TrackrBud

Inspiration

We were inspired by the need for better money management tools, especially for students and young adults who want an easier way to track their spending and build healthier financial habits. A lot of existing apps feel too complicated or not personalized enough, so we wanted to create something simple, intuitive, and easy to use.

What it does

TrackrBud helps users track their income, expenses, budgets, and savings goals in one place. It categorizes spending, visualizes financial trends, and provides insights to help users make smarter financial decisions.

How we built it

We built TrackrBud using Spring Boot for the backend and Next.js for the frontend. Spring Boot handles the core logic, APIs, and data processing, while Next.js powers a fast, responsive, and modern user interface. We also used Docker for containerization, which made it easier to manage dependencies, run the app consistently across environments, and simplify deployment.

Challenges we ran into

One of our biggest challenges was developing the backend and successfully connecting it to the frontend. Ensuring smooth data flow between both sides required debugging API requests, handling errors, and maintaining consistent data structures. At the same time, we focused on keeping the UI clean, modern, and user-friendly. We worked to avoid clutter while still adding helpful features. A key challenge was improving usability by adding shortcuts and smart navigation to reduce repetitive scrolling and make the app faster and easier to use.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

-Successfully building a fully functional financial tracking app -Implementing Docker to streamline development and deployment -Creating an easy-to-use budgeting and expense tracking system -Delivering a polished product within a limited timeframe

What we learned

-How to use Docker for containerization and deployment -How to structure a full-stack web application -Better teamwork, communication, and project planning -How to manage real-world financial data responsibly

What's next for TrackrBud

-Adding bank account integration for automatic expense tracking -Building AI-powered financial insights and spending predictions -Creating a mobile app version