I am back

The ride has just started

It’s been a while since I sat down to write about the journey I started a few months ago. I kept telling myself, “This weekend, I’ll continue writing.” But then I’d look at the list of tickets waiting for me and decide, “No, I need to get to the code. I have to finish the app.”

It often felt like a race—like getting to the finish line first would magically bring in all the users I wanted. And while speed can help, especially in a competitive space, it’s not a guarantee. When you’re working on a side project, that kind of pressure can burn you out quickly.

An update about Money Map

The app has been running on macOS and iOS for over a month now, and I’m genuinely thrilled to have reached that milestone. The goals for Money Map were simple:

1. Help me manage my own finances.

2. Learn everything I needed to build and launch an app on the App Store.

Mission accomplished.

That said, it’s not doing particularly well in the store. Most users are looking for finance apps that connect directly to their bank accounts—something I’ve deliberately chosen not to do. I won’t say never, but it’s definitely not on the roadmap any time soon.

When I launched the iOS version, I realized just how crowded the space is. Many of the top apps offer bank connectivity, which I still don’t fully understand how they manage. From my research, it costs around $12k a year plus a per-user fee to use a third-party integration service. That’s not a path I’m willing to take—especially if it means competing on price alone.

I’d rather compete on quality. But even more important, I want to stay focused on the app’s original purpose. If those goals are being met, I can consider it a success—even if it doesn’t bring in millions. Money Map is a tool I built for myself, and one I’m happy to share.

I’ll keep updating it, though not as frequently—because there’s something new I’m working on that’s demanding most of my time and energy.

Despite not earning a cent, Money Map is still very much alive. I use it daily, I have a list of features I want to add, and above all, I’m still enjoying the process.

Introducing UV-Buddy

I’m really excited to share a sneak peek at my next project: UV-Buddy.

This new app is still in development, but the idea is simple—remind users to apply sunscreen, with help from a friendly little cartoon buddy. More details to come in future posts!

As with Money Map, this app started from a personal need. I have to take special care of my skin, and I figured—why not create something that helps me do that and makes it fun? I also wanted something the whole family could use.

The goals for this app are:

• Deepen my understanding of Apple frameworks

• Launch a proper marketing campaign

• Generate at least $100 MRR

Some reflections

Here are a few takeaways from the past few months:

• Set goals. Seriously. Without clear goals, it’s too easy to get lost in endless tweaks and never feel done.

• Build what you’ll use. At least for now—while indie dev is still my side project—this rule keeps me grounded. If nothing else, I’ll always have one satisfied user: me.

• It’s a marathon. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. What matters is learning something new every day and making sure the journey is fun—even when it’s tough to balance time and avoid burnout.

Thanks for reading.