Recurring Payments
Recurring payments let you set up rules for financial events that happen on a regular schedule. Wambai generates pending payments automatically so you never miss a bill or forget to log regular income.
Creating a Recurring Rule
- Go to Recurring and tap Add Rule.
- Choose the type:
- Expense — Regular bills (rent, utilities, subscriptions, insurance).
- Income — Regular earnings (salary, freelance retainer, rental income).
- Fill in the details:
- Name — e.g., "Netflix Subscription" or "Monthly Salary".
- Amount — The expected amount.
- Currency — The transaction currency.
- Frequency — How often it repeats (see options below).
- Expense Account — The category (for expenses: utilities, entertainment, etc.; for income: salary, services, etc.).
- Payment Account — Your bank account or cash.
- Person — Who you pay or who pays you (optional).
- Start Date — When the rule begins.
- End Date — When it stops (optional, leave blank for ongoing).
- Tap Save.
Frequency Options
| Frequency | Description | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Every week | Select the day of the week |
| Biweekly | Every two weeks | Select the starting day |
| Semimonthly | Twice per month | Select two days (e.g., 1st & 15th) |
| Monthly | Once per month | Select the day of the month |
| Bimonthly | Every two months | Select the day of the month |
| Quarterly | Every three months | Select the day of the month |
| Yearly | Once per year | Select the day and month |
You can also set a custom interval (e.g., every 3 weeks, every 2 months).
Pending Payments
Wambai automatically generates pending payments from your active recurring rules. These appear in the Pending Payments section of your dashboard and on the dedicated Pending Payments page.
Pending payments from recurring rules are combined with:
- Loan installments from your credits.
- Credit card statements due dates.
- One-time scheduled documents you've created.
This gives you a unified "what's due" view sorted by date.
Confirming a Payment
When a pending payment comes due:
- Go to Pending Payments.
- Find the payment and tap Confirm or Record Payment.
- Review or adjust the amount if needed.
- Confirm — Wambai creates a finalized transaction document.
The recurring rule automatically calculates the next due date.
Managing Rules
- Edit — Change amount, frequency, accounts, or dates.
- Pause — Temporarily stop generating pending payments.
- Deactivate — Permanently stop the rule.
Plan Limits
| Plan | Recurring Rules Limit |
|---|---|
| Free | Up to 5 |
| Standard | Up to 20 |
| Premium | Unlimited |
Tips
- Set up your rent/mortgage first — It's usually your biggest recurring expense.
- Add all subscriptions — Streaming services, gym, insurance, etc. You'll see exactly how much your subscriptions cost per month.
- Log income as recurring — Regular salary? Set it up once and Wambai reminds you when payday comes.
- Check pending payments weekly — A quick glance ensures nothing falls through the cracks.