A shared goal in dividi is a goal that belongs to a Joint Account. Both partners can see the target, progress, and linked bills.
That separation matters. A personal goal is for one person. A Joint Account goal is for something both of you want to track together, like a trip, emergency fund, move, or shared purchase.
Where do shared goals start in the app?
There are two common paths.
The first path starts from the main add button. Open the add sheet and choose Create a new goal. The app opens the New goal flow.
The second path starts from the Joint Account area. Open the Joint Account and use Goals from the account actions. The Goals screen shows active and completed goals, progress, and linked bills. To create another goal, use the add button.
If the app says there is no account where you can create a goal, check two things: whether the Joint Account exists, and whether your account has permission to add goals there. Invited members can have separate permissions for bills, transfers, and goals.
How do you choose the account for a goal?
The first step is Choose the goal account. dividi asks whether the goal belongs to your personal space or shared space.
Choose the Joint Account when the goal is for both of you. Choose Personal when the goal is only yours. If there is only one eligible account, dividi may skip the account step and start with the name and description.
For invited members, permissions are not just a detail. If you do not have permission to add goals on the Joint Account, the shared option is unavailable and the app shows a permission message.
The guide to Joint Account invites and permissions explains which goal permissions can be granted.
What details should you add?
A useful goal needs three things:
- A short name.
- A target amount greater than zero.
- An optional target date.
The name is required and should be easy for both partners to recognize later. The description is optional, but it helps when the goal could be misunderstood. “Apartment deposit” is clearer than “house.” “Holiday travel fund” is clearer than “trip.”
The target amount is required. The date is optional. If a date makes the goal feel too tense at first, leave it blank and add one after the first review.
Before saving, the app shows a goal summary with the name, amount, account, and date when one exists. Tap Add to create it.
How do bills contribute to a goal?
Creating a goal does not automatically attach every bill in that account. The link is explicit.
When you add or edit a bill in the same account, dividi can show Link to a goal. Choose the goal only when that bill should contribute to the objective. Leave it as No goal for normal spending.
Progress is based on paid bills linked to that goal. In the Goals screen, the contribution list shows how you or both of you contributed. If no linked bills exist yet, the app shows that there are no bills linked to the goal.
That explicit link is useful for couples. It keeps the goal from becoming a vague label and makes the progress easier to audit later.
How do editing, finalizing, and deleting work?
Goals can change, but permissions still apply.
Someone with edit permission can update the name, description, target amount, and target date. When a goal is active and reaches the target, dividi can remind you to finalize it. Finalizing records the milestone and locks the goal for editing.
Deleting a goal is stricter. The owner can delete it, and an invited member can delete only when their permissions allow it and the goal was created by that member.
That keeps shared goals from being too fragile. A partner can participate without every milestone being easy to erase by accident.
What makes a shared goal easier to maintain?
Use language both people already use. “Summer trip” beats a private nickname only one person understands. “Emergency cushion” beats “savings” if the point is protection.
Start with the amount, not a perfect schedule. A target date can help, but it can also add pressure before the goal has a rhythm. In dividi, the goal can exist with no date.
Review linked bills during the month. If a bill was supposed to count toward the goal but was added without the link, edit it while the month is still easy to remember.
FAQ
How do I create a shared goal in dividi?
Tap the main add button, choose Create a new goal, select the Joint Account when the account step appears, add a name, target amount, and optional target date, then tap Add.
What is the difference between a personal goal and a Joint Account goal?
A personal goal belongs to one person. A Joint Account goal is visible in the shared account and can be connected to bills that both partners are tracking together.
Do bills link to a goal automatically?
No. When a goal is available in the same account, the bill form shows Link to a goal. You choose the goal there. Without that selection, the bill stays a regular bill.
Can an invited partner edit or delete goals?
Only if their Joint Account permissions allow it. Delete permissions are also limited by who created the goal, so invited members do not automatically control every shared goal.
Can a completed goal still be seen?
Yes. Completed goals stay readable as milestones. Some fields become locked after finalization so the record stays clear.
Next step
Pick one shared priority and make it concrete. Add a name both of you recognize, choose the Joint Account, set the target amount, and link only the bills that actually contribute.
If you are building the whole shared routine from scratch, the spreadsheet migration guide helps you order the setup. For the monthly spending side, Copy bills in dividi shows how repeatable bills carry into the next month.
To create the goal in your own account, download dividi. To compare plan limits before using goals, cards, Budget, and Divi together, see dividi plans.
