 | We weren't looking for another budgeting app. In fact, we weren't really looking for a budgeting app at all. We had been using EveryDollar for our household budget, but when it was no longer available in Canada, we stopped tracking our spending consistently. We looked at a few alternatives, but honestly, we didn't want to pay for another budgeting app. Meanwhile, AI-assisted software development was changing how quickly we could turn an idea into something real. Kevin was already using Claude Code extensively in his professional development work. We started wondering: what could we build ourselves if we applied that same approach to a problem we actually had? So we built Penny Pal. |
The problem
We didn't need a revolutionary new approach to personal finance. Budgeting apps have been around forever.
We wanted something simple that would help us answer a few basic questions:
We also didn't want to connect the app directly to our bank accounts. The API connections required to do that can add cost and complexity, and this was an internal tool for our own household.
Instead, we download our transactions as a CSV and import them into Penny Pal.
It's one extra step, but for us, it works.
We wanted something simple that would help us answer a few basic questions:
- How much have we spent?
- Are we on track for the month?
- Which areas are getting away from us?
We also didn't want to connect the app directly to our bank accounts. The API connections required to do that can add cost and complexity, and this was an internal tool for our own household.
Instead, we download our transactions as a CSV and import them into Penny Pal.
It's one extra step, but for us, it works.
Building around how we actually budget
One of our favourite parts of Penny Pal is the idea of a spending pulse.
Our fixed expenses don't need much attention. We know roughly what the mortgage, utilities and other recurring costs will be each month.
It's the variable spending we need to watch.
So instead of filling the dashboard with every budget category, we can create a pulse around the things we actually want to keep an eye on:
A pulse can include one category or several categories, depending on what we want to monitor.
It's a small feature, but it reflects something we learned while building the app: sometimes the best interface isn't the one that shows you everything. It's the one that shows you what you need to pay attention to.
Our fixed expenses don't need much attention. We know roughly what the mortgage, utilities and other recurring costs will be each month.
It's the variable spending we need to watch.
So instead of filling the dashboard with every budget category, we can create a pulse around the things we actually want to keep an eye on:
- Check the pulse on groceries.
- Check the pulse on kid's extra-cirriculars.
- Check the pulse on another group of expenses.
A pulse can include one category or several categories, depending on what we want to monitor.
It's a small feature, but it reflects something we learned while building the app: sometimes the best interface isn't the one that shows you everything. It's the one that shows you what you need to pay attention to.
A little friendly accountability
When we open Penny Pal, the app looks at our income and budget and calculates where it thinks we should be at that point in the month.
If we're spending less than expected, we get a little encouragement.
If we're spending more, we get a reminder that we're getting ahead of ourselves.
We can see this at the overall budget level, drill into individual categories, or check one of our spending pulses.
It's not exactly a financial advisor. It's more like having a small, mildly judgmental budgeting buddy sitting on your phone.
If we're spending less than expected, we get a little encouragement.
If we're spending more, we get a reminder that we're getting ahead of ourselves.
We can see this at the overall budget level, drill into individual categories, or check one of our spending pulses.
It's not exactly a financial advisor. It's more like having a small, mildly judgmental budgeting buddy sitting on your phone.
Built with Claude Code
Penny Pal was built entirely using Claude Code.
But the interesting part isn't that an AI generated the application. The interesting part is the development process.
We didn't describe the app once and get a finished product.
We use it ourselves. We find something that doesn't work. We notice that something doesn't make sense. We realize that a feature we thought was useful isn't actually useful.
Then we go back and change it.
And repeat.
That feedback loop has made it surprisingly fun to build.
It has also given us a practical way to see what AI-assisted development can do when it's combined with real users, real feedback and someone who understands how to turn an idea into working software.
But the interesting part isn't that an AI generated the application. The interesting part is the development process.
We didn't describe the app once and get a finished product.
We use it ourselves. We find something that doesn't work. We notice that something doesn't make sense. We realize that a feature we thought was useful isn't actually useful.
Then we go back and change it.
And repeat.
That feedback loop has made it surprisingly fun to build.
It has also given us a practical way to see what AI-assisted development can do when it's combined with real users, real feedback and someone who understands how to turn an idea into working software.
Different perspectives, one app
As a husband-and-wife team, we approach the 'budgeting' problem differently.
Kevin naturally thinks more about long-term planning and cash flow.
Christine is more interested in tracking what is actually happening day to day, which may have something to do with spending years working in project management.
Penny Pal sits somewhere in the middle.
It's a planning tool, a tracking tool, and a way to quickly see where we're doing well and where we need to pay attention.
Kevin naturally thinks more about long-term planning and cash flow.
Christine is more interested in tracking what is actually happening day to day, which may have something to do with spending years working in project management.
Penny Pal sits somewhere in the middle.
It's a planning tool, a tracking tool, and a way to quickly see where we're doing well and where we need to pay attention.
Why Penny Pal?
Kevin came up with the name, but we liked it. There's something to the old idea that if you take care of the pennies, the pounds will take care of themselves.
Penny Pal is essentially our little companion for doing exactly that. Plus the home screen icon is kinda cute.
Penny Pal is essentially our little companion for doing exactly that. Plus the home screen icon is kinda cute.
What's next?
For now, Penny Pal is an internal tool. We're using it ourselves and continuing to improve it as we discover what works and what doesn't.
We're not trying to compete with established budgeting platforms.
That's not really the point.
For us, Penny Pal is an example of something we're increasingly interested in: taking a specific problem, building a practical solution quickly, and improving it through real-world use.
Sometimes you don't need a massive software project.
You just need to make something that works better for the people using it.
We're not trying to compete with established budgeting platforms.
That's not really the point.
For us, Penny Pal is an example of something we're increasingly interested in: taking a specific problem, building a practical solution quickly, and improving it through real-world use.
Sometimes you don't need a massive software project.
You just need to make something that works better for the people using it.
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