How to Setup Auto-Contributions
Automatically save money on a fixed schedule with calendar-based recurring contributions to your slices
Want to save $50 every Friday? Add $10 daily to your emergency fund? Put $100 into vacation savings on the 1st of each month? Auto-contributions make it happen automatically—no paychecks required, just calendar-based scheduled savings.
What You’ll Accomplish
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to:
- Set up automatic recurring contributions to any slice
- Use the smart calculator to suggest contribution amounts
- Choose between suggested and custom amounts
- Understand when contributions succeed or fail
- Build consistent savings habits on autopilot
What Are Auto-Contributions?
Auto-contributions are scheduled transfers that run on fixed calendar dates.
How they work:
You set: "Every Friday, move $50 from Checking to Emergency Fund"
Every Friday at midnight:
1. System checks if you have $50 in Checking
2. If yes: $50 moved to Emergency Fund slice
3. If no: Contribution skipped, email notification sent
4. Next contribution: Following Friday
Key difference from Funding Schedules:
- Auto-Contributions: Fixed schedule (every Friday, 1st of month, etc.)
- Funding Schedules: Triggered by paycheck arrival (when income detected)
See Auto-Contributions vs Funding Schedules below.
When to Use Auto-Contributions
Perfect Use Cases
Daily Savings Challenge:
$5 every day → Emergency Fund
Result: $150/month, $1,825/year
Weekly Treat Fund:
$20 every Friday → Fun Money slice
Result: Save for weekend activities
Monthly Goals:
$100 on the 1st → Vacation Fund
Result: $1,200/year for annual trip
Biweekly Savings (Not Tied to Paycheck):
$75 every other Monday → Car Maintenance
Result: Build fund for oil changes, repairs
Quarterly Big Expenses:
$150 every 3 months → Insurance Payment slice
Result: $600/year ready when bill arrives
When NOT to Use Auto-Contributions
Don’t use for:
- ❌ Paycheck-based allocations (use Funding Schedules instead)
- ❌ Variable income (auto-contributions need predictable balance)
- ❌ Bills directly paid from accounts (use recurring slices instead)
Step-by-Step: Setup Auto-Contributions
Auto-contributions are configured when creating or editing a slice.
Creating a New Slice with Auto-Contributions
-
Navigate to Slices page
-
Click “Add Slice” button
-
Fill in basic slice information:
- Name (e.g., “Emergency Fund”)
- Type (usually “Goal” for savings)
- Target Amount (e.g., $5,000)
- Target Date (e.g., 6 months from now)
- Current Amount (starting balance)
-
Scroll to “Auto-Contribution Settings” section
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Toggle “Enable Manual Auto-Contribution” to ON
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Configure the settings (see below)
-
Click “Create Slice”
Adding Auto-Contributions to Existing Slice
- Navigate to Slices page
- Click on the slice you want to add auto-contributions to
- Click “Edit” button
- Scroll to “Auto-Contribution Settings” section
- Toggle “Enable Manual Auto-Contribution” to ON
- Configure the settings (see below)
- Click “Update Slice”
Auto-Contribution Settings Explained
1. Contribution Interval
How often should contributions happen?
Choose from:
- Daily: Every day at midnight
- Weekly: Once per week (choose day)
- Biweekly: Every 2 weeks
- Monthly: Once per month (choose date)
- Quarterly: Every 3 months
- Yearly: Once per year
Available intervals depend on your target date:
- If target date is 10 days away, only “Daily” and “Weekly” available
- If target date is 60 days away, all intervals up to “Monthly” available
- System prevents choosing an interval longer than time until target
Example:
Target Date: 30 days from now
Available: Daily, Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly
Not Available: Quarterly, Yearly (target date too soon)
2. Suggested Contribution Amount (Smart Calculator)
The calculator automatically suggests an amount based on:
- Target Amount
- Current Amount
- Target Date
- Chosen Interval
How it calculates:
Remaining = Target Amount - Current Amount
Days Until Target = Target Date - Today
Contributions Needed = Days / Interval Period
Suggested Amount = Remaining / Contributions Needed (rounded up)
Example:
Target: $1,000
Current: $200
Target Date: 60 days from now
Interval: Weekly
Calculation:
Remaining: $800
Weeks: 60 days / 7 = ~8.5 weeks
Suggested: $800 / 8.5 = $94.12 weekly
The calculator shows:
- Green badge with checkmark
- Suggested amount (e.g., “$94.12 weekly”)
- Updates in real-time as you change target/date/interval
3. Custom Amount Override
Don’t like the suggested amount?
Toggle “Use custom amount instead” to ON and enter your own amount.
When to use custom:
- Suggested amount is too high for your budget
- You want a round number ($100 instead of $94.12)
- You prefer to contribute more than suggested (reach goal early)
- You want to contribute less (extend timeline implicitly)
Example:
Suggested: $94.12 weekly
Custom: $75 weekly
Result: Won't reach $1,000 goal by target date, but fits budget better
4. Source Account
Which bank account should money come from?
Select from dropdown showing all your connected accounts:
- Checking accounts
- Savings accounts
- Any connected account
Important: The source account must have available funds for the contribution to succeed.
5. Contribution Start Date
When should auto-contributions begin?
Choose a date using the calendar picker:
- Must be today or in the future
- Cannot be after your target date
- Sets the first contribution date
Example:
Today: October 11
Start Date: October 15
Interval: Weekly
First contribution: October 15
Second: October 22
Third: October 29
Etc.
What Happens When Auto-Contributions Run
Daily at Midnight
The system processes all auto-contributions scheduled for today:
Step 1: Check Source Account Balance
Auto-contribution: $50
Source account available balance: $1,200
✅ Sufficient funds
Step 2: Create Virtual Transfer
Source account: $1,200 (unchanged - virtual tracking only)
Target slice: $500 → $550 (+$50)
Safe-to-Spend: Decreases by $50 (money now allocated)
Step 3: Calculate Next Contribution Date
Current: October 11 (Friday)
Interval: Weekly
Next: October 18 (Friday)
Step 4: Send Notification (if enabled) Email confirmation: “Auto-contribution succeeded - $50 added to Emergency Fund”
If Insufficient Funds
When source account doesn’t have enough:
Step 1: Check Fails
Auto-contribution: $50
Source account available balance: $35
❌ Insufficient funds
Step 2: Skip Contribution
Slice balance: Unchanged
Source account: Unchanged
Step 3: Update Next Date Anyway
Next contribution still scheduled for next interval
Won't retry today, waits until next scheduled date
Step 4: Send Failure Notification (if enabled) Email alert: “Auto-contribution failed - Insufficient funds in Checking. Available: $35, Needed: $50”
Important: Failed contributions don’t accumulate or retry automatically. If you miss one, it’s just skipped.
Auto-Contributions vs Funding Schedules
| Feature | Auto-Contributions | Funding Schedules |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Fixed calendar date | Paycheck arrival |
| Frequency | Daily, weekly, monthly, etc. | Based on pay schedule |
| Amount | Fixed dollar amount only | Fixed amounts OR percentages |
| Intelligence | Runs on schedule regardless | Detects income, adapts to early/late pay |
| Balance Check | ✅ Yes (requires available funds) | ❌ No (allocates incoming money) |
| Best For | Regular savings goals | Paycheck-based budgeting |
| Example | ”Save $50 every Friday" | "When paycheck arrives, send 10% to savings” |
When to Use Each
Use Auto-Contributions for:
- ✅ Savings goals on a fixed schedule
- ✅ Building habits (daily $5 challenge)
- ✅ Predictable recurring transfers
- ✅ Goals independent of income timing
Use Funding Schedules for:
- ✅ Paycheck allocation
- ✅ Income-based budgeting
- ✅ Percentage-based contributions
- ✅ Irregular income (percentages scale)
Can you use both?
Absolutely! Common pattern:
- Funding Schedule: Allocate paycheck to bills, groceries, essentials
- Auto-Contribution: Daily $5 to emergency fund, weekly $20 to fun money
They work together perfectly.
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Daily Savings Challenge
Goal: Build emergency fund with daily contributions.
Setup:
Slice: Emergency Fund
Target: $1,000
Target Date: 200 days from now
Auto-Contribution:
- Interval: Daily
- Suggested: $5.00 daily
- Source: Checking Account
- Start Date: Tomorrow
Result:
- $5 automatically saved every day at midnight
- $150/month, $1,825/year
- Builds savings habit without thinking about it
- Reaches $1,000 goal in 200 days
Example 2: Weekly Fun Money
Goal: Save for weekend activities without guilt.
Setup:
Slice: Weekend Fun
Target: $200/month
Target Date: End of month
Auto-Contribution:
- Interval: Weekly (Friday)
- Custom Amount: $50
- Source: Checking Account
- Start Date: Next Friday
Result:
- $50 saved every Friday
- $200/month for guilt-free weekend spending
- Money automatically set aside before you can spend it
- Recurring slice resets monthly for fresh budget
Example 3: Monthly Vacation Fund
Goal: Save $1,200 for annual vacation.
Setup:
Slice: Annual Vacation
Target: $1,200
Target Date: 12 months from now
Auto-Contribution:
- Interval: Monthly (1st of month)
- Suggested: $100 monthly
- Source: Savings Account
- Start Date: Next month
Result:
- $100 saved on the 1st of every month
- $1,200 after 12 months
- Vacation fully funded when you’re ready to book
Example 4: Biweekly Extra Debt Payment
Goal: Pay extra on student loans every 2 weeks.
Setup:
Slice: Extra Student Loan Payment
Target: $600/quarter
Target Date: End of quarter
Auto-Contribution:
- Interval: Biweekly (every other Monday)
- Custom Amount: $100
- Source: Checking Account
- Start Date: Next Monday
Result:
- $100 every 2 weeks
- $200/month extra toward debt
- Accelerates debt payoff automatically
Managing Auto-Contributions
View Auto-Contribution Status
- Navigate to Slices page
- Click on a slice
- View Slice Details section
- Look for auto-contribution information (if enabled)
Edit Auto-Contribution Settings
- Click on the slice
- Click “Edit” button
- Scroll to “Auto-Contribution Settings”
- Modify:
- Contribution interval
- Amount (use calculator or custom)
- Source account
- Start date
- Click “Update Slice”
Changes take effect: Next scheduled contribution uses new settings.
Pause Auto-Contributions
To temporarily stop:
- Edit the slice
- Toggle “Enable Manual Auto-Contribution” to OFF
- Save
What happens:
- Future contributions won’t run
- Existing slice balance unchanged
- Can re-enable anytime
Use cases:
- Temporary cash flow issues
- Reached your goal early
- Changing savings strategy
Delete Auto-Contributions
To permanently remove:
- Edit the slice
- Toggle “Enable Manual Auto-Contribution” to OFF
- Save
Or delete the entire slice (removes auto-contribution with it).
The Smart Calculator Feature
How It Helps
Problem: “How much should I save weekly to reach my goal?”
Manual Math:
Goal: $5,000
Current: $1,000
Time: 20 weeks
Calculation: ($5,000 - $1,000) / 20 = $200/week
Smart Calculator:
- Automatically calculates based on your inputs
- Shows suggested amount instantly
- Updates when you change target/date/interval
- Rounds to practical amounts
Using the Calculator
Setup:
- Enter Target Amount (your goal)
- Enter Current Amount (what you have now)
- Choose Target Date (deadline)
- Select Contribution Interval (how often)
Calculator displays:
- “Suggested automatic contribution amount: $94.12 weekly”
- Green badge with checkmark
If you like the suggestion:
- Leave it! The amount is already set.
If you want different:
- Toggle “Use custom amount instead”
- Enter your preferred amount
- Calculator suggestion hides, custom amount used
Calculator Updates Automatically
Change any input → calculator recalculates:
Example:
Initial:
- Target: $1,000
- Current: $0
- Date: 30 days
- Interval: Weekly
- Suggested: $234.00 weekly (seems high!)
Extend target date to 90 days:
- Suggested updates to: $78.00 weekly (much better!)
Pro tip: Play with target dates and intervals to find a contribution amount that fits your budget.
Email Notifications
Success Notifications
When auto-contribution succeeds:
- Email confirmation sent (if enabled)
- Shows slice name
- Shows amount contributed
- Shows source account
- Shows next contribution date
Example:
Subject: Auto-Contribution Succeeded
Body:
Your $50 auto-contribution to Emergency Fund was successful!
Source: Chase Checking
Amount: $50.00
New Balance: $1,250.00
Next Contribution: October 18, 2025
Failure Notifications
When auto-contribution fails:
- Email alert sent (if enabled)
- Shows why it failed (usually insufficient funds)
- Shows available balance vs needed
- Shows next scheduled attempt
Example:
Subject: Auto-Contribution Failed
Body:
Your $50 auto-contribution to Emergency Fund could not be processed.
Reason: Insufficient funds in Chase Checking
Available: $35.00
Needed: $50.00
Next Attempt: October 18, 2025
Please ensure sufficient funds for the next scheduled contribution.
Managing notifications: See Managing Email Notifications.
Troubleshooting
Auto-Contribution Didn’t Run
Check:
- Is auto-contribution enabled? (Edit slice to verify)
- Is today the scheduled date?
- Is source account connected and active?
- Did you have sufficient funds?
Solutions:
- Verify settings in slice edit form
- Check email for failure notification
- Ensure source account balance is adequate
- Next contribution will try again on schedule
Contribution Amount Seems Wrong
Check:
- Are you using suggested or custom amount?
- Did you toggle “Use custom amount” accidentally?
- Did calculator recalculate after changing target date?
Solution:
- Edit slice, review Auto-Contribution Settings
- Use calculator suggestion or set custom amount explicitly
Want to Change Frequency Mid-Goal
Example: Started with weekly, want to switch to biweekly.
Solution:
- Edit the slice
- Change Contribution Interval to “Biweekly”
- Calculator suggests new amount for biweekly schedule
- Accept suggestion or use custom amount
- Save
Next contribution: Uses new interval and amount.
Pro Tips
💡 Start Small: Better to contribute $5 daily consistently than $100 monthly and fail.
💡 Use Round Numbers: Custom amounts of $50, $100, $200 are easier to track than $47.23.
💡 Buffer Your Account: Keep extra in source account. Don’t cut it close to $0.
💡 Combine Intervals: Daily to emergency fund, weekly to fun money, monthly to vacation—all running simultaneously.
💡 Align with Payday: Set auto-contributions for the day after your paycheck clears (ensures sufficient funds).
💡 Review Monthly: Check if contribution amounts still fit your budget. Adjust as needed.
💡 Use Calculator First: Always see the suggestion before setting custom amounts. It’s often more realistic than you think.
💡 Pair with Recurring Slices: Monthly auto-contribution + monthly recurring slice = perfect automation.
Common Questions
Q: What happens if I don’t have enough money in my account? A: The contribution is skipped for that date. You’ll receive an email notification (if enabled). Next scheduled contribution tries again.
Q: Can I have multiple auto-contributions to the same slice? A: No. Each slice can have one auto-contribution. But you can use funding schedules AND auto-contributions together.
Q: Can I have auto-contributions from different accounts to one slice? A: No. Each auto-contribution has one source account. For multiple sources, use funding schedules with multiple linked slices.
Q: Do auto-contributions check account balance before running? A: Yes! That’s the key difference from funding schedules. Auto-contributions require available funds.
Q: Can I manually contribute in addition to auto-contributions? A: Yes! Use Move Funds to manually add money anytime. Auto-contributions continue on schedule.
Q: What if I want to skip one contribution? A: Pause auto-contributions temporarily by editing the slice and toggling OFF. Re-enable after the date you want to skip.
Q: Do auto-contributions run on weekends and holidays? A: Yes. Contributions run at midnight on the exact scheduled date, regardless of weekends or holidays.
Q: Can I see history of past auto-contributions? A: Yes. In the slice’s “Recent Balance Changes” section, you’ll see auto-contribution transactions.
Q: What’s the earliest start date I can choose? A: Tomorrow. You can’t set auto-contributions to start today (midnight already passed).
Related Guides
- How to Create Your First Slice - Create slices before adding auto-contributions
- How to Setup a Funding Schedule - Paycheck-based alternative
- How Funding Schedules Work - Compare the two approaches
- How to Setup Recurring Slices - Combine with auto-contributions for full automation
- Managing Email Notifications - Control auto-contribution emails
Build savings habits on autopilot: Setup auto-contributions today at trycakebudget.com