u/AmbitiousSwan5130

Spent 6 months manually tracking UPI spends. Problem wasn't knowing I overspent. Problem was knowing too late.

Building an app where you set budgets. App alerts you before you pay if you're about to go over. Not after.

Real version will be a UPI app with actual pre-payment blocking. This web version is just testing the idea.

I have launched a webapp for the same to check if I get signups or waitlist, but don't know where can I find users who need it,

Questions:

1. Would you tolerate this interrupting your payments? Or turn it off immediately?
2. How do I make money without ruining it? (thinking affiliate credit card/loan referrals)
3. Why hasn't PhonePe built this?

Genuinely want criticism. Planning to quit my job for this so need to know what I'm missing.

Most budgeting apps tell you where your money went. I’m trying to solve why it went there in the first place.

I’m building a UPI-first budgeting app that warns you before you make a payment if you’re about to overspend.

Right now, I’ve launched a lightweight version: https://www.spenrol.com/

It lets you track expenses as impulsive vs required, which gives surprisingly useful insights into spending behavior.

I’m now working on the UPI integration layer (real-time pre-payment alerts).

If this sounds interesting, I’d love your feedback, especially on:
- Would you actually want a warning before paying?
- Or do you prefer post-spend tracking?

Most budgeting apps tell you where your money went.
I’m trying to solve why it went there in the first place.

I’m building a UPI-first budgeting app that warns you before you make a payment if you’re about to overspend.

Right now, I’ve launched a lightweight version: https://www.spenrol.com/

It lets you track expenses as impulsive vs required, which gives surprisingly useful insights into spending behavior.

I’m now working on the UPI integration layer (real-time pre-payment alerts).

If this sounds interesting, I’d love your feedback, especially on:
- Would you actually want a warning before paying?
- Or do you prefer post-spend tracking?

You can also join the waitlist here: https://www.spenrol.com/#waitlist

Most people explain this rule in a very ideal way, but when I tried it in real life, things were a bit different.

Here’s the basic idea:
• 50% → Needs (rent, groceries, bills)
• 30% → Wants (eating out, subscriptions)
• 20% → Savings/investments

Sounds simple, but here’s what I learned:

1. The “50% needs” part is unrealistic for many people If you're living in an expensive city, rent alone can cross 40–50%. I had to adjust this instead of blindly following it.
2. Tracking matters more than the rule itself The rule only works if you actually know where your money is going. I underestimated how much I was spending on small things.
3. Flexibility > strict percentages Some months I went 60/20/20 and that was okay. The rule is more of a guideline than a strict formula.
4. It’s great for beginners If you've never budgeted before, this is probably the easiest starting point.

Curious — has anyone here actually followed this rule long-term? Did it work for you?

(Disclosure: I wrote a more detailed breakdown on my website (Spenrol), which I’m building: https://www.spenrol.com/blog/the_50_30_20_budget_rule_explained)