The SaveBuddy App

Inspiration

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, a lot people lost their jobs, and thus are experiencing difficulties in managing finances, especially savings. They are also experiencing difficulties to distribute and calculate both their expenses and incomes. Also, regardless of the pandemic, people were and are struggling to manage the different bank accounts of their family members. This is why, I decided to create The SaveBuddy App.

What it does

The SaveBuddy App resolves problems that individuals are facing with finances nowadays. The SaveBuddy App allows a family member to create a secured account, where the family member can input the names, amounts and details of all family incomes and expenses. They can also sync their family's bank accounts, so it automatically inputs the necessary information. Both options will allow the inputted expenses and income to appear in a clear list in the Income/Expense Tracker. With the help of the tracker, the other feature of the app, the Savings/Expenses Planner, calculates both the total yearly and monthly amount of Incomes, Expenses and Profits of the family. It then suggests the amount the family can spend on groceries, and other expenses, both yearly and monthly depending on family income. Finally, it calculates the final savings by subtracting all the inputted and suggested expenses from the income. The app also allows the option to directly add the suggested savings into bank savings. As an additional feature, the app showcases the bank activity (both incomes and expenses) of members of the household, allowing all the family's bank information to be in one place. This bank activity is added automatically by syncing a bank account of a family member. The app also provides a contact form for inquiries, and allows different currency options.

How we built it

I started off by researching user friendly designs to create a good user experience for The SaveBuddy App. This included choosing an appealing color scheme and layout, making a logo on Canva, and designing app features in an easy-to use manner. Then, I spent 12 hours on Proto.io to build the prototype, and ensure that all buttons, when pressed, connected to the required pages. To test the prototype, I did a few demo trials to ensure app accessibility. This helped me realize that I missed a few minor details, such as connecting the back button to the homepage. I made the needed changes for optimal functionality and user experience, then completed the prototype.

Challenges we ran into

Some challenges I ran into was making The SaveBuddy App the user friendly and appealing app it is now. Although I knew how I wanted the app to look, coming together to create an app with an amazing user experience is hard to do, as a lot factors come into play. For example, picking an appropriate color scheme, and an easy-to-navigate layout and menu. However, I faced those challenges through research of UX design, and implementation of my research findings, ideas and personal experiences of utilizing apps.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

An accomplishment I am proud of is learning how to utilize the online software, Proto.io, in the limited time given for this hackathon. Although I have attended hackathons before, this was my first time submitting a project, because the social impact topic was of interest to me. Through my time management skills, I was able to submit a fully functional project using a software with a different creating process compared to other platforms. Overall, my accomplishment involved making an app prototype that was efficient, appealing and user friendly.

What we learned

I learned how to use Proto.io through trial and error, and how to create a good user experience for the app, through research and by attending the IOS workshop. Through other workshops during the hackathon, I learned how to make most of my time to create a complete prototype. Due to the limited time given in hackathons and all the work needed to be done, including research, prototyping, and testing, I used and learned the art of time management.

What's next for The SaveBuddy App

The next steps are as follows:

• Code the app using languages such as Swift for IOS users, Java/C++ for Android users and SQL to store data.
• Utilize different platforms such as Play Store and App Store to launch the app.
• Reach out different banks and advertising firms, and create social media pages to market the app.

Built With

• canva
• google-slides
• proto.io
• videoleap