Location-based notification to a user before the user engages in a transaction at a location. Embodiments determine a location of a store at which the user is in or near by using positioning data received at a mobile communication device and determines a potential transaction amount for the user at the store and generates budget data based at least in part on a budget goal identified from a local memory of the mobile communication device or received from a remotely hosted financial management system. Budget data is presented to the user, e.g., in the form of a message, notification, or warning on the mobile communication device to inform the user about budget items relevant to a merchant at that location. The user may choose to initiate or complete a transaction at the location with or without involving the financial management system.