Field notes

stuff we learn,
out loud.

Money, habits, design, and what it means to build a product that doesn't lecture you.

a budget should breathe, not bite.

Principles · 4 min read

Why we don't shame you for spending

Shame is a great motivator — for about three days. Then it becomes the reason you don't open the app.

awareness beats willpower.

Research · 7 min read

The mirror, not the coach

What changes behavior isn't more rules — it's more visibility. A note from our anthropologist.

time, not numbers.

Design · 5 min read

Why goals move in days

"3.4% progress" doesn't mean anything. "Crete is 0.3 days closer" does. Here's why we shifted the unit.

where it goes.

Build log · 6 min read

How the WhatsApp brain works

Three months and a weekend. The technical story of the chat layer, and what we learned shipping it.

your money, only yours.

Privacy · 4 min read

The decision to never connect to a bank

A trade-off that cost us features — and gave us our manifesto.

streaks & grace.

Behavior · 5 min read

Why we built two grace days into your week

The honest math behind every habit app — and what we did differently.