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1. YNAB is over complicated (just mho), but still has stuccess. 2. Forecasting (more like planning): at this moment I have X in my account. I have a big event

1. YNAB is over complicated (just mho), but still has stuccess. 2. Forecasting (more like planning): at this moment I have X in my account. I have a big event in about 90 days from now. I want the app to "learn" from my past months transactions(expenses & income), create a spending pattern and give me some scenarios: the optimist, pessimist and the probable one. Currently I am trying this in excel...but doesn't work as planned. I want the app to be able "think" in advance. Eg. you set a goal: $3,000 cash in next 3 months. Then the app should do: check what you did in the past 3 months, check last year on this time if you have any insurance to cover (car, house...etc, yearly recurring transactions) and the result should be: well, you can't gather $3,000 because you might spend them on: X, Y, Z. If you eliminate one of them, you reach your goal. Some kind of rudimentary artificial intelligence. 3. thanks for OFX, QFX and QIF. 4. Honestly, I want to build something that matters. I think I can support these yearly costs, even with a donate button (no ads). 5. Everywhere the forecasting/planning feature is a paid one. 6. As I initially said, I am trying to plan it as anonymous as possible: the data will be tied to an oauth userID, nothing more.

Delmania 11y ago
Taking a step back, who is your target audience? YNAB is probably one of the simplest budgeting applications in the market. It's successful because it only does budgeting, has extensive training, has a strong community, and emphasizes fiscal responsibility as a lifestyle. However, it's aim is for people who realize they need a budget, but don't know how to do it. > 4. Honestly, I want to build something that matters. I think I can support these yearly costs, even with a donate button (no ads). I think we all do, but if you set out to build "something that matters", you're setting yourself up for massive disappointment. Either define a market and build for them, or build the tool for yourself, and tell others about it. Before you can make $100, you need to make $1. Your comments about forecasting are interesting. The biggest issue with it is variability. You can develop a plan to make $3000 in 3 months, but then have an unexpected car repair that your car repair fund can't fully cover. However, I don't think that's a strong enough argument to deter you from doing it. I guess my questions would be how strong are you at budgeting and ML?

Delmania 11y ago

Taking a step back, who is your target audience? YNAB is probably one of the simplest budgeting applications in the market. It's successful because it only does budgeting, has extensive training, has a strong community, and emphasizes fiscal responsibility as a lifestyle. However, it's aim is for people who realize they need a budget, but don't know how to do it. > 4. Honestly, I want to build something that matters. I think I can support these yearly costs, even with a donate button (no ads). I think we all do, but if you set out to build "something that matters", you're setting yourself up for massive disappointment. Either define a market and build for them, or build the tool for yourself, and tell others about it. Before you can make $100, you need to make $1. Your comments about forecasting are interesting. The biggest issue with it is variability. You can develop a plan to make $3000 in 3 months, but then have an unexpected car repair that your car repair fund can't fully cover. However, I don't think that's a strong enough argument to deter you from doing it. I guess my questions would be how strong are you at budgeting and ML?