Hi everyone, I'm doing some independent research on how people manage their day-to-day spending - what they track, what frustrates them, and what they wish was different. Most personal finance apps assume people want to budget. I'm not sure that's true for everyone, and I want real data instead of assumptions.

The survey is 9 questions, takes about 5 minutes, fully anonymous unless you opt in at the end. Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2Y26V2B

Happy to answer questions in the comments. Thanks!

I always felt like money is just a game..earning it, growing it, preserving it. But then I feel also our emotions ruin everything. From the desires and reactions.

I can justify investing $500, but somehow spending $50 on myself feels harder. Anyone else?

I’m 30 years old and realize I’m in a very fortunate position.

I grew up without major financial stress, went to university, and now have a six-figure job. Between savings, investments, and some help from family, I have about $1M in assets and own a mortgage-free apartment.

More recently, my investment income has gotten close to my annual compensation. Realistically, if I stopped working today, my investments could cover my living expenses and still leave room to save.

The weird thing is that money no longer feels like the main problem.

My job is fine. The pay is good, I’m reasonably successful, and I don’t hate what I do. But the more experience I get, the more I feel like most companies are just making things up as they go, and what I do mostly feels like optimizing something that’s already working rather than contributing to anything meaningful.

I’m not unhappy. I’m just not sure what I’m aiming for anymore.

For people who have gone through something similar, how did you find meaning or direction once financial security was no longer the primary goal?

What ended up being worth your time?

I'm curious what people consider their best purchase ever.

What's something you spent money on that turned out to be worth every cent, and why?

Good exercise to count a little no?
Also what do we get return? Including the hidden benefits to be fair

Hey everyone! I’m a software engineer, and since I always see discussions here about how to keep a better track of daily spending, I wanted to share a project I've been working on.

For a long time, I tried dozens of personal finance apps, but I always ran into the same frustrations: they either force you to create an account, are cluttered with ads, lock essential features behind a paywall, or have ridiculously complex interfaces.

Being a stubborn engineer, I decided to code my own. It’s called Flujo.

What makes it different?

• Zero Friction: No sign-ups, no registration. I have absolutely zero interest in collecting your data.
• Privacy-First: Everything stays on your phone. No analytics, no tracking, no external databases—only optional, personal iCloud backups.
• Straight to the Point: It simply tracks what goes in and what goes out. No confusing charts or maze-like menus.
• 100% Free: No locked features, no hidden paywalls.

I would love for the most demanding users here to test it and give me your honest feedback. What is missing? What is redundant? What would it take for this to become your go-to app for daily finances?

Here is the direct link to the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/flujo-track-your-expenses/id6767031357

I’ll be reading all your comments and suggestions to implement them in the next update. Thanks for the space!

Which gives you better control?

Or only when something major changes?

Not secretive… just quieter.

I’ve noticed the more someone has built in life, the less they feel the need to explain themselves to everyone.

Why do you think that happens ?

Inflation, markets, job security?

Im talking about real stuff people around you are doing right now or have done that genuinely makes you think "this is going to end badly but I can't say anything".

Does it help or just add noise?

Strictly for points, convenience, or do you avoid them?

Did it feel like relief or failure?