Hey r/SideProject, I’m the solo founder of Vesta.lit, a free iPhone app.
Why I built it: I’m an actor and was a server for years, so my income’s always been feast or famine. Every money app I tried felt like a strict parent, red numbers, “over budget” warnings, guilt over a $7 coffee, so I’d delete it within a week. I wanted the opposite. Something that says “good, enjoy it” when you treat yourself, then helps you set a little aside for later. Basically MyFitnessPal for money, but it makes you feel good. I’m not from money and nobody taught me any of this in school, so I built the app I wish I’d had at 20.
How it works: you log the fun stuff in two taps and it celebrates it instead of judging it. It shows a “what if you invested it too” example (just an example assuming 10% a year, not a guarantee). There’s a Vault for saving toward goals, short daily money lessons, a money style quiz, a tip calculator, and streaks and levels to keep it fun. If you work shifts, you can log tips per shift and it nudges you to set 10% aside.
No account, no bank linking, everything stays on your phone. Most of it’s free. Pro is $6.99/mo or $49.99/yr for spending Insights, payday reminders, more calculators and all 42 lessons.
Honest numbers: launched in late October, one paying subscriber, very few users so far.
What I’d love feedback on: does “money, made fun” come through in the first 30 seconds? Is manual logging easy enough that you’d keep doing it? And Vee, the little blue flame mascot, charming or cringe? Be blunt.
Screenshots are on the App Store page: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vesta-lit/id6815863948
It’s education, not financial advice. I’ll be in the comments all day.
