RalphyThe blog
The questions, and the arithmetic behind them.
Reading bank transactions is what I do for a living, so most of these start from something I had to get right in the app and could not find written down properly anywhere. Every figure says where it came from.
- How much can I actually spend today?How much can I spend today?Your balance is not the answer, and neither is a monthly budget. Here is the arithmetic that gives you a number for today, and how to do it on paper if you'd rather not install anything.21 Aug 2026
6 min - Available balance vs current balance, and why neither is what you can spendWhat's the difference between available and current balance?Banks show two balances and the difference between them is not a rounding error. One of them can be higher than your real money, and on a credit card the whole thing inverts. Here is what each number means and which one to trust.21 Aug 2026
8 min - Do budgeting apps actually work?Do budgeting apps work?Somebody ran a randomized controlled trial on 9,035 people to find out. Spending did not drop. Here is what the study tested, what it did not test, and why it is evidence against the app I am building as much as any other.21 Aug 2026
7 min - Is it safe to connect your bank to an app?Is it safe to link my bank account to an app?The useful answer is not yes or no, it is what the app is allowed to do once connected. Here is what actually happens when you link an account, the questions worth asking any app, and the risks that remain after you have asked them.21 Aug 2026
9 min
RSS if you'd rather not be emailed. If you want the occasional note instead, the list is the same one the beta fills from.