ynab-amazon-categorizer 2.3.1

Automatically categorize Amazon transactions in YNAB with rich item information

YNAB Amazon Categorizer

A Python package that assists in categorizing Amazon transactions in YNAB (You Need A Budget) with rich item information, automatic memo generation, and tab-completion for categories.

Features

When you paste in the text from your Amazon order page:

🎯 Smart Order Matching: Automatically matches YNAB transactions with Amazon orders by amount and date
📝 Enhanced Memos: Generates detailed memos with item names and direct Amazon order links
🔄 Intelligent Splitting: Suggests splitting transactions with multiple items into separate categories
⚡ Streamlined Workflow: Smart defaults and tab completion for fast categorization
🌍 UTF-8 Support: Full emoji support in category names
📊 Rich Previews: Shows category names and transaction details before updating

Prerequisites

• Python 3.12+
• uv (recommended) or standard Python tooling
• YNAB account with API access

Installation

Method 1: Run with uvx (Recommended)

# Run directly without installing (fastest and cleanest)
uvx ynab-amazon-categorizer

Method 2: Install as a tool

# Install globally with uv
uv tool install ynab-amazon-categorizer

# Then run
ynab-amazon-categorizer

Method 3: Development Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/dizzlkheinz/ynab-amazon-categorizer.git
cd ynab-amazon-categorizer

# Install in development mode
uv pip install -e .

Configuration Setup

After installation, you'll need to set up your YNAB API credentials:

Configuration File (.env)

Create a .env file in your working directory with your credentials:

YNAB_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
YNAB_BUDGET_ID=your_budget_id_here
YNAB_ACCOUNT_ID=none

Alternative: Environment Variables

# Windows
set YNAB_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
set YNAB_BUDGET_ID=your_budget_id_here

# Mac/Linux
export YNAB_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
export YNAB_BUDGET_ID=your_budget_id_here

Getting Your YNAB Credentials

API Key

1. Go to YNAB Developer Settings
2. Click "New Token"
3. Copy the generated token

Budget ID

1. Open your budget in YNAB
2. Look at the URL: https://app.ynab.com/[budget_id]/budget
3. Copy the budget_id part

Account ID (Optional)

1. Click on a specific account in YNAB
2. Look at the URL: https://app.ynab.com/[budget_id]/accounts/[account_id]
3. Copy the account_id part (or leave as 'none' to process all accounts)

Usage

Basic Usage

# Run with uvx (no installation needed)
uvx ynab-amazon-categorizer

# Or if installed as a tool
ynab-amazon-categorizer

# Or run as a Python module
python -m ynab_amazon_categorizer

Dry run

Use --dry-run to walk through the full interactive flow and preview every update without sending any changes to YNAB:

ynab-amazon-categorizer --dry-run

The tool still shows the JSON preview for each transaction but skips the API call, so it is safe for trying the tool out or verifying matches.

Batch mode

Use --batch to run non-interactively: for every transaction with a single high-confidence order match (unique exact-amount match within ~7 days), the tool sets the memo (items + order link) automatically and leaves the category unchanged, so you can still review/categorize later. Transactions with no match or an ambiguous match are skipped.

# Preview what batch mode would enrich
ynab-amazon-categorizer --batch --dry-run

# Apply memo enrichment
ynab-amazon-categorizer --batch

You still paste the Amazon orders page once when prompted; --batch only removes the per-transaction prompting.

Workflow

1. Provide Amazon Orders Data (optional but recommended):

   • Copy your Amazon orders page content
     • For example go to https://www.amazon.ca/gp/css/order-history?ref_=nav_orders_first and select all and copy the text
   • Run the tool and paste Amazon order info when prompted
   • The script will automatically match transactions with orders

2. Review Matched Transactions:

   • The script shows order details, items, and links before asking to categorize
   • For multiple items, it suggests splitting the transaction

3. Categorize Transactions:

   • Use tab completion to select categories
   • Accept suggested memos or customize them
   • Confirm updates with enhanced previews

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Tab: Auto-complete category names
• Enter: Accept defaults (categorize, use suggested memo, confirm update)
• Alt+Enter: Submit multiline input (Amazon orders data, custom memos)
• Ctrl+C: Cancel current operation

Example Output

🎯 MATCHED ORDER FOUND:
   Order ID: 702-8237239-1234567
   Total: $57.57
   Date: July 31, 2025
   Order Link: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/your-account/order-details?ie=UTF8&orderID=702-8237239-1234567
   Items:
     - Fancy Feast Grilled Wet Cat Food, Tuna Feast - 85 g Can (24 Pack)
     - Fancy Feast Grilled Wet Cat Food, Salmon & Shrimp Feast in Gravy - 85 g Can (24 Pack)

Action? (c = categorize/split, s = skip, q = quit, default c): 
There is more than one item in this transaction.
Split this transaction? (y/n, default n): y

Generated Memos

Single Item Transaction

Fancy Feast Grilled Wet Cat Food, Tuna Feast - 85 g Can (24 Pack)
 https://www.amazon.ca/gp/your-account/order-details?ie=UTF8&orderID=702-8237239-0563450

Split Transaction Main Memo

2 Items:
- Fancy Feast Grilled Wet Cat Food, Tuna Feast - 85 g Can (24 Pack)
- Fancy Feast Grilled Wet Cat Food, Salmon & Shrimp Feast in Gravy - 85 g Can (24 Pack)

Security Notes

⚠️ Important: Never commit your .env file to version control!

• The script loads credentials from environment variables or config file
• Your API key is never hardcoded in the script
• Add .env to your .gitignore if using git

Troubleshooting

"No orders could be parsed"

• Make sure you're copying the full Amazon orders page content
• Try copying from a different browser or clearing browser cache

"API Key not found"

• Verify your .env file exists and has the correct format
• Check that your API key is valid in YNAB Developer Settings

"No transactions found"

• Ensure you have uncategorized Amazon transactions in YNAB
• Check that the payee names contain "amazon", "amzn", or "amz"

Emoji display issues

• Use python -X utf8 on Windows for proper emoji support
• Ensure your terminal supports UTF-8 encoding

Contributing

This package was developed to streamline YNAB Amazon transaction categorization. Feel free to suggest improvements or report issues!

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0). See the LICENSE file for details.

Please respect YNAB's API terms of service when using this software.