile, our geo-location feature will pinpoint your whereabouts so you can select from a list of nearby vendors. You can leave the Expense menu unchanged.

Once the amount is entered, select the Next button on the bottom right corner.

After your location is pinpointed, tap the “Choose a Merchant” field. You will see a list of nearby merchants, but if the appropriate one does not appear, you can manually input it from the top field (it will be saved for future entries).

By default, Mint will mark the ‘Split from my last ATM withdrawal’ box. Unless you have separately recorded cash income, it’s best to leave this checked–when checked, your cash spending will be taken from your latest uncategorized ATM withdrawal. If you do wish to change it, tap on the Expense field.

If you uncheck this box, then you may wind up double-booking your spending: you’ll see both the cash withdrawal and the cash spending you just entered, even though you can’t spend money twice that you only withdrew once (though it would be oh-so-nice if you could).

After completing the basics, you can review your entry and add as much or as little additional detail as you like. You can adjust the date of the transaction and select the appropriate spending category. The cash transactions feature supports Tags and has a Notes field, so you can further categorize and describe your spending.

With everything filled in to your liking, click the Done button, and the entry will be added to your transactions. You’ll be able to see it recorded under the All Accounts of your Accounts tab on your iPhone or the Balances tab on the iPad.

Check Transactions

You can use check transactions to record checks you write, long before your bank becomes aware of them. Start the process as you do with cash transactions, by tapping the pencil icon on the bottom right corner. Enter the amount of the check you’ve just written. Tap on the Expense field to change Payment Type to “Check.”

When you do, the Account menu will appear below.  Select the proper checking account from the Account menu, and make sure you fill in the proper check number.

With a check number, Mint.com will auto-reconcile your check entries with your bank account, once the bank has processed the check.

Once you’ve entered the account and check number, tap the Back button on the top left corner of the phone to return to the “Add Transaction” screen. Tap the Next button. You can review your entry and add as much or as little additional detail as you like. You can adjust the date of the transaction and select the appropriate spending category. Like cash transactions, you can also add tags and notes to your check transactions to better categorize and describe your spending. Tap “Done” and your check will be recorded under the Pending heading of the All Accounts screen.

Pending Transactions

Pending transactions are used to track non-cash spending that you’ve incurred, but that has not yet posted to your bank or credit account. For example, if you go on a shopping spree with your credit card on Saturday, the damage may not appear on your account balances until after the weekend. In order to always have an accurate figure for your remaining bank or credit card balances, you’ll want to enter such spending as pending transactions. Just like check and cash transactions, start by tapping the pencil icon on the bottom right corner. Enter the amount of the purchase you’ve made. Tap on the Expense field to change Payment Type to “Credit/Debit Card.” When you do, the Account menu will appear below.  Select the proper checking or credit account from the menu, then tap the “Back” button on the top left corner of the phone to return to the “Add Transaction” screen.

The pending transaction form is much like the cash transactions entry screen, but with the addition of an Account pop-up so you can pick the proper account. When entering pending credit card transactions, try to be accurate with both the date and the amount. When your credit card is updated in Mint.com, we will try to automatically reconcile the pending transactions. We do this based on matching both the amount and the date range. If there’s no match, you’ll have to manually reconcile the pending spending to your credit card. After completing the basics, you can review your entry and add as much or as little additional detail as you like. You can adjust the date of the transaction and select the appropriate spending category. The pending transactions feature supports Tags and has a Notes field, so you can further categorize and describe your spending. Once you’ve reviewed your entry, tap the “Done” button. Your spending will be recorded under the Pending heading of the All Accounts screen.

Deleting Manual Transactions

To delete any manual transactions you’ve made on your iPhone or iPad, tap on the manual transactions located within “All Accounts”. You can then click on the Trash icon on the top right to delete.

Sign Up or Log In to Mint.com to try these features today.