Riley Skipper

Case study

Expensely

A personal finance application built with React and TypeScript for expense tracking and budgeting.

The challenge

Personal finance tools often present large amounts of data without clear next steps for the user.

What I delivered

A React dashboard that organizes spending data and presents it in a way that supports budgeting decisions.

Project Overview

Expensely is a personal finance application that helps users track expenses, manage budgets, and review spending patterns. It is built with React and TypeScript and deployed on Vercel.

Live Demo

Experience Expensely

Explore the live application to see the personal finance management experience in action:

View Live Demo

Key Needs

Expense Tracking

Simple and quick expense entry with categorization

Budget Management

Visual budget tracking with alerts and notifications

Financial Insights

Clear analytics and spending pattern visualization

Cross-Platform Access

Responsive design for desktop and mobile use

Key Features

  • Inline Editing: Add, edit, and categorize expenses with custom categories
  • Data Visualization: Interactive charts and graphs for spending analysis
  • Responsive Design: Optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
  • Local Storage: Data persistence using browser storage
  • State Management: State management using React hooks and context API
  • Performance Optimization: Optimized rendering and data handling for smooth user experience
  • Accessibility: Ensured full keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility

Technical Implementation

The application was built using modern web technologies and best practices:

  • React 18: Latest React features with hooks and functional components
  • TypeScript: Type-safe development for better code quality and maintainability
  • CSS Modules: Scoped styling for component isolation
  • Chart.js: Interactive data visualization for financial insights
  • Vercel Deployment: Fast, reliable hosting with automatic deployments
  • Responsive Design: Mobile-first approach with Tailwind CSS

Color Scheme

Color Palette

Primary Blue

#2563eb

Secondary Blue

#3b82f6

Success Green

#16a34a

Warning Yellow

#eab308

Error Red

#ef4444

Purple

#a855f7

User Flow

The Expensely user experience follows a carefully designed flow that prioritizes simplicity and efficiency:

1

Onboarding Experience

Welcome Screen

Clean introduction with clear value proposition

Quick Setup

Minimal initial configuration to get users started immediately

Tutorial Overlay

Optional guided tour of key features

2

Main Dashboard

Overview Cards

Quick glance at current month’s spending, budget status, and recent transactions

Quick Actions

Prominent “Add Expense” button for immediate expense entry

Visual Indicators

Color-coded budget progress and spending alerts

3

Expense Entry Flow

One-Click Entry

Streamlined form with smart defaults

Category Selection

Visual category picker with custom category support

Amount Input

Large, accessible number input with currency formatting

Auto-Save

Automatic saving to prevent data loss

4

Budget Management

Visual Budget Bars

Clear progress indicators for each category

Alert System

Notifications when approaching or exceeding budget limits

Flexible Categories

Customizable budget categories to match user needs

5

Analytics & Insights

Spending Trends

Interactive charts showing spending patterns over time

Category Breakdown

Visual representation of spending by category

Monthly Comparisons

Easy comparison with previous months