My Dot finally automated YNAB transaction categorisation for me

added Oct 4, 2026

I waited years for YNAB to automate categorisation. Today I stopped waiting. I’ve spent years wanting YNAB to take more of the manual categorisation off my hands. Every month or so, I download bank transactions, import the OFX files and work through the backlog. Today I had ChatGPT Dots work through it with me, using my existing YNAB budget and browser. It’s made me realise we don’t need to wait for YNAB to build every improvement we want. Here’s what we’ve done so far: - Checked my account histories, worked out the missing date ranges, downloaded the bank exports and imported 70 new transactions, matching another nine. - Categorised 297 transactions using my existing categories and past choices, asking me about purchases whose purpose wasn’t clear. - Opened my Amazon order history and matched 30 charges to the actual purchases. A mixed order was split between categories using the itemised invoice. - Matched 69 internal transfer pairs across my accounts, without changing their balances. - Traced a stubborn $6.50 discrepancy back to a missing coffee purchase from December last year. Once I approved adding it, the account balanced. The Amazon example really stood out. “Amazon” tells you almost nothing about what you bought. Looking at the order, identifying the items and applying my categories is the kind of automatic categorisation I’ve wanted for years. It still needs supervision. I’ve answered questions about work versus personal spending and gifts, and there are unresolved transactions left. It also takes time and needs the browser left free while it works. This wasn’t a one-click cleanup. But this level of analysis was not possible previously. But the shift feels significant: I can ask for the workflow I want in plain language, rather than wait for it to arrive on YNAB’s roadmap; which I’ve waited years for! YNAB remains my budgeting system. I no longer need every improvement to come from YNAB.

u/lancerman2005 had ChatGPT Dots work through a years-long YNAB transaction backlog with their existing YNAB budget and browser. The Dot imported 70 new bank transactions, categorised 297 transactions using the user's own categories, matched 30 Amazon charges to actual purchases (splitting a mixed order by itemised invoice), matched 69 internal transfer pairs without touching balances, and traced a $6.50 discrepancy to a missing December coffee purchase. The poster notes it still needs supervision and leaves unresolved items — an honest first-hand 'ask for the workflow you want in plain language' result.