What is "Available to Spend"?
Your Available to Spend balance is the real-time amount you can use right now — for card purchases, ATM withdrawals, transfers, tap-to-pay, and online shopping.
Always refer to this number, not the transaction list, to know what you can actually spend.
The 2 Types of "Pending"
1. Pending Tip Payout
Your money IS available for card purchases — but transfers must wait.
When your employer sends a tip payout, it may appear as "pending" in your transaction history while the app processes it internally. This is normal. Here's what you can and can't do while the payout is still pending:
You CAN use pending funds immediately for:
Card purchases
ATM withdrawals
You must wait until the payout posts to:
Transfer funds to your linked bank account via ACH
Once the payout moves from "pending" to posted, you'll be able to initiate outbound transfers. If your tips remain in pending status for more than a few business days and you need to transfer, contact HausMoney support so we can review your account.
2. Pending Card Transaction / Pre-Authorization Hold
Your money is temporarily held.
When you make a purchase with your HausMoney card — especially at restaurants, bars, gas stations, grocery stores, or hotels — the merchant may place a pre-authorization hold on your account before the final transaction is processed. This hold temporarily reduces your Available to Spend balance.
Common situations:
A restaurant opens a tab before the tip is added
A gas station pre-authorizes a set amount before the final fill-up total
A hotel or car rental holds a deposit amount
A declined purchase that still shows as held
This is standard card processing across all industries — it is not a HausMoney error.
How long does it take to release?
Most holds release within 24 hours once the merchant finalizes the transaction
In some cases it can take up to 7 business days, depending on the merchant
Hotel and car rental reservations are an exception — these can place holds for up to 30 days, or until the reservation is finalized or cancelled
🏨 Planning a hotel stay or car rental? The merchant may hold funds on your card for the estimated total — sometimes including a security deposit — for the full duration of your reservation, up to 30 days. This amount will be unavailable in your Available to Spend balance until the reservation is settled. Plan accordingly and ensure you have enough available funds before booking.
⚠️ If more than 7 business days have passed on a regular purchase hold — or more than 30 days on a reservation hold — and the funds have not been released, contact HausMoney support.
Transaction Label Reference
Label in app | What it means |
Pending (on a tip payout) | Processing internally — funds typically already available for card purchases; ACH transfers require posting first |
Pending (on a card transaction) | Pre-auth hold — temporarily reduces Available to Spend |
Purchase Pre-authorization Hold | Merchant hold on funds; releases within 24 hours to 7 business days (up to 30 days for hotels/car rentals) |
Example
You have $1,000 in your HausMoney account. You make a $125 gas purchase (pre-auth hold) and have a $250 hotel reservation on hold. Your Available to Spend will show $625 — even if those transactions still appear as "pending." Once the merchant finalizes the charges, the holds release and your balance updates.
Key Takeaways
Always check Available to Spend — not the pending list — to know what you can use
A pending tip payout means you can spend with your card immediately, but must wait for it to post before transferring to your bank
A pending card transaction temporarily locks those funds until the merchant finalizes
Pre-auth holds typically release within 24 hours, but can take up to 7 business days
Hotel and car rental reservations can hold funds for up to 30 days — plan your balance accordingly before booking
If tips are pending and blocking transfers, or if a hold hasn't released within the expected timeframe, contact support
Still have questions? Contact our customer success team at [email protected] or call +1-253-693-0366 and select HausMoney.