diff --git a/src/app/dashboard/add-data.component.html b/src/app/dashboard/add-data.component.html
index c413237..2f079f5 100644
--- a/src/app/dashboard/add-data.component.html
+++ b/src/app/dashboard/add-data.component.html
@@ -24,6 +24,15 @@
               <span class="help-block">Enter the amount spent, such as 5.35 for £5.35.</span>
             </div>
           </div>
+          <div class="form-group row">
+            <label class="col-md-3 form-control-label" for="text-input"><strong>Essential Purchase</strong></label>
+            <div class="col-md-9">
+              <div class="input-group">
+                <input type="checkbox" class="form-control" [(ngModel)]="essentialPurchase" (ngModelChange)="transactionFormValidate()">
+              </div>
+              <span class="help-block">Choose if the purchase is deemed essential for budgeting purposes.</span>
+            </div>
+          </div>
           <div class="form-group row">
             <label class="col-md-3 form-control-label" for="text-input">Budget Type</label>
             <div class="col-md-9">
diff --git a/src/app/dashboard/add-data.component.ts b/src/app/dashboard/add-data.component.ts
index 48622bf..1f0f569 100644
--- a/src/app/dashboard/add-data.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/dashboard/add-data.component.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ export class AddDataComponent implements OnInit {
   amount: number;
   // Assumes Groceries is 1st category
   categoryId: number = 1;
+  essentialPurchase: any;
   transactionAdditionType = 1;
   storeList = [];
   showAddStore = false;
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ export class AddDataComponent implements OnInit {
           purchase_time     : purchaseTime,
           organisation_id   : this.organisationId,
           category          : this.categoryId,
+          essential         : this.essentialPurchase,
         };
         break;
       case 2:
@@ -204,7 +206,7 @@ export class AddDataComponent implements OnInit {
           transaction_value : this.amount,
           purchase_time     : purchaseTime,
           organisation_id   : this.organisationId,
-          category          : this.categoryId,
+          essential         : this.essentialPurchase,
         };
         break;
       case 3:
@@ -216,7 +218,7 @@ export class AddDataComponent implements OnInit {
           street_name       : this.submitOrg.street_name,
           town              : this.submitOrg.town,
           postcode          : this.submitOrg.postcode,
-          category          : this.categoryId,
+          essential         : this.essentialPurchase,
         };
         break;
     }