SpendLess Privacy Policy

Last Updated: December 14, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to SpendLess ("we," "our," or "us"). SpendLess is a shopping impulse control application designed to help you develop healthier spending habits. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application.

By downloading, accessing, or using SpendLess, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the application.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information you voluntarily provide when using SpendLess. All of this data is stored locally on your device:

  • Profile Preferences: Your protection mode settings (Gentle, Firm, Fortress), notification preferences, and custom redirect activities
  • Goal Information: Savings goals you set, including goal names, target amounts, target dates, and optional goal images
  • Waiting List Items: Items you add to your waiting list, including item names, prices, source apps, and dates added
  • Personal Messages: Optional "letter from future you" text you write to yourself
  • Commitment Signature: Your digital signature on your personal commitment

2.2 Information Generated Through Use

As you use SpendLess, we automatically generate and store the following data locally on your device:

  • Streak Data: Your current and best impulse-resistance streaks
  • Savings Progress: Total amount saved by resisting impulse purchases
  • Buried Items: Record of items you've decided not to purchase (your "Graveyard")
  • Panic Button Usage: When you use the panic button feature and outcomes
  • Achievement Data: Badges earned and milestones reached
  • Daily Check-ins: Your daily pledge completions
  • Virtual Coins: In-app currency earned through app engagement

2.3 Future Account Features

In a future update, SpendLess may offer optional account creation to enable features such as data backup and cross-device sync. If you choose to create an account, we will collect your email address and password. Account creation will always be optional, and this Privacy Policy will be updated before any such features are released.

2.4 Automatically Collected Information

When you use SpendLess, we may automatically collect:

  • Device Information: Device type, operating system version, unique device identifiers
  • Usage Data: App feature usage, session duration, and interaction patterns
  • Crash and Performance Data: Error logs and performance metrics to improve app stability

2.5 Optional Third-Party Integrations

If you choose to enable optional features in future updates:

  • Gmail Integration (Email Detox feature): If you connect your Gmail account, we access email headers from shopping-related domains to identify promotional emails. We do NOT read email content—only sender information is processed on your device to help you unsubscribe from shopping newsletters. This data is never transmitted to our servers.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide, maintain, and improve SpendLess features and functionality
  • Track your progress toward spending control goals
  • Send you local notifications about waiting list items, streaks, and achievements (with your permission)
  • Personalize your experience based on your protection mode and preferences
  • Analyze usage patterns to improve the app (in aggregate, anonymized form)
  • Comply with legal obligations

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Local Storage

All your personal data is stored locally on your device. We do not transmit your goals, waiting list items, savings progress, or other personal information to external servers. This means your data stays with you and under your control.

4.2 Data Security

Your data benefits from the security protections built into your iOS device, including device encryption when you set a passcode. We recommend enabling a passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID on your device to protect your SpendLess data.

4.3 Data Backup

If you use iCloud Backup or iTunes/Finder backup for your device, your SpendLess data may be included in that backup. These backups are governed by Apple's privacy practices and your own backup settings.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information. Because your data is stored locally on your device, we do not have access to it and cannot share it with third parties.

The only circumstances in which data might be shared:

  • Analytics (Anonymized): We may collect anonymized, aggregate usage statistics (such as which features are most used) to improve the app. This data cannot be used to identify you.
  • Crash Reports: If you opt in to sharing crash data with app developers (via iOS settings), anonymized crash logs may be sent to help us fix bugs.
  • Legal Requirements: We may be required to disclose information if compelled by law, though we note that we do not possess your personal SpendLess data on our servers.

6. Third-Party Services

We may use third-party analytics tools to understand how users interact with SpendLess in aggregate. These tools collect anonymized information such as how often the app is used and which features are popular. This information is used solely to improve the app and cannot be linked to you personally.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Because your data is stored locally on your device, you have full control:

  • Access: All your data is visible within the app at any time.
  • Correction: You can edit your goals, waiting list items, and preferences directly in the app.
  • Deletion: You can delete individual items within the app, or delete all app data by uninstalling SpendLess from your device.
  • Notifications: You can enable or disable notifications through your device's Settings app or within SpendLess.
  • Analytics Opt-Out: You can limit analytics data collection through your device's privacy settings.

8. Data Retention

Your data remains on your device for as long as you have SpendLess installed. If you uninstall the app, all locally stored data is permanently deleted from your device. Any data included in device backups will be retained according to your backup settings.

9. Children's Privacy

SpendLess is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child is using SpendLess, you can delete all app data by uninstalling the app from the device.

10. International Users

SpendLess stores all data locally on your device, so your data remains in your country of residence. If you enable optional cloud features in the future (such as account sync), your data may be processed in the United States. We will update this Privacy Policy before introducing any such features.

11. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Because SpendLess stores data locally on your device and we do not collect, sell, or share your personal information, these rights are inherently protected. You maintain full control over your data at all times.

12. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Because your data is stored locally on your device and not transmitted to our servers, you retain full control over your personal data, including the ability to access, correct, and delete it at any time through the app.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, particularly when we introduce new features such as account creation and cloud sync. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy within the app and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of SpendLess after such modifications constitutes your acknowledgment of the modified Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@spendless.app

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.

Thank you for trusting SpendLess with your journey toward healthier spending habits.