Category Cards

Each personal envelope can have one virtual card. Shared family envelopes can have cards for approved family members.

Create a card

1. Go to Envelopes.
2. Open the envelope that needs a card.
3. If prompted, finish identity setup or connect a bank first.
4. Choose Create Card.
5. Wait for the card to appear on the envelope.

If you see Finish Setup, go to Banking and complete identity setup. If you see Connect Bank, follow the Plaid bank connection flow.

Use the right card

• Use the Groceries card for groceries.
• Use the Gas card for gas.
• Use the Dining card for dining.

The card you use is the category. You should not need to recategorize the purchase afterward.

Manage a card

Open the envelope or card detail view to:

• Reveal secure card details when allowed.
• Freeze a card temporarily.
• Unfreeze it when you are ready to spend.
• Review recent transactions.
• Cancel a card if you no longer trust it.
• Request a physical card if available.

If a card cannot spend

Check in this order:

1. Does the envelope have enough available money?
2. Is the card active, not frozen or canceled?
3. Did you use the card that matches the category?
4. Is identity setup complete?
5. Is a bank account connected?
6. For family envelopes, do you have permission to use that shared card?

Key idea

The card is the category.

Choosing the card is the categorization step. Envelopd controls spending by card and envelope balance before the purchase completes.