Do I need to connect every account immediately?

No. Start with the accounts that affect **this month's spending and bills**. Add slower-moving assets like property or vehicles after the cash-flow view is useful.

How many categories should I create first?

Use broad categories first: - Housing - Groceries - Utilities - Transportation - Subscriptions - Debt - Savings - Discretionary spending Split categories later only when the extra detail changes a decision.

Help center

Your first 15 minutes in Nethaven

A quick setup path for adding accounts, creating categories, reviewing transactions, and checking net worth without overbuilding your workspace.

Start by adding the accounts or manual balances that drive your daily decisions: checking, credit cards, savings, and any debt you want visible. You do not need every asset on day one. The first goal is a dashboard that explains cash flow and upcoming commitments.

Next, create a small set of budget categories and review the first batch of transactions. Keep categories broad until the review routine feels easy. Once recurring merchants appear, add rules only for the ones that clearly belong in the same category every time.

Finish with a net worth check. Add major manual assets or liabilities that do not sync automatically, then save one follow-up action for later: connect a brokerage, add subscriptions, or create a debt payoff goal. A useful setup is the one you can maintain next month.

Step-by-step guide

Desktop web setup walkthrough

Follow the same setup progress from the app. Use the platform switcher in the top-right corner to change this guide once for the whole Help Center.

Nethaven desktop dashboard with net worth, budget, and portfolio sections

Add your first account

From the dashboard setup card, continue to portfolio/account creation and add the account that makes your current balances useful first.

Read related guide Open in web app

Creating a manual account on the Nethaven desktop app

Create a simple budget

Open the budget area, create a main budget if needed, and start with broad categories before adding detailed rules or custom structure.

Read related guide Open in web app

Main budget overview on the Nethaven desktop app

Review transactions

Use the larger desktop transaction table for cleanup: categorize rows, check transfers, and make sure imports or synced data are ready for reports.

Read related guide Open in web app

Creating and categorizing a transaction on Nethaven desktop

Add one goal or debt

Add one savings goal or debt payoff item so the dashboard connects everyday spending to a visible milestone.

Read related guide Open in web app

Savings goal progress on the Nethaven desktop app

Check net worth

Use the desktop dashboard to verify cash, investments, property, vehicles, and liabilities are represented before trusting the trend.

Read related guide Open in web app

Portfolio value and performance on the Nethaven desktop app

Finish setup progress

Return to the dashboard setup card and complete the remaining action. The setup card is your source of truth for what is still missing.

Open in web app

Setup progress card on the Nethaven desktop dashboard

Common questions

Related resources

Connect a bank account Create a budget Track net worth