# Financial Memory — Notes Guide

Capture and organize everything important that doesn't belong in a transaction ledger.

## Before Writing

1. **Search first**: Search the `notes/` directory to check if a related note already exists
2. **Update, don't duplicate**: If a related note exists, read it, then edit to insert new info under the right section
3. **Create only when new**: Only create a genuinely new note at the appropriate `notes/` path

## Notes Directory Structure

```
notes/
├── profile.md                  # User profile (living document)
├── calendar.md                 # Payment calendar (living document)
│
├── assets/                     # Things the user owns
│   ├── 房产-xxx小区.md          # Each property
│   ├── 车辆-Ford-Explorer.md   # Each vehicle
│   ├── 投资-IBKR.md            # Investment accounts
│   └── 加密-Binance.md         # Crypto holdings
│
├── liabilities/                # Things the user owes
│   ├── BOC-房贷.md             # Mortgages
│   ├── 车贷-Ford.md            # Car loans
│   └── 张三-借款.md            # Personal loans
│
├── insurance/                  # Insurance policies
│   ├── 平安-重疾险.md
│   └── 车险-PICC.md
│
├── accounts/                   # Bank/payment account details
│   ├── CMB-1234.md             # Per-card details (limits, benefits, billing dates)
│   └── WeChat-Main.md
│
├── subscriptions/              # Recurring subscriptions
│   └── summary.md              # All subscriptions in one file
│
├── income/                     # Income sources
│   └── details.md              # Salary, freelance, rental income
│
├── decisions/                  # Decision log (APPEND-ONLY)
│   └── 2026.md                 # One file per year, append each decision
│
└── journal/                    # Conversation captures (APPEND-ONLY)
    └── 2026.md                 # One file per year, append notable items
```

## Two Types of Notes

### Living Documents (overwrite to keep current)

These always reflect the LATEST state. When something changes, update the "Current Status" section.

**Which notes are living:**
- `profile.md` — user info, preferences
- `calendar.md` — payment schedule
- `assets/*.md` — current value, current status
- `liabilities/*.md` — current balance, current rate
- `insurance/*.md` — current policy details
- `accounts/*.md` — current limits, current benefits
- `subscriptions/summary.md` — active subscriptions
- `income/details.md` — current income sources

**How to update living documents:**
- Overwrite the "Current Status" or "Key Facts" section (rewrite the full file with updated content)
- ALSO append to the "History" section to record what changed

Example:
```
1. Rewrite notes/assets/房产-xxx小区.md with updated rental amount
2. Append under "## History": "- 2026-04-01: Rent increased from 5000 to 8000"
```

### Append-Only Logs (never overwrite, only grow)

These are historical records. They only get new entries, never lose old ones.

**Which notes are append-only:**
- `decisions/*.md` — decision rationale and context
- `journal/*.md` — notable conversation captures

**How to update append-only logs:**
- Always read first and then append, never overwrite
- Each entry starts with date: `- 2026-03-19: ...`

## Note Format

Every note MUST have YAML frontmatter:

```yaml
---
tags: [relevant, tags, here]
type: living  # or "log"
related_documents:
  - documents/YYYY/MM/filename.ext
related_accounts:
  - Assets:Account:Name
created: YYYY-MM-DD
updated: YYYY-MM-DD
---
```

## Standard Sections for Living Documents

Use these section headers consistently:

- `## Current Status` — The current state (overwritten when things change)
- `## Key Facts` — Core details that rarely change (purchase date, address, etc.)
- `## Related Documents` — Links to files in documents/
- `## History` — Chronological record of changes (append-only within a living doc)
- `## Decision Notes` — Why decisions were made about this topic
- `## Notes` — Additional context, reminders

## What to Capture

### Financial Facts -> Living documents
- Asset details: property price, mortgage terms, vehicle info -> `assets/`
- Contract terms: lease duration, renewal dates, clauses -> `assets/` or `liabilities/`
- Insurance: coverage, premiums, claim procedures -> `insurance/`
- Loan terms: rates, payment schedules, remaining balance -> `liabilities/`
- Subscription details: what's included, cancellation policy -> `subscriptions/`
- Income details: salary components, bonus structure, benefits -> `income/`
- Account details: credit limits, billing dates, rewards -> `accounts/`

### Decision Context -> Append-only log
- **Why** a financial decision was made, not just what
- Alternatives considered and rejected
- "Chose BOC over ICBC because of 0.2% lower rate"

```
Append to notes/decisions/2026.md under "## March":
"- 2026-03-19: Discussed refinancing. Decided to wait until 2029 rate review. Current rate (3.1%) still below investment returns (~5%)."
```

### Conversation Captures -> Append-only log
- Details that explain a transaction: "the 2500 dinner was a business client dinner"
- Informal agreements: "lent 5000 to Zhang San on March 1"
- Upcoming changes: "rent increases to 8000 starting April"

```
Append to notes/journal/2026.md under "## March":
"- 2026-03-19: User mentioned rent is increasing to 8000 starting April. Updated assets/房产-xxx小区.md accordingly."
```

### Relationships -> Relevant living document
- Between people and money -> `liabilities/张三-借款.md` or `people/张三.md`
- Between accounts -> note in the relevant `accounts/` file

## When NOT to Capture

- Transaction amounts (those go in the ledger)
- Temporary plans ("I'm going shopping tomorrow")
- Opinions unrelated to finances

## Tone

- Don't announce every note save — just do it quietly
- For significant captures, briefly confirm: "Got it, I've noted your rent increase."
- Never ask "should I save this?" — if it's financial info, save it
