Budgee Plans for 2009
NOTE: This post is just forward thinking for Budgee and the list may change based on user feedback and new development options from Apple. While I do expect these will all be integrated into the final product by the end of 2009, I don't know the exact timeline...so they'll be in there when they are ready, but not before.
Additional export/backup/sync option(s)
I realize that the CSV export Budgee provides is useful for archival purposes, but the current CSV export was never meant to be the only way to get data out. I'm writing another post about the whole data export situation on the iPhone, but the short version is that the CSV export was the easiest and most "universal" format to add and I didn't want to ship Budgee without some form of export. Going forward, there are several different paths to choose from, but at this point, Budgee will likely get a small desktop app for Windows & OS X. What that desktop app will allow (other than exporting Budgee data) is TBD at this point, but this approach seems to be the most appropriate way to go.
Import option(s)
Along with the backup/sync feature, the other big feature that Budgee needs is a way to import data. If you backup your budget via CSV, you can do whatever you want with it on the PC/Mac, but you can't get it back into Budgee. In a future version, you'll have at least one way to restore the data...so if you end up needing to reset your device for some reason, you don't have to worry about re-entering your budget and transactions.
Multiple budgets
Right now, Budgee only supports tracking one budget and then you reset that budget when you're ready for the next budget cycle. One situation I've wanted to use Budgee in, but couldn't, is where I had my main "household" budget, but then I had a couple of small projects (e.g. kitchen remodel) that I wanted to keep a budget for as well...which I couldn't do. So, in the future (probably in the 1.5 release), Budgee will allow for multiple budgets to be used at one time. Along with this will will come the ability to name a budget. With this new functionality, you'll also be able to keep a budget for each month, week, year, etc. if you so choose (although I still feel that there are going to be better apps out there if you're really wanting to keep detailed budget statistics on the phone).
Shared budgets
This feature will be one of the last to be implemented, because it's the most complex to create and the most expensive to maintain. Budgee currently works pretty well for a single individual, but if you're really wanting to do budgeting the right way, everyone with access to the same finances (husband & wife, entire family, significant other, etc.) should be sharing a common budget even if everyone uses a different device. If you don't do this, then even though Bob & Jane budgeted $200 this month for food, Bob can spend $200 and Jane can do the same, but neither will know the other had spent that amount until it's too late. At this point, I'm expecting this particular feature will be one of the big features in Budgee 2.0.
Income tracking
An ideal personal budget is one that is zero-based - meaning you spend every dollar you make on paper such that:budgeted income - (budgeted expenses + transfers to savings/investments) = 0
If you really want to do this today, you can enter categories and transactions with negative amounts, which will negate your budget expenses and allow you to do this, but Budgee 1.5 will make this a little more elegant for those that want to keep a zero-based budget. This will also give you the ability to see how much money you should have left AFTER all of your budgeted expenses (if you don't use a zero-based budget).
User Requested Features
There are several features that have been requested by current Budgee users, the top ones being:
- Numeric keypad to enter transactions more quickly
- Ability to "turn off" certain categories for a particular budget (without deleting them)
- User specified currency for budgets (effectively overriding the device's built-in regional setting)
- Set overall budget amount explicitly instead of summing up all of the categories
- Protect access to your budget(s) with a PIN/Password
Plus several other smaller enhancements to make things flow a little better, be easier to read, etc. Most of these will be options that are turned off by default, but you as the user can opt to enable them if you so choose. Budgee is still going to focus on being the most simple, elegant, and useful budgeting app out there - so the default configuration will still be as straightforward as ever, but hopefully Budgee will be adaptable to meet just about anyone's needs with these enhancements.
Various internal changes
Starting with version 1.5, Budgee will be using an entirely new architecture and most likely, a new design (although it'll be in the same spirit as the current design). Other than some visual tweaks, what this means to you is that Budgee will be more stable, better performing, and more streamlined.