diff --git a/.claude/skills/TransactionSyncing/CategoryRules.md b/.claude/skills/TransactionSyncing/CategoryRules.md
index 532b30c9..b60bc372 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/TransactionSyncing/CategoryRules.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/TransactionSyncing/CategoryRules.md
@@ -2,543 +2,209 @@
 
 Pattern matching rules for auto-categorizing card and bank purchases.
 
-> **Executable source of truth:** these rules are implemented in code at
-> `src/integrations/simplefin/categorize.py` (`categorize_expense(text, amount)`),
-> which the SimpleFIN expense sync runs so every `bank_transactions` row arrives
-> pre-categorized. This document is the human-readable mirror. When you add or
-> change a pattern here, update `categorize.py` (and its test) to match.
-
-## How to Add New Patterns
-
-To add a new categorization rule:
-
-1. Identify the merchant name pattern from Fidelity descriptions
-2. Add to the appropriate category section below
-3. Patterns are **case-insensitive**
-4. Use partial matches (e.g., "h-e-b" matches "H-E-B #063 Pearland TX")
-
----
-
-## Category Patterns
-
-### Groceries
-Supermarkets, grocery stores, food supplies
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `h-e-b`, `heb`
-- `kroger`
-- `costco`
-- `wal-mart`, `walmart`
-- `wholefds`, `whole foods`
-- `makola`
-- `target` (when food context)
-- `sam's club`
-- `aldi`
-- `trader joe`
-
-**Examples**:
-- "H-E-B #063 Pearland TX" -> Groceries
-- "COSTCO WHSE #1 PEARLAND TX" -> Groceries
-- "MAKOLA IMPORTS HOUSTON TX" -> Groceries
-
----
-
-### Dining Out
-Restaurants, fast food, entertainment dining
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `benihana`
-- `golden corral`
-- `papa john`
-- `chuck e cheese`
-- `wingstop`
-- `cinemark`
-- `mcdonald`
-- `chick-fil-a`
-- `chipotle`
-- `starbucks`
-- `coffee`
-- `restaurant`
-- `grill`
-- `cafe`
-- `makiin`
-- `sparkly photo` (event dining)
-
-**Examples**:
-- "BENIHANA SUGAR LAND" -> Dining Out
-- "TST*MAKIIN Houston TX" -> Dining Out
-- "PAPA JOHN'S #2 PEARLAND TX" -> Dining Out
-
----
-
-### Auto & Transport
-Vehicle expenses, fuel, parking, transportation
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `tesla`
-- `supercha` (Tesla Supercharger)
-- `parking`
-- `fastpark`
-- `uber`
-- `lyft`
-- `shell`
-- `exxon`
-- `chevron`
-- `valero`
-- `buc-ee`
-- `gas station`
-- `toll`
-
-**Examples**:
-- "Tesla, Inc. SUPERCHA600118984238637" -> Auto & Transport
-- "FASTPARKHOU HOUSTON TX" -> Auto & Transport
-- "Tesla Property Casual Fremont CA" -> Auto & Transport
-
----
-
-### Personal Care
-Grooming, beauty, self-care
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `salon`
-- `spa`
-- `barber`
-- `sephora`
-- `beauty supply`
-- `supreme beauty`
-- `ulta`
-- `nail`
-- `hair`
-- `shaving grace`
-- `gloss* skin`
-- `cash app*` (often personal transfers)
-
-**Examples**:
-- "K STAR SALON & SPA MANVEL TX" -> Personal Care
-- "A SHAVING GRACE BARBER PEARLAND TX" -> Personal Care
-- "SEPHORA PEACHT PEACHTREE CI GA" -> Personal Care
-
----
-
-### Health & Wellness
-Medical, pharmacy, fitness
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `cvs`
-- `pharmacy`
-- `walgreens`
-- `life time` (gym)
-- `doctor`
-- `medical`
-- `dental`
-- `clinic`
-- `hospital`
-- `urgent care`
-
-**Examples**:
-- "CVS/PHARMACY # MANVEL TX" -> Health & Wellness
-- "LIFE TIME #320" -> Health & Wellness
-
----
-
-### Shopping
-Retail, clothing, general merchandise
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `marshalls`
-- `target` (non-food)
-- `amazon`
-- `skims`
-- `tj maxx`
-- `ross`
-- `old navy`
-- `gap`
-- `nordstrom`
-- `macy`
-- `best buy`
-- `apple store`
-
-**Examples**:
-- "MARSHALLS #877 PEARLAND TX" -> Shopping
-- "SP SKIMS CHECKOUT.SKIM CA" -> Shopping
-
----
-
-### Family Care
-Childcare, family activities, kids
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `aqua tots`
-- `brightwheel`, `brghtwhl`
-- `daycare`
-- `childcare`
-- `school`
-- `kid`
-- `children`
-- `pediatric`
-
-**Examples**:
-- "AQUA TOTS - PEARLAND" -> Family Care
-- "BRGHTWHL R* REDEEMER" -> Family Care
-
----
-
-### Bills & Utilities
-Recurring bills, subscriptions, utilities
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `autopay`
-- `acctverify`
-- `electric`
-- `water`
-- `internet`
-- `comcast`
-- `att`
-- `verizon`
-- `t-mobile`
-- `netflix`
-- `spotify`
-- `subscription`
-
-**Examples**:
-- "BMO ACCTVERIFY" -> Bills & Utilities
-
----
-
-### Cash Withdrawal
-ATM and cash transactions
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `atm`
-- `cash withdrawal`
-- `cash advance`
-
-**Examples**:
-- "ATM0043 11555 MAGNOLIA PEARLAND TX" -> Cash Withdrawal
-- "ATMXD10 *SEDONA LAKES MANVEL TX" -> Cash Withdrawal
+> **Executable source of truth:** the rules live in code at
+> `src/integrations/simplefin/categorize.py` (`categorize_expense`), which the
+> SimpleFIN expense sync runs so every `bank_transactions` row arrives
+> pre-categorized. This document mirrors that table and records the lessons
+> behind its ordering. When you change a pattern, change the code and its test
+> first, then this file.
+
+## Two tables: public brands and household merchants
+
+The public table in `categorize.py` holds **national brands and generic
+wording only**. Anything that identifies a household (a local restaurant, the
+daycare, the church, a lender, a county utility) is private data under
+`DataClassification.md` and never goes in a tracked file.
+
+Household merchants live in the instance directory as **`merchant-rules.yaml`**,
+a mapping of category name to a list of lowercase substrings. The sync loads it
+with `load_merchant_rules()` and appends each list to its category with
+`merge_patterns()`, so household patterns extend a category but never create or
+reorder one. A missing file is fine; a typo in a category name blocks the sync
+with a typed error rather than silently dropping rules.
+
+```yaml
+# merchant-rules.yaml (instance directory, never committed to the engine)
+Groceries:
+  - corner market
+Family Care:
+  - little sprouts daycare
+```
 
----
+## How to add a pattern
+
+1. Decide whether the merchant is a national brand (public table) or a
+   household merchant (`merchant-rules.yaml`). When in doubt, it is household.
+2. Copy the substring from the **raw bank memo**, not from SimpleFIN's cleaned
+   payee. Memos are truncated and abbreviated; a pattern that only matches the
+   payee form fails on the description alone.
+3. Patterns are case-insensitive substrings. Anything shorter than about six
+   characters, or a common English word, needs a collision check against the
+   stored feed before it ships (see below).
+4. For the public table, add a test in `tests/python/test_categorize.py` using
+   a placeholder memo and a round amount.
+
+## Matching algorithm
+
+- Amounts under $1.00 and verification memos are `Exempt` before any pattern
+  runs, as are SPAXX core sweeps and a `RETURNED PAYMENT FEE`.
+- A retirement account returns `Retirement` for every row.
+- Payroll wording, and checks on a business account, return `Payroll`.
+- Then the table runs in order and **the first category with a hit wins**.
+- An unmatched credit on a business account is `Business Income`.
+- Everything else is `Uncategorized`.
+
+The sync matches against **payee and description joined**. Matching only the
+description missed every payee-shaped pattern and left most debit volume
+uncategorized (2026-08-04).
+
+## Non-spend and business categories
+
+Categories that move money rather than consume it are excluded from spend
+totals, otherwise a card purchase is counted twice: once on the card and again
+when the bill is paid. Non-spend: `Credit Card Payment`, `Crypto Deposit`, `Exempt`, `Retirement`, `Transfer`.
+Business (excluded from household reviews, included in business P&L):
+`Business Expense`, `Business Income`, `Payroll`.
+
+## Ordering rules
+
+Order in the table is the whole precedence mechanism. The invariants it
+encodes, each of which was a live bug once:
+
+- `Transfer` and `Travel` come first so an explicit remittance is not read as a
+  merchant and "American Express Travel" is Travel, not a card payment.
+- `Dining Out` precedes `Auto & Transport` so `uber eats` beats `uber`.
+- `Credit Card Payment` precedes `Bills & Utilities` so a card autopay memo is
+  not read as a utility. **Every pattern in that category must be
+  payment-specific**: a bare `credit card` once booked store purchases as bill
+  payments, and a bare `automatic payment` would book any biller's autopay as
+  non-spend.
+- `Fees & Interest` precedes `Entertainment`, but position alone is not
+  enough: an earlier category only wins if one of its patterns matches, so
+  every returned-payment wording is listed in fees explicitly.
+- `credit card payment` is deliberately absent from `Loan Payment`.
+
+## Household patterns cannot change precedence
+
+A household pattern only wins from its own category's position. A merchant
+whose memo contains an earlier public pattern (a butcher called "Halal Guys"
+when `halal guys` sits in Dining Out) cannot be reclaimed from the instance;
+that needs a change to the public table, raised as an issue.
+
+## Substring collisions
+
+Patterns are plain substrings, so a short one fires inside unrelated words.
+Three that misfiled real money: `spa` matched `SPAXX` (every core sweep became
+Personal Care), `credit card` matched `<Merchant> Credit Card` payees, and
+`uber` claimed `Uber Eats`. Fixes: `day spa` and `med spa` replace `spa`, a
+SPAXX guard runs ahead of the table, and `GOOGLE  WORKSPACE` (doubled space)
+and `LIVING SPACES` carry explicit patterns.
+
+**Always replay the rules over the stored feed before and after a change.**
+Removing a broad pattern is only safe once every merchant it carried has a
+pattern of its own, and adding a generic word can silently reclassify history,
+because the sync upserts the category on every row it touches.
 
-### Tuition
-Education expenses
+## The card-payment credit leg
 
-**Patterns**:
-- `regent univer`
-- `university`
-- `college`
-- `tuition`
-- `school`
-- `education`
-- `coursera`
-- `udemy`
+A bill payment posts twice: a debit on the funding account and a credit on the
+card, worded `PAYMENT - THANK YOU` or truncated by the issuer to
+`AUTOMATIC PAYMENT - THANK`. `thank you` and `payment - thank` sit in Credit
+Card Payment so the credit leg does not inflate income figures summed from
+credits. A bounced payment posts as a `Returned Payment` debit for the amount
+it unwinds; it is the mirror of a non-spend event and nets in the same category,
+while the issuer's separate `RETURNED PAYMENT FEE` is real spend.
 
-**Examples**:
-- "REGENT UNIVERSPURCHASE" -> Tuition
+## Deliberately left Uncategorized
 
----
+`Paid Check` is ambiguous by nature: a written check can be groceries,
+household, or shopping. `School` is the same case (a fee and a fundraiser land
+in different buckets), and so is any Apple Pay passthrough where the memo
+carries only the wallet prefix and a merchant the owner has not identified.
+Guessing is worse than a visible gap. Review these by hand, then add the
+merchant to `merchant-rules.yaml`.
 
-### Business Expense
-Work-related purchases
-
-**Patterns**:
-- `gumroad`
-- `ups`
-- `fedex`
-- `office depot`
-- `staples`
-- `postal`
-- `usps`
-- `business`
-- `linkedin`
-- `zoom`
-
-**Examples**:
-- "GUMROAD* SHAWN GRADY" -> Business Expense
-- "POSTAL COPY CENTER-931 PEARLAND TX" -> Business Expense
-
----
+## Public table
 
-### Loan Payment
-Debt payments
+Mirrors `CATEGORY_PATTERNS` in table order; `tests/python/test_categorize.py`
+asserts the two match, so edit the code first and this list second.
 
-**Patterns**:
-- `wells fargo` + `draft` or `audraft`
-- `loan payment`
-- `mortgage`
-- `car payment`
-- `student loan`
+### Transfer
 
-**Examples**:
-- "WELLS FARGO AUDRAFT" -> Loan Payment
+`amex send`, `taptap send`, `cashed check`, `zelle`, `venmo`, `cash app`, `transferred to`, `transfer to`, `transfer withdrawal`, `transfer deposit`, `transfer from`, `instant transfer`, `webxtransfer`, `wire transfer`
 
----
+### Travel
 
-### Home & Garden
-Home improvement, garden, maintenance
+`american express travel`, `amex travel`, `delta`, `southwest air`, `united airlines`, `american airlines`, `airline`, `enterprise`, `hertz`, `avis`, `hotel`, `airbnb`, `expedia`, `marriott`, `hilton`
 
-**Patterns**:
-- `home depot`
-- `lowes`
-- `sawyer`
-- `smart core`
-- `garden`
-- `hardware`
-- `furniture`
+### Groceries
 
-**Examples**:
-- "SAWYER + S* SMART CORE" -> Home & Garden
+`h-e-b`, `heb`, `kroger`, `costco`, `wal-mart`, `walmart`, `wholefds`, `whole foods`, `sam's club`, `aldi`, `trader joe`
 
----
+### Dining Out
 
-### Crypto Deposit
-Cryptocurrency deposits and transfers
+`benihana`, `golden corral`, `papa john`, `chuck e cheese`, `wingstop`, `cinemark`, `mcdonald`, `chick-fil-a`, `chipotle`, `starbucks`, `coffee`, `restaurant`, `grill`, `cafe`, `uber eats`, `doordash`, `whataburger`, `panda express`, `burger king`, `auntie anne`, `thai`
 
-**Patterns**:
-- `btc deposited`
-- `bitcoin`
-- `fidelity crypto`
-- `eth deposited`
-- `crypto`
+### Credit Card Payment
 
-**Examples**:
-- "0.17713256 BTC deposited" -> Crypto Deposit
-- "Fidelity Crypto® 8449251033" -> Crypto Deposit
+`applecard`, `gsbapayment`, `chase payment`, `amex payment`, `discover payment`, `credit card payment`, `american express credit card`, `chase credit ca`, `wf credit card`, `apple credit card`, `amex epayment`, `chase credit card`, `thank you`
 
----
+### Giving
 
-### Credit Card Payment
-Credit card bill payments
+`church`, `tithe`, `offering`, `ministry`, `missions`
 
-**Patterns**:
-- `applecard`
-- `gsbapayment`
-- `chase payment`
-- `amex payment`
-- `discover payment`
+### Auto & Transport
 
-**Examples**:
-- "DIRECT DEBIT APPLECARD GSBAPAYMENT" -> Credit Card Payment
+`tesla`, `supercha`, `vehicle registration`, `vehreg`, `dmv`, `parking`, `uber`, `lyft`, `shell`, `exxon`, `chevron`, `valero`, `gas station`, `toll`, `texaco`, `bp gas`, `car wash`, `safelite`, `auto glass`
 
----
+### Personal Care
 
-### Exempt
-Verification transactions, zero amounts
+`salon`, `day spa`, `med spa`, `massage`, `barber`, `sephora`, `beauty supply`, `ulta`, `nail`, `hair`, `lash`, `wax`
 
-**Patterns**:
-- `ifacctverify`
-- `verification`
-- Amount = $0.00 or < $1.00
+### Health & Wellness
 
-**Examples**:
-- "WELLS FARGO IFACCTVERIFY" -> Exempt
+`cvs`, `pharmacy`, `walgreens`, `doctor`, `medical`, `dental`, `clinic`, `hospital`, `urgent care`
 
----
+### Shopping
 
-## Uncategorized
+`marshalls`, `amazon`, `skims`, `tj maxx`, `ross`, `old navy`, `gap`, `nordstrom`, `macy`, `best buy`, `apple store`, `fashion nova`, `burlington`, `janie & jack`, `david yurman`, `dollar general`
 
-Any transaction not matching the above patterns is marked as **"Uncategorized"** and flagged for manual review in the sync summary.
+### Family Care
 
-**Common uncategorized reasons**:
-- New merchant not in patterns
-- Unusual description format
-- One-time or rare purchase
+`daycare`, `childcare`, `kid`, `children`, `pediatric`
 
-**To resolve**: Add the pattern to the appropriate category above.
+### Bills & Utilities
 
----
+`autopay`, `acctverify`, `electric`, `water`, `internet`, `comcast`, `att`, `verizon`, `t-mobile`, `netflix`, `spotify`, `subscription`, `prime video`
 
-## Pattern Matching Algorithm
+### Cash Withdrawal
 
-```python
-def categorize_expense(description: str) -> str:
-    desc = description.lower()
+`atm`, `cash withdrawal`, `cash advance`
 
-    # Check each category's patterns
-    for category, patterns in CATEGORY_PATTERNS.items():
-        for pattern in patterns:
-            if pattern in desc:
-                return category
+### Tuition
 
-    return "Uncategorized"
+`university`, `college`, `tuition`, `coursera`, `udemy`
 
-CATEGORY_PATTERNS = {
-    "Groceries": ["h-e-b", "heb", "kroger", "costco", "wal-mart", "walmart", ...],
-    "Dining Out": ["benihana", "golden corral", "papa john", ...],
-    "Auto & Transport": ["tesla", "supercha", "parking", "fastpark", ...],
-    # ... etc
-}
-```
+### Business Expense
 
----
-
-## Extending Categories
-
-When the user wants to add new categories or patterns:
-
-1. **Add to existing category**: Update the patterns list above
-2. **Create new category**: Add a new section with patterns and examples
-3. **Expense Tracker sync**: Ensure the category name matches Budget Planner
-
-**Budget Planner categories** (must match exactly):
-- Groceries
-- Dining Out
-- Auto & Transport
-- Personal Care
-- Health & Wellness
-- Shopping
-- Family Care
-- Bills & Utilities
-- Cash Withdrawal
-- Tuition
-- Business Expense
-- Loan Payment
-- Home & Garden
-- Crypto Deposit
-- Credit Card Payment
-- Exempt
-- Software & Tech
-- Cell Phone
-- Gas
-- Water
-- Light Bill
-- Mortgage
-
----
-
-**Last Updated**: 2026-08-31
-**Maintainer**: Finance Guru TransactionSyncing skill
-
----
-
-## Ordering rules (2026-08-04)
-
-`CATEGORY_PATTERNS` is an ordered dict and **the first match wins**, so placement
-is behavior, not style. Three orderings are load-bearing:
-
-1. **Travel before Credit Card Payment** so "American Express Travel" is a trip,
-   not a card payment.
-2. **Credit Card Payment before Bills & Utilities.** A card autopay memo reads
-   "Chase Credit Cautopay", which contains the substring `autopay`. With Bills &
-   Utilities first, every card payment was mis-filed as a utility bill.
-3. **`credit card payment` belongs to Credit Card Payment, not Loan Payment.**
-   It used to sit in Loan Payment, which is matched earlier, so card payments
-   never reached their own category.
-
-## Match against payee AND description
-
-The sync joins both fields before categorizing. `description` is the raw bank
-memo (`DIRECT DEBIT AMEX EPAYMENT ACH PMT`); `payee` is SimpleFIN's normalized
-merchant name (`American Express Credit Card`). Matching description alone left
-67% of debit volume Uncategorized. **When adding a pattern, cover the
-abbreviated memo form too**, for example `vehreg` alongside
-`vehicle registration`, and `amex epayment` alongside `amex payment`.
-
-## Non-spend categories
-
-`NON_SPEND_CATEGORIES` in `categorize.py` holds `Transfer`,
-`Credit Card Payment`, `Crypto Deposit`, `Exempt`, and `Retirement`. These move money rather
-than consume it and **must be excluded from spend totals**. Including them
-double-counts: once when a purchase hits the card, again when the card bill is
-paid. On 2026-08-04 that inflated a 30-day review roughly 3x.
-
-## Categories added 2026-08-04
+`gumroad`, `ups`, `fedex`, `office depot`, `staples`, `postal`, `usps`, `linkedin`, `zoom`, `openai`, `chatgpt`, `anthropic`, `claude.ai`, `cursor`, `github`, `vercel`, `greptile`, `openrouter`, `slack`, `paddle`, `ui.com`, `ubiquiti`, `newegg`, `workspace`
 
-### Giving
-Church and ministry contributions.
+### Loan Payment
 
-**Patterns**: `anglicanchurch`, `church`, `tithe`, `offering`, `ministry`, `missions`
+`loan payment`, `mortgage`, `mortg`, `mtgpmt`, `car payment`, `student loan`
 
 ### Fees & Interest
-Card interest and bank charges, kept out of merchant spend.
-
-**Patterns**: `interest charge`, `finance charge`, `annual fee`, `late fee`, `overdraft`, `service charge`, `maintenance fee`
-
-### Additions to existing categories
-
-- **Transfer**: `transferred to`, `transfer to`, `transfer withdrawal`, `webxtransfer`, `wire transfer`
-- **Credit Card Payment**: `credit card payment`, `american express credit card`, `chase credit ca`, `wf credit card`, `apple credit card`, `amex epayment`, `credit card`
-- **Loan Payment**: `mortg`, `mtgpmt`, `aes stdnt` (bank memos abbreviate)
-- **Auto & Transport**: `vehicle registration`, `vehreg`, `dmv`
-- **Business Expense**: `anthropic`, `claude.ai`, `cursor`, `github`, `vercel`
-
-## Substring collisions fixed 2026-09-08
-
-Patterns are plain substring matches, so a short pattern can fire inside a
-longer, unrelated word. Three were silently misfiling real money:
-
-1. **`spa` matched `SPAXX`.** Fidelity's core position is the SPAXX money
-   market, so every core sweep, some of them five figures, was booked as
-   _Personal Care_. The bare pattern is gone; `day spa`, `med spa`, and
-   `massage` replace it, and a `spaxx` / `core account` guard returns `Exempt`
-   ahead of the table.
-2. **`credit card` matched a store purchase.** SimpleFIN normalizes some
-   merchant payees to `<Merchant> Credit Card`, so a Macy's shopping trip read
-   as a bill payment and was dropped from spend totals as non-spend. The bare
-   catch-all is gone. **Every pattern in Credit Card Payment must be
-   payment-specific.**
-3. **`uber` claimed `Uber Eats`.** Food delivery was booking as a rideshare.
-   `uber eats` now sits in Dining Out, which is matched before Auto & Transport.
-
-**When adding a pattern shorter than about six characters, check it against a
-real merchant list first.** Replaying the rules over the stored feed found
-`spa` had also been capturing `GOOGLE  WORKSPACE UNIF` (note the doubled space,
-which is why the pattern is the bare word `workspace`) and `LIVING SPACES
-MOBILE`. Removing a broad pattern is only safe once every merchant it had been
-carrying has an explicit pattern of its own, so **always replay before and after
-a rule change** rather than trusting the new patterns alone.
 
-## The card-payment credit leg
+`interest charge`, `finance charge`, `annual fee`, `annual membership fee`, `membership fee`, `late fee`, `overdraft`, `service charge`, `maintenance fee`, `maintenance charge`, `sie fee`, `adj redist`, `bounced check`, `returned check`, `nsf fee`
 
-A bill payment posts twice: a debit on the funding account and a credit on the
-card itself, worded `PAYMENT - THANK YOU` or `Payment Thank You`. Only the debit
-was recognized, so the credit leg sat in Uncategorized and inflated any income
-figure summed from credits. `thank you` now belongs to Credit Card Payment,
-which is matched before Bills & Utilities and so also reclaims the
-`AUTOPAY PAYMENT - THANK YOU` rows that `autopay` had taken.
+### Entertainment
 
-## Categories added 2026-09-08
+`playstation`, `bounce`, `gamestop`, `amc theat`, `ticketmaster`
 
-### Entertainment
-Recreation, kept separate from Dining Out so restaurants stay readable.
-
-**Patterns**: `playstation`, `andretti`, `bounce`, `gamestop`, `amc theat`, `ticketmaster`
-
-**Placed after Fees & Interest on purpose**, though position alone is not the
-whole defense. An earlier category only wins if one of its patterns actually
-matches, and `BOUNCED CHECK FEE` matched nothing in Fees & Interest while
-containing `bounce`. Every returned-payment wording is therefore listed in Fees
-& Interest explicitly. Caught by CodeRabbit on PR #176.
-
-### Business Income
-Consulting revenue. **It has no pattern list.** The payer's name is private data
-and stays out of this repository, so the account carries the signal: an
-unmatched credit on an account matching `is_business_account()` is income. The
-fallback runs _after_ the pattern table, so an explicit `Transfer` pattern still
-claims an inter-account move first. Added to `BUSINESS_CATEGORIES`, so household
-reviews exclude it and business P&L includes it.
-
-### Additions to existing categories
-
-- **Transfer**: `transfer deposit`, `transfer from`, `instant transfer`, `capital one bank`
-- **Groceries**: `halal meat`, `southwest farmers` (before Dining Out, so the butcher does not match `halal guys`)
-- **Dining Out**: `uber eats`, `doordash`, `whataburger`, `panda express`, `burger king`, `auntie anne`, `pick up stix`, `chicken salad chick`, `piada`, `nishiki`, `gringos`, `rouxpour`, `halal guys`, `broken egg`, `thai`
-- **Auto & Transport**: `texaco`, `bp gas`, `car wash`, `parkify`, `safelite`, `auto glass`
-- **Personal Care**: `clean skin`, `cloud 9 spa`, `lash`, `wax`, `face reality`
-- **Health & Wellness**: `mychart`, `methodist` (Giving matches `church` first, so a congregation still lands in Giving)
-- **Shopping**: `shopwss`, `fashion nova`, `burlington`, `uptown cheapskate`, `janie & jack`, `david yurman`, `dollar general`
-- **Bills & Utilities**: `rhythm ops`, `total wireless`, `tidal`, `prime video`
-- **Business Expense**: `greptile`, `openrouter`, `slack`, `paddle`, `ui.com`, `ubiquiti`, `newegg`, `bambula`, `connectech`, `pga frisco`, `workspace`
-- **Fees & Interest**: `adj redist`, `bounced check`, `returned check`, `nsf fee`
-- **Home & Garden**: `bermuda dude`, `living spaces`, `lawn`, `wayfair`, `flower shop`
-
-Homelab and fabrication hardware is business input, and the PGA Frisco charge is
-a business trip. Both classified by the account owner 2026-09-08.
+### Home & Garden
 
-## Deliberately left Uncategorized
+`home depot`, `lowes`, `garden`, `hardware`, `furniture`, `living spaces`, `lawn`, `wayfair`
 
-`Paid Check` and `Target` are ambiguous by nature: a written check or a Target
-run can be groceries, household, or shopping. Guessing is worse than a visible
-gap. Review these by hand.
+### Crypto Deposit
 
-`School` is the same case, and so is any Apple Pay passthrough where the memo
-carries only the wallet prefix and a merchant the owner has not identified.
+`btc deposited`, `bitcoin`, `fidelity crypto`, `eth deposited`, `crypto`
diff --git a/.claude/skills/TransactionSyncing/SKILL.md b/.claude/skills/TransactionSyncing/SKILL.md
index 3401ef9f..3544c7ef 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/TransactionSyncing/SKILL.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/TransactionSyncing/SKILL.md
@@ -199,7 +199,10 @@ SnapTrade activities            SimpleFIN dump (bun run src/dump.ts)
 ### Smart Categorization
 
 Categorization is executable and runs inside the expense adapter, so the
-`category` column arrives pre-filled on every `bank_transactions` row. The rules
+`category` column arrives pre-filled on every `bank_transactions` row.
+Household merchants (local businesses, the daycare, the church) are private
+and live in the instance as `merchant-rules.yaml`, merged into the public table
+at sync time; the public table holds national brands only. The rules
 live in code at `src/integrations/simplefin/categorize.py`
 (`categorize_expense(text, amount)`), which is the source of truth mirroring the
 human-readable `CategoryRules.md`. Keep the two in sync when adding patterns.
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 68362feb..a74c6827 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ notebooks/
 # User's financial profile (any location in repo tree)
 fin-guru/data/user-profile.yaml
 **/user-profile.yaml
+**/merchant-rules.yaml
 # Onboarding state and progress (may contain sensitive configuration)
 .onboarding-state.json
 # Setup progress tracking (user-specific)
@@ -170,3 +171,7 @@ reports/
 # Instance notes and meeting records (household data; live in the instance directory)
 /.memory/
 /.dev/meeting-notes/
+
+# graft's local graph cache: regenerable, and it mirrors pre-scrub source text.
+/graft/
+.claude/skills/graft/
diff --git a/PRIVACY.md b/PRIVACY.md
index 5781b3a7..5d5dd93b 100644
--- a/PRIVACY.md
+++ b/PRIVACY.md
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ Finance Guru is a **private, single-user family-office system**. This document d
 - Raw Fidelity CSVs (gitignored)
 - SSNs, account numbers, and API keys (scrubbed by `src/utils/log.py:ScrubPIIProcessor` before they reach any log)
 - `.env` contents
+- `merchant-rules.yaml`, your household merchant names (the engine ships only national brands)
 - `finance-guru-desktop/` runtime state (also gitignored)
 
 ## Security checklist (before publishing the fork)
diff --git a/config/fidelity-mapping.json b/config/fidelity-mapping.json
index e769c15a..7c4ce97f 100644
--- a/config/fidelity-mapping.json
+++ b/config/fidelity-mapping.json
@@ -271,21 +271,14 @@
         "notes": "Credit-card payoff. The spending was already captured at the merchant via the CC statement. Counting these as expenses double-counts spending. Only treat as 'spending' if you are NOT also importing CC statements."
       },
       "AUTO_LOAN_PAYMENT": {
-        "patterns": ["DIRECT DEBIT WELLS FARGO AUDRAFT"],
+        "patterns": ["AUDRAFT"],
         "sign": "negative",
         "true_spending": true,
         "expense_category": "Loan Payment",
-        "notes": "Wells Fargo 'AUDRAFT' = auto loan payment (not overdraft). Real recurring expense — keep separate from CC pass-throughs."
+        "notes": "'AUDRAFT' = auto loan payment (not overdraft). Real recurring expense — keep separate from CC pass-throughs."
       },
       "DIRECT_DEBIT_BILL": {
         "patterns": [
-          "DIRECT DEBIT AES STDNT LOAN",
-          "DIRECT DEBIT REGENT UNIVERS",
-          "DIRECT DEBIT BMOBNK",
-          "DIRECT DEBIT CPENERGY",
-          "DIRECT DEBIT BRAZORIA",
-          "DIRECT DEBIT SAFEPOINT",
-          "DIRECT DEBIT CLICKPAY",
           "DIRECT DEBIT"
         ],
         "sign": "negative",
diff --git a/docs-site/src/content/docs/reference/instance-layout.md b/docs-site/src/content/docs/reference/instance-layout.md
index aca55573..b0307568 100644
--- a/docs-site/src/content/docs/reference/instance-layout.md
+++ b/docs-site/src/content/docs/reference/instance-layout.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ The root is the value of `FIN_GURU_DATA_ROOT` when that variable is set and non-
 | `user-profile.yaml` | User profile. |
 | `config.yaml` | Instance configuration. |
 | `snaptrade-accounts.yaml` | [SnapTrade](https://snaptrade.com/) account-routing configuration. |
+| `merchant-rules.yaml` | Household merchant patterns for expense categorization, merged into the engine's public brand table at sync time. |
 | `system-context.md` | Generated system context. |
 | `family_office.db` | Default family-office [SQLite](https://www.sqlite.org/) database. |
 | `dividend-schedules.yaml` | Dividend schedule file. |
diff --git a/src/cli/instance_init.py b/src/cli/instance_init.py
index 03c3cf82..ff4e80d9 100644
--- a/src/cli/instance_init.py
+++ b/src/cli/instance_init.py
@@ -31,6 +31,21 @@
 __pycache__/
 """
 
+MERCHANT_RULES = """# Household merchant patterns for expense categorization.
+#
+# The engine's public table only knows national brands. Your own merchants (the
+# local dry cleaner, the daycare, the church) go here so they never leave this
+# directory. Each key is a category from src/integrations/simplefin/categorize.py
+# and each value is a list of lowercase substrings matched against the joined
+# payee and bank memo. Within a category, order does not matter; across
+# categories, the engine's table order decides ties.
+#
+# Groceries:
+#   - corner market
+# Family Care:
+#   - little sprouts daycare
+"""
+
 USER_PROFILE = """# Add instance-specific values after creating the instance.
 system_ownership: {}
 orientation_status: {}
@@ -268,6 +283,7 @@ def _build_plan(
             ),
             PlanStep(paths.env_file, _write_text(env_content)),
             PlanStep(paths.profile, _write_text(USER_PROFILE)),
+            PlanStep(paths.merchant_rules, _write_text(MERCHANT_RULES)),
         )
     )
     if not plugin_mode:
diff --git a/src/config/instance_paths.py b/src/config/instance_paths.py
index 03c49112..a20054f0 100644
--- a/src/config/instance_paths.py
+++ b/src/config/instance_paths.py
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ def snaptrade_accounts(self) -> Path:
         """Return the SnapTrade account-routing configuration path."""
         return self.root / "snaptrade-accounts.yaml"
 
+    @property
+    def merchant_rules(self) -> Path:
+        """Return the household merchant-rules file for expense categorization."""
+        return self.root / "merchant-rules.yaml"
+
     @property
     def system_context(self) -> Path:
         """Return the generated system context path."""
diff --git a/src/integrations/refresh_all.py b/src/integrations/refresh_all.py
index aa6fedad..bb061284 100644
--- a/src/integrations/refresh_all.py
+++ b/src/integrations/refresh_all.py
@@ -23,11 +23,17 @@ def refresh(database_url: str | None, *, months: int = 12) -> dict[str, Any]:
     Returns:
         Per-source statuses and the refresh timestamp.
     """
-    account_config = InstancePaths.resolve().snaptrade_accounts
+    paths = InstancePaths.resolve()
+    account_config = paths.snaptrade_accounts
     operations: tuple[tuple[str, Callable[[], dict[str, Any]]], ...] = (
         ("positions", lambda: sync_positions(account_config, database_url)),
         ("transactions", lambda: sync_transactions(account_config, database_url)),
-        ("expenses", lambda: sync_expenses(database_url, months=months)),
+        (
+            "expenses",
+            lambda: sync_expenses(
+                database_url, months=months, merchant_rules=paths.merchant_rules
+            ),
+        ),
     )
     sources: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
     for name, operation in operations:
diff --git a/src/integrations/simplefin/categorize.py b/src/integrations/simplefin/categorize.py
index 7913ffb0..c1c54c56 100644
--- a/src/integrations/simplefin/categorize.py
+++ b/src/integrations/simplefin/categorize.py
@@ -1,14 +1,25 @@
-"""Categorize SimpleFIN transactions using ordered merchant patterns."""
+"""Categorize SimpleFIN transactions using ordered merchant patterns.
+
+The table in this module holds only national brands and generic wording. A
+household's own merchants (the local dry cleaner, the daycare, the church) are
+private data and live in the instance directory as ``merchant-rules.yaml``,
+loaded at sync time by :func:`load_merchant_rules` and appended to the public
+table by :func:`merge_patterns`.
+"""
 
 import os
+from collections.abc import Hashable, Mapping
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import yaml
 
 # Order matters: the first matching category wins. Transfer and Travel come
 # first so an explicit remittance is not read as a merchant, and so
 # "American Express Travel" lands in Travel rather than Credit Card Payment.
 CATEGORY_PATTERNS: dict[str, tuple[str, ...]] = {
     "Transfer": (
-        "taptap send",
         "amex send",
+        "taptap send",
         "cashed check",
         "zelle",
         "venmo",
@@ -24,8 +35,6 @@
         "instant transfer",
         "webxtransfer",
         "wire transfer",
-        # Inbound movement between the owner's own Capital One accounts.
-        "capital one bank",
     ),
     "Travel": (
         "american express travel",
@@ -53,13 +62,9 @@
         "walmart",
         "wholefds",
         "whole foods",
-        "makola",
         "sam's club",
         "aldi",
         "trader joe",
-        # Precedes Dining Out so the butcher does not match "halal guys".
-        "halal meat",
-        "southwest farmers",
     ),
     "Dining Out": (
         "benihana",
@@ -76,8 +81,6 @@
         "restaurant",
         "grill",
         "cafe",
-        "makiin",
-        "sparkly photo",
         # Must precede Auto & Transport, whose "uber" pattern would otherwise
         # book a food delivery as a rideshare.
         "uber eats",
@@ -86,14 +89,6 @@
         "panda express",
         "burger king",
         "auntie anne",
-        "pick up stix",
-        "chicken salad chick",
-        "piada",
-        "nishiki",
-        "gringos",
-        "rouxpour",
-        "halal guys",
-        "broken egg",
         "thai",
     ),
     # Must precede Bills & Utilities: a card autopay string such as
@@ -121,7 +116,6 @@
         # totals as non-spend. Keep every pattern here payment-specific.
     ),
     "Giving": (
-        "anglicanchurch",
         "church",
         "tithe",
         "offering",
@@ -135,20 +129,17 @@
         "vehreg",
         "dmv",
         "parking",
-        "fastpark",
         "uber",
         "lyft",
         "shell",
         "exxon",
         "chevron",
         "valero",
-        "buc-ee",
         "gas station",
         "toll",
         "texaco",
         "bp gas",
         "car wash",
-        "parkify",
         "safelite",
         "auto glass",
     ),
@@ -162,33 +153,22 @@
         "barber",
         "sephora",
         "beauty supply",
-        "supreme beauty",
         "ulta",
         "nail",
         "hair",
-        "shaving grace",
-        "cash app",
-        "clean skin",
-        "cloud 9 spa",
         "lash",
         "wax",
-        "face reality",
     ),
     "Health & Wellness": (
         "cvs",
         "pharmacy",
         "walgreens",
-        "life time",
         "doctor",
         "medical",
         "dental",
         "clinic",
         "hospital",
         "urgent care",
-        "mychart",
-        # Giving matches "church" first, so a Methodist congregation still
-        # lands in Giving and only the outpatient centers arrive here.
-        "methodist",
     ),
     "Shopping": (
         "marshalls",
@@ -202,18 +182,13 @@
         "macy",
         "best buy",
         "apple store",
-        "shopwss",
         "fashion nova",
         "burlington",
-        "uptown cheapskate",
         "janie & jack",
         "david yurman",
         "dollar general",
     ),
     "Family Care": (
-        "aqua tots",
-        "brightwheel",
-        "brghtwhl",
         "daycare",
         "childcare",
         "kid",
@@ -233,14 +208,10 @@
         "netflix",
         "spotify",
         "subscription",
-        "rhythm ops",
-        "total wireless",
-        "tidal",
         "prime video",
     ),
     "Cash Withdrawal": ("atm", "cash withdrawal", "cash advance"),
     "Tuition": (
-        "regent univer",
         "university",
         "college",
         "tuition",
@@ -268,14 +239,9 @@
         "openrouter",
         "slack",
         "paddle",
-        # Homelab and fabrication hardware. Classified as business input by the
-        # account owner 2026-09-08, alongside the existing developer tooling.
         "ui.com",
         "ubiquiti",
         "newegg",
-        "bambula",
-        "connectech",
-        "pga frisco",
         # "GOOGLE  WORKSPACE" contains "spa" and was landing in Personal Care.
         # Matched on the bare word: the bank memo doubles the space after GOOGLE.
         "workspace",
@@ -286,11 +252,10 @@
     "Loan Payment": (
         "loan payment",
         "mortgage",
-        "mortg",  # Fidelity/Truist abbreviate: "TRUIST MORTG TEL MTGPMT"
+        "mortg",  # bank memos abbreviate: "ANYBANK MORTG TEL MTGPMT"
         "mtgpmt",
         "car payment",
         "student loan",
-        "aes stdnt",
     ),
     "Fees & Interest": (
         "interest charge",
@@ -317,7 +282,6 @@
     # returned-payment wording is listed there explicitly.
     "Entertainment": (
         "playstation",
-        "andretti",
         "bounce",
         "gamestop",
         "amc theat",
@@ -326,17 +290,13 @@
     "Home & Garden": (
         "home depot",
         "lowes",
-        "sawyer",
-        "smart core",
         "garden",
         "hardware",
         "furniture",
-        "bermuda dude",
         # "LIVING SPACES" contains "spa" and was landing in Personal Care.
         "living spaces",
         "lawn",
         "wayfair",
-        "flower shop",
     ),
     "Crypto Deposit": (
         "btc deposited",
@@ -347,6 +307,94 @@
     ),
 }
 
+PatternTable = dict[str, tuple[str, ...]]
+
+
+class MerchantRulesError(ValueError):
+    """The instance merchant-rules file is malformed."""
+
+
+class _UniqueKeyLoader(yaml.SafeLoader):
+    """SafeLoader that rejects a repeated mapping key.
+
+    Plain ``safe_load`` keeps only the last value for a repeated key, so a
+    second ``Groceries:`` block would silently drop the first one's patterns.
+    """
+
+    def construct_mapping(
+        self, node: yaml.MappingNode, deep: bool = False
+    ) -> dict[object, object]:
+        seen: set[object] = set()
+        for key_node, _ in node.value:
+            key = self.construct_object(key_node, deep=deep)
+            if not isinstance(key, Hashable):
+                raise yaml.constructor.ConstructorError(
+                    None, None, "found unhashable key", key_node.start_mark
+                )
+            if key in seen:
+                raise yaml.constructor.ConstructorError(
+                    None, None, f"duplicate key {key!r}", key_node.start_mark
+                )
+            seen.add(key)
+        return super().construct_mapping(node, deep=deep)
+
+
+def load_merchant_rules(path: Path) -> PatternTable:
+    """Read household merchant patterns from the instance.
+
+    The file maps a category name to a list of lowercase substrings, for
+    example ``Family Care: [little sprouts daycare]``. A missing file means
+    the household has no private rules yet and is not an error.
+
+    Raises:
+        MerchantRulesError: On a category the public table does not define, a
+            category listed twice, or a value that is not a list of strings,
+            so a typo blocks the sync instead of silently dropping rules.
+    """
+    if not path.is_file():
+        return {}
+    try:
+        text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        loaded = yaml.load(text, Loader=_UniqueKeyLoader)
+    except yaml.YAMLError as exc:
+        raise MerchantRulesError(f"{path} is not valid YAML: {exc}") from exc
+    if loaded is None:
+        return {}
+    if not isinstance(loaded, dict):
+        raise MerchantRulesError(f"{path} must be a mapping of category to patterns")
+    rules: PatternTable = {}
+    for category, patterns in loaded.items():
+        if category not in CATEGORY_PATTERNS:
+            raise MerchantRulesError(
+                f"{path}: unknown category {category!r}; "
+                f"choose one of {', '.join(CATEGORY_PATTERNS)}"
+            )
+        if patterns is None:
+            continue
+        if not isinstance(patterns, list) or not all(
+            isinstance(item, str) and item.strip() for item in patterns
+        ):
+            raise MerchantRulesError(
+                f"{path}: {category!r} must be a list of non-empty strings"
+            )
+        rules[category] = tuple(item.strip().lower() for item in patterns)
+    return rules
+
+
+def merge_patterns(
+    base: Mapping[str, tuple[str, ...]], extra: Mapping[str, tuple[str, ...]]
+) -> PatternTable:
+    """Append household patterns to each category of the public table.
+
+    Category order, and so match precedence, comes from ``base``. Household
+    patterns only extend a category; they never create or reorder one.
+    """
+    return {
+        category: patterns + tuple(extra.get(category, ()))
+        for category, patterns in base.items()
+    }
+
+
 # Categories that move money rather than consume it. Expense reviews should
 # exclude these from spend totals, otherwise a card purchase is counted twice:
 # once on the card account and again when the card bill is paid.
@@ -426,6 +474,7 @@ def categorize_expense(
     text: str | None,
     amount: float | None = None,
     account_name: str | None = None,
+    patterns: Mapping[str, tuple[str, ...]] | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     """Return the first matching expense category.
 
@@ -435,6 +484,9 @@ def categorize_expense(
         account_name: Owning account name. Required to distinguish business
             payroll from personal spending, because identical memo text
             ("Paid Check") means different things by account.
+        patterns: Pattern table to match against. Defaults to the public
+            table; the sync passes the public table merged with the
+            household's ``merchant-rules.yaml``.
 
     Returns:
         The matching category, ``Exempt``, or ``Uncategorized``.
@@ -467,8 +519,9 @@ def categorize_expense(
     ):
         return "Payroll"
 
-    for category, patterns in CATEGORY_PATTERNS.items():
-        if any(pattern in normalized for pattern in patterns):
+    table = CATEGORY_PATTERNS if patterns is None else patterns
+    for category, category_patterns in table.items():
+        if any(pattern in normalized for pattern in category_patterns):
             return category
 
     # Unmatched money arriving in a business account is revenue. Running this
diff --git a/src/integrations/simplefin/sync_expenses_db.py b/src/integrations/simplefin/sync_expenses_db.py
index a0115446..c4210e0e 100644
--- a/src/integrations/simplefin/sync_expenses_db.py
+++ b/src/integrations/simplefin/sync_expenses_db.py
@@ -13,7 +13,13 @@
 from typing import Any
 
 from src.config.instance_paths import InstancePaths, _db_path, load_instance_env
-from src.integrations.simplefin.categorize import categorize_expense
+from src.integrations.simplefin.categorize import (
+    CATEGORY_PATTERNS,
+    PatternTable,
+    categorize_expense,
+    load_merchant_rules,
+    merge_patterns,
+)
 
 
 class SimpleFinSyncError(RuntimeError):
@@ -160,7 +166,10 @@ def resolve_direction(text: str | None, amount: float | None) -> str:
 
 
 def normalize_transaction(
-    account: dict[str, Any], txn: dict[str, Any], now: str
+    account: dict[str, Any],
+    txn: dict[str, Any],
+    now: str,
+    patterns: PatternTable | None = None,
 ) -> tuple[Any, ...]:
     """Normalize a SimpleFIN transaction into database column order.
 
@@ -168,6 +177,8 @@ def normalize_transaction(
         account: SimpleFIN account containing the transaction.
         txn: SimpleFIN transaction payload.
         now: ISO timestamp for the current sync.
+        patterns: Category table, the public table merged with the household
+            rules. Defaults to the public table alone.
 
     Returns:
         A tuple matching the ``bank_transactions`` column order.
@@ -202,7 +213,7 @@ def normalize_transaction(
         txn.get("description"),
         amount,
         direction,
-        categorize_expense(category_text, amount, account.get("name")),
+        categorize_expense(category_text, amount, account.get("name"), patterns),
         now,
     )
 
@@ -213,6 +224,7 @@ def sync(
     months: int = 12,
     app_dir: Path = DEFAULT_APP_DIR,
     dump_provider: Callable[[int, Path], dict[str, Any]] = run_dump,
+    merchant_rules: Path | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Sync SimpleFIN transactions into the shared SQLite database.
 
@@ -221,14 +233,21 @@ def sync(
         months: Number of months of history to request.
         app_dir: Directory containing the SimpleFIN Bun application.
         dump_provider: Callable that returns a SimpleFIN account-set payload.
+        merchant_rules: Household ``merchant-rules.yaml``; ``None`` categorizes
+            with the public table alone.
 
     Returns:
         Counts and metadata describing the completed sync.
 
     Raises:
         SimpleFinSyncError: If the provider returns an invalid payload.
+        MerchantRulesError: If ``merchant_rules`` is malformed.
     """
     db = _db_path(database_url)
+    patterns = merge_patterns(
+        CATEGORY_PATTERNS,
+        load_merchant_rules(merchant_rules) if merchant_rules else {},
+    )
     now = datetime.now(UTC).replace(microsecond=0).isoformat()
     payload = dump_provider(months, app_dir)
     if not isinstance(payload, dict) or "accounts" not in payload:
@@ -257,7 +276,7 @@ def sync(
             if not txn.get("id"):
                 skipped_missing_id += 1
                 continue
-            row = normalize_transaction(account, txn, now)
+            row = normalize_transaction(account, txn, now, patterns)
             rows.append(row)
             category = str(row[10])
             by_category[category] = by_category.get(category, 0) + 1
@@ -345,7 +364,9 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
         return 0
 
     try:
-        summary = sync(database_url, months=args.months)
+        summary = sync(
+            database_url, months=args.months, merchant_rules=paths.merchant_rules
+        )
     except (SimpleFinSyncError, ValueError, RuntimeError, OSError) as exc:
         print(f"Sync error: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
         return 1
diff --git a/tests/python/fixtures/fidelity_history_golden.csv b/tests/python/fixtures/fidelity_history_golden.csv
index e8efffb7..989317e6 100644
--- a/tests/python/fixtures/fidelity_history_golden.csv
+++ b/tests/python/fixtures/fidelity_history_golden.csv
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@ Run Date,Action,Symbol,Description,Type,Price ($),Quantity,Commission ($),Fees (
 05/02/2026,"REINVESTMENT as of Apr-30-2026 J P MORGAN EXCHANGE TRADED FD EQUITY... (JEPI) (Cash)",JEPI,"J P MORGAN EXCHANGE TRADED FD EQUITY",Cash,55.00,1.818,,,,-100.00,-4150.00,
 05/01/2026,"JOURNALED JNL VS A/C TYPES as of May-01-2026 (Cash)",,"No Description",Cash,,0.000,,,,200.00,-4050.00,
 04/30/2026,"DIRECT DEBIT APPLECARD GSBAPAYMENT (Cash)", ,"No Description",Cash,,0.000,,,,-1500.00,-4250.00,
-04/29/2026,"DEBIT CARD PURCHASE H-E-B #458 PEARLAND TX 042926 AUTHID:123456 (Cash)",,"No Description",Cash,,0.000,,,,-75.00,-2750.00,
+04/29/2026,"DEBIT CARD PURCHASE H-E-B #458 ANYTOWN TX 042926 AUTHID:123456 (Cash)",,"No Description",Cash,,0.000,,,,-75.00,-2750.00,
diff --git a/tests/python/test_categorize.py b/tests/python/test_categorize.py
index dd8ad4c7..32388fb9 100644
--- a/tests/python/test_categorize.py
+++ b/tests/python/test_categorize.py
@@ -5,13 +5,20 @@
 credit card payments to Loan Payment.
 """
 
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+
 import pytest
 
 from src.integrations.simplefin.categorize import (
     BUSINESS_CATEGORIES,
+    CATEGORY_PATTERNS,
     NON_SPEND_CATEGORIES,
+    MerchantRulesError,
     categorize_expense,
     is_business_account,
+    load_merchant_rules,
+    merge_patterns,
 )
 
 
@@ -128,7 +135,7 @@ class TestTransfers:
         [
             "Transferred to Z Cash",
             "Transfer to brokerage",
-            "DIRECT DEBIT BMOBNK CK WEBXTRANSFER",
+            "DIRECT DEBIT ANYBANK CK WEBXTRANSFER",
             "Outgoing wire transfer",
         ],
     )
@@ -154,27 +161,27 @@ class TestCreditCardPayments:
         ],
     )
     def test_card_payments_are_credit_card_payment(self, text: str) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense(text, -9402.47) == "Credit Card Payment"
+        assert categorize_expense(text, -9400.00) == "Credit Card Payment"
 
     def test_real_loans_still_route_to_loan_payment(self) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense("DIRECT DEBIT AES STDNT LOAN", -4169.25) == (
+        assert categorize_expense("DIRECT DEBIT STUDENT LOAN SVC", -4200.00) == (
             "Loan Payment"
         )
-        assert categorize_expense("TRUIST MORTG TEL MTGPMT", -1500.00) == (
+        assert categorize_expense("ANYBANK MORTG TEL MTGPMT", -1500.00) == (
             "Loan Payment"
         )
 
     def test_amex_travel_still_beats_card_payment(self) -> None:
         """Travel is matched before Credit Card Payment on purpose."""
-        assert categorize_expense("American Express Travel", -813.44) == "Travel"
+        assert categorize_expense("American Express Travel", -800.00) == "Travel"
 
 
 class TestNewCategories:
     def test_church_giving(self) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense("Anglicanchurchofpentx", -100.00) == "Giving"
+        assert categorize_expense("First Church of Anytown", -100.00) == "Giving"
 
     def test_interest_charge_is_a_fee(self) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense("Interest Charge", -267.86) == "Fees & Interest"
+        assert categorize_expense("Interest Charge", -270.00) == "Fees & Interest"
 
     def test_vehicle_registration_is_transport(self) -> None:
         assert (
@@ -183,7 +190,7 @@ def test_vehicle_registration_is_transport(self) -> None:
         )
 
     def test_ai_tooling_is_a_business_expense(self) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense("Anthropic", -210.80) == "Business Expense"
+        assert categorize_expense("Anthropic", -210.00) == "Business Expense"
 
 
 class TestRawBankMemos:
@@ -203,7 +210,7 @@ class TestRawBankMemos:
             ("Transfer", "TRANSFER WITHDRAWAL To ....2222", "Transfer"),
             (
                 "State of Texas Vehicle Registration",
-                "BRAZORIA VEHREG 1302ANGLETON TX",
+                "ANYCOUNTY VEHREG 1302ANYTOWN TX",
                 "Auto & Transport",
             ),
         ],
@@ -215,10 +222,10 @@ def test_joined_payee_and_description(
 
     def test_raw_memo_alone_still_matches(self) -> None:
         """Even without the payee, the abbreviated memo must categorize."""
-        assert categorize_expense("DIRECT DEBIT AMEX EPAYMENT ACH PMT", -9402.47) == (
+        assert categorize_expense("DIRECT DEBIT AMEX EPAYMENT ACH PMT", -9400.00) == (
             "Credit Card Payment"
         )
-        assert categorize_expense("BRAZORIA VEHREG 1302ANGLETON TX", -272.00) == (
+        assert categorize_expense("ANYCOUNTY VEHREG 1302ANYTOWN TX", -272.00) == (
             "Auto & Transport"
         )
 
@@ -233,8 +240,8 @@ def test_membership(self) -> None:
 
     def test_double_count_case_is_excluded(self) -> None:
         """An Amex purchase and the Amex bill payment must not both count."""
-        purchase = categorize_expense("Amazon", -329.83)
-        bill = categorize_expense("American Express Credit Card", -9402.47)
+        purchase = categorize_expense("Amazon", -330.00)
+        bill = categorize_expense("American Express Credit Card", -9400.00)
         assert purchase not in NON_SPEND_CATEGORIES
         assert bill in NON_SPEND_CATEGORIES
 
@@ -250,7 +257,7 @@ class TestUnchangedBehaviour:
             ("Tesla Supercharger", "Auto & Transport"),
             ("CVS Pharmacy", "Health & Wellness"),
             ("Amazon", "Shopping"),
-            ("Brightwheel", "Family Care"),
+            ("Sunny Days Daycare", "Family Care"),
             ("Netflix subscription", "Bills & Utilities"),
             ("ATM cash withdrawal", "Cash Withdrawal"),
         ],
@@ -276,7 +283,7 @@ class TestSubstringCollisions:
     )
     def test_spaxx_sweep_is_exempt_not_personal_care(self, memo: str) -> None:
         """ "SPAXX" contains "spa", so every core sweep was booked as a spa visit."""
-        assert categorize_expense(memo, 7716.47, "Cash Management (4444)") == "Exempt"
+        assert categorize_expense(memo, 7700.00, "Cash Management (4444)") == "Exempt"
 
     def test_real_spa_still_reaches_personal_care(self) -> None:
         assert categorize_expense("SERENITY DAY SPA", -120.00, None) == "Personal Care"
@@ -287,8 +294,8 @@ def test_store_purchase_is_not_a_card_payment(self) -> None:
         bill payment, which excluded a real purchase from spend totals."""
         assert (
             categorize_expense(
-                "Macy's Credit Card MACYS PEARLAND TWN CTR",
-                -255.42,
+                "Macy's Credit Card MACYS ANYTOWN TWN CTR",
+                -255.00,
                 "Sapphire Preferred (3333)",
             )
             == "Shopping"
@@ -296,14 +303,14 @@ def test_store_purchase_is_not_a_card_payment(self) -> None:
 
     def test_actual_card_payment_still_classified(self) -> None:
         assert (
-            categorize_expense("Chase Credit Card CHASE CREDIT CRD", -38.19, None)
+            categorize_expense("Chase Credit Card CHASE CREDIT CRD", -38.00, None)
             == "Credit Card Payment"
         )
 
     def test_food_delivery_is_dining_not_rideshare(self) -> None:
         """ "Uber Eats" contains "uber"; Auto & Transport was claiming it."""
         assert categorize_expense("Uber Eats", -1.84, None) == "Dining Out"
-        assert categorize_expense("Uber", -36.94, None) == "Auto & Transport"
+        assert categorize_expense("Uber", -37.00, None) == "Auto & Transport"
 
 
 class TestCardPaymentCreditLeg:
@@ -321,7 +328,7 @@ class TestCardPaymentCreditLeg:
         ],
     )
     def test_thank_you_credit_is_a_card_payment(self, memo: str) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense(memo, 20009.65, "Platinum Card® (3333)") == (
+        assert categorize_expense(memo, 20000.00, "Platinum Card® (3333)") == (
             "Credit Card Payment"
         )
 
@@ -337,12 +344,12 @@ class TestBusinessIncome:
     PERSONAL = "360 Checking (2222)"
 
     def test_unmatched_credit_on_business_account_is_income(self) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense("CGSOPERATING", 12320.00, self.BIZ) == (
+        assert categorize_expense("ACME OPERATING", 12000.00, self.BIZ) == (
             "Business Income"
         )
 
     def test_unmatched_credit_on_personal_account_is_not_income(self) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense("SOME MERCHANT", 12320.00, self.PERSONAL) == (
+        assert categorize_expense("SOME MERCHANT", 12000.00, self.PERSONAL) == (
             "Uncategorized"
         )
 
@@ -369,15 +376,11 @@ class TestEntertainment:
         ("memo", "expected"),
         [
             ("PlayStation Network", "Entertainment"),
-            ("CE ANDRETTIS", "Entertainment"),
             ("Bounce", "Entertainment"),
-            # The account owner classified the PGA Frisco charge as a business
-            # trip on 2026-09-08, so it belongs to the business bucket.
-            ("PGA FRISCO FRONT", "Business Expense"),
         ],
     )
     def test_recreation_patterns(self, memo: str, expected: str) -> None:
-        assert categorize_expense(memo, -292.24, None) == expected
+        assert categorize_expense(memo, -290.00, None) == expected
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "memo",
@@ -412,7 +415,6 @@ class TestSpaPatternFallout:
                 "Sapphire Preferred (3333)",
                 "Home & Garden",
             ),
-            ("CLOUD 9 SPA PEARLAND", "Rewards Card (5555)", "Personal Care"),
         ],
     )
     def test_merchants_the_spa_pattern_had_captured(
@@ -420,7 +422,7 @@ def test_merchants_the_spa_pattern_had_captured(
     ) -> None:
         """Removing the bare "spa" pattern must not drop these into
         Uncategorized: each one needs its own explicit pattern."""
-        assert categorize_expense(memo, -202.75, account) == expected
+        assert categorize_expense(memo, -200.00, account) == expected
 
     def test_inbound_transfer_is_not_business_income(self) -> None:
         """ "Instant Transfer Received From ...." does not contain "transfer
@@ -433,3 +435,73 @@ def test_inbound_transfer_is_not_business_income(self) -> None:
             )
             == "Transfer"
         )
+
+
+class TestMerchantRules:
+    """Household merchants live in the instance, never in the public table."""
+
+    def test_missing_file_means_no_household_rules(self, tmp_path) -> None:
+        assert load_merchant_rules(tmp_path / "merchant-rules.yaml") == {}
+
+    def test_rules_extend_a_category_without_reordering(self, tmp_path) -> None:
+        rules = tmp_path / "merchant-rules.yaml"
+        rules.write_text(
+            "Groceries:\n  - Corner Market\nFamily Care:\n  - little sprouts\n"
+        )
+        merged = merge_patterns(CATEGORY_PATTERNS, load_merchant_rules(rules))
+        assert list(merged) == list(CATEGORY_PATTERNS)
+        assert merged["Groceries"][-1] == "corner market"
+        assert (
+            categorize_expense("CORNER MARKET #12", -40.00, None, merged) == "Groceries"
+        )
+        assert (
+            categorize_expense("LITTLE SPROUTS", -40.00, None, merged) == "Family Care"
+        )
+        # The public table alone still knows nothing about the household.
+        assert categorize_expense("LITTLE SPROUTS", -40.00, None) == "Uncategorized"
+
+    def test_public_table_order_still_decides_ties(self, tmp_path) -> None:
+        """A household pattern in a later category cannot outrank an earlier
+        category's match; precedence stays with the public table."""
+        rules = tmp_path / "merchant-rules.yaml"
+        rules.write_text("Shopping:\n  - church store\n")
+        merged = merge_patterns(CATEGORY_PATTERNS, load_merchant_rules(rules))
+        assert categorize_expense("CHURCH STORE", -20.00, None, merged) == "Giving"
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "body",
+        [
+            "Snacks:\n  - corner market\n",
+            "Groceries: corner market\n",
+            "Groceries:\n  - ''\n",
+            "- Groceries\n",
+            "Groceries:\n  - corner market\nGroceries:\n  - farm stand\n",
+            "[]\n",
+            "false\n",
+            "? [Groceries, Shopping]\n: [corner market]\n",
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_malformed_rules_block_instead_of_dropping(
+        self, tmp_path, body: str
+    ) -> None:
+        rules = tmp_path / "merchant-rules.yaml"
+        rules.write_text(body)
+        with pytest.raises(MerchantRulesError):
+            load_merchant_rules(rules)
+
+
+def test_category_rules_doc_mirrors_the_public_table() -> None:
+    """CategoryRules.md lists every public pattern per category, in table order."""
+    doc = (
+        Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+        / ".claude"
+        / "skills"
+        / "TransactionSyncing"
+        / "CategoryRules.md"
+    ).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    listed = doc.split("## Public table", 1)[1]
+    documented: dict[str, tuple[str, ...]] = {}
+    for block in listed.split("### ")[1:]:
+        heading, _, body = block.partition("\n")
+        documented[heading.strip()] = tuple(re.findall(r"`([^`]+)`", body))
+    assert documented == CATEGORY_PATTERNS
diff --git a/tests/python/test_instance_init.py b/tests/python/test_instance_init.py
index 06a46d4b..1c0572a4 100644
--- a/tests/python/test_instance_init.py
+++ b/tests/python/test_instance_init.py
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ def test_fresh_root_creates_complete_instance(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
         root / ".gitignore",
         paths.env_file,
         paths.profile,
+        paths.merchant_rules,
         root / "AGENTS.md",
         root / "CLAUDE.md",
     )
diff --git a/tests/python/test_simplefin_expenses.py b/tests/python/test_simplefin_expenses.py
index b0cf78ac..af187df0 100644
--- a/tests/python/test_simplefin_expenses.py
+++ b/tests/python/test_simplefin_expenses.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def test_default_app_dir_is_checkout_owned(tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
                     "id": "TXN-pending",
                     "posted": 0,
                     "payee": "H-E-B",
-                    "description": "H-E-B #063 PEARLAND TX",
+                    "description": "H-E-B #063 ANYTOWN TX",
                     "amount": "12.34",
                 },
             ],
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def test_default_app_dir_is_checkout_owned(tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
 
 
 def test_categorize_expense_patterns_and_exemptions() -> None:
-    assert categorize_expense("H-E-B #063 PEARLAND TX") == "Groceries"
+    assert categorize_expense("H-E-B #063 ANYTOWN TX") == "Groceries"
     assert categorize_expense("CHUCK E CHEESE 578") == "Dining Out"
     assert categorize_expense("Tesla SUPERCHA 123") == "Auto & Transport"
     assert categorize_expense("OPENAI *CHATGPT SUBSCR") == "Business Expense"
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def test_resolve_direction_prefers_feed_wording_over_sign() -> None:
         == "credit"
     )
     assert (
-        resolve_direction("DIRECT DEPOSIT Ridgeline SerPAYROLL (Cash)", -2273.03)
+        resolve_direction("DIRECT DEPOSIT Ridgeline SerPAYROLL (Cash)", -2300.00)
         == "credit"
     )
     assert (
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def test_resolve_direction_prefers_feed_wording_over_sign() -> None:
     # A debit marker with an unexpectedly positive amount still reads as outflow.
     assert resolve_direction("DIRECT DEBIT CHASE CREDIT CAUTOPAY", 600.00) == "debit"
     # No marker falls back to sign.
-    assert resolve_direction("H-E-B #063 PEARLAND TX", -54.13) == "debit"
+    assert resolve_direction("H-E-B #063 ANYTOWN TX", -54.13) == "debit"
     assert resolve_direction("Capital One", 2000.00) == "credit"
     assert resolve_direction(None, None) == "credit"
 
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ def test_resolve_direction_handles_fidelity_card_and_transfer_wording() -> None:
     # Outflows the feed reported as positive.
     assert (
         resolve_direction(
-            "CASH ADVANCE *SEDONA LAKES MANVEL TX 081826 AUTHID:624330 (Cash)", 654.00
+            "CASH ADVANCE *LAKESIDE ANYTOWN TX 081826 AUTHID:624330 (Cash)", 654.00
         )
         == "debit"
     )
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ def test_resolve_direction_handles_fidelity_card_and_transfer_wording() -> None:
     )
     assert (
         resolve_direction(
-            "DEBIT CARD PURCHASE CASH APP*ANGLICAN CHUR cash.app TX 082726", 20.00
+            "DEBIT CARD PURCHASE CASH APP*FIRST CHURCH cash.app TX 082726", 20.00
         )
         == "debit"
     )
@@ -227,9 +227,9 @@ def test_retirement_account_activity_is_not_household_spending() -> None:
     too generic to match on (a charitable contribution is real spending).
     """
     retirement = "EXAMPLE EMPLOYER 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN"
-    assert categorize_expense("contribution", -123.08, retirement) == "Retirement"
-    assert categorize_expense("contribution", -30.77, retirement) == "Retirement"
-    assert categorize_expense("dividend", 7.84, retirement) == "Retirement"
+    assert categorize_expense("contribution", -120.00, retirement) == "Retirement"
+    assert categorize_expense("contribution", -30.00, retirement) == "Retirement"
+    assert categorize_expense("dividend", 8.00, retirement) == "Retirement"
     # Retirement must be excluded from household spending totals.
     assert "Retirement" in NON_SPEND_CATEGORIES
     # A contribution on a normal account is still ordinary spending, not Retirement.
@@ -252,20 +252,58 @@ def test_inbound_direct_deposits_are_payroll_regardless_of_employer_memo() -> No
     """
     cma = "Cash Management (Joint WROS) (0001)"
     assert (
-        categorize_expense("DIRECT DEPOSIT ACME STAFFINGDIR DEP (Cash)", 2207.38, cma)
+        categorize_expense("DIRECT DEPOSIT ACME STAFFINGDIR DEP (Cash)", 2200.00, cma)
         == "Payroll"
     )
     assert (
-        categorize_expense("DIRECT DEPOSIT Ridgeline SerACH (Cash)", 2273.03, cma)
+        categorize_expense("DIRECT DEPOSIT Ridgeline SerACH (Cash)", 2300.00, cma)
         == "Payroll"
     )
     # Already-working variants must not regress.
     assert (
-        categorize_expense("DIRECT DEPOSIT NORTHFIELD COLLPAYROLL (Cash)", 2431.51, cma)
+        categorize_expense("DIRECT DEPOSIT NORTHFIELD COLLPAYROLL (Cash)", 2400.00, cma)
         == "Payroll"
     )
     # Sub-dollar bank verification deposits stay Exempt, not payroll.
     assert (
-        categorize_expense("DIRECT DEPOSIT WELLS FARGO ACCTVERIFY", 0.29, cma)
+        categorize_expense("DIRECT DEPOSIT WELLS FARGO ACCTVERIFY", 0.25, cma)
         == "Exempt"
     )
+
+
+def test_sync_applies_household_merchant_rules(tmp_path) -> None:
+    """A merchant known only to merchant-rules.yaml reaches the database with
+    its household category; without the file it stays Uncategorized."""
+    rules = tmp_path / "merchant-rules.yaml"
+    rules.write_text("Family Care:\n  - little sprouts\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    database_url = f"sqlite:///{tmp_path / 'fo.db'}"
+
+    def fake_dump(months: int, app_dir) -> dict:
+        return {
+            "accounts": [
+                {
+                    "id": "acct-1",
+                    "name": "Rewards Card (5555)",
+                    "org": {"name": "Any Bank"},
+                    "transactions": [
+                        {
+                            "id": "t1",
+                            "posted": 1755000000,
+                            "amount": "-40.00",
+                            "payee": "Little Sprouts",
+                            "description": "LITTLE SPROUTS ANYTOWN TX",
+                        }
+                    ],
+                }
+            ]
+        }
+
+    sync(database_url, dump_provider=fake_dump)
+    conn = sqlite3.connect(tmp_path / "fo.db")
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT category FROM bank_transactions").fetchone() == (
+        "Uncategorized",
+    )
+    sync(database_url, dump_provider=fake_dump, merchant_rules=rules)
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT category FROM bank_transactions").fetchone() == (
+        "Family Care",
+    )
diff --git a/tests/python/test_snaptrade_db_sync.py b/tests/python/test_snaptrade_db_sync.py
index dac22568..919f7443 100644
--- a/tests/python/test_snaptrade_db_sync.py
+++ b/tests/python/test_snaptrade_db_sync.py
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ def test_categorize_matches_and_prioritizes_transfers() -> None:
     """Merchant text maps to the right category; transfers win over merchant reads."""
     from src.integrations.simplefin.categorize import categorize_expense as categorize
 
-    assert categorize("H-E-B #063 Pearland TX") == "Groceries"
-    assert categorize("CVS/PHARMACY # MANVEL TX") == "Health & Wellness"
+    assert categorize("H-E-B #063 Anytown TX") == "Groceries"
+    assert categorize("CVS/PHARMACY # ANYTOWN TX") == "Health & Wellness"
     assert categorize("Delta Airlines") == "Travel"
     # "American Express Travel" must read as Travel, not a bank/transfer
     assert categorize("American Express Travel") == "Travel"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index bd3df1a4..fa25bcd6 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "family-office"
-version = "2.3.2"
+version = "2.3.3"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "anthropic" },