Nexus

// Overview

Nexus is a full-stack web app that lets couples track shared expenses, split costs, and manage savings goals from a single dashboard. It doesn't require bank account access — users log transactions manually, keeping financial data entirely within the app. Built with React on the frontend and a Node.js API backend, with per-entry encryption for stored financial records. The interface is deliberately minimal: one primary view, no score percentages, no anxiety-inducing gauges. Currently a working prototype with expense tracking, goal-setting, and shared budget views functional.

// Challenges

Designing a financial interface that's transparent without triggering anxiety between partners. Real-time sync across devices for sensitive financial data required careful state management and end-to-end encryption for stored records. The dual-user model (both partners see the same budget) required an access control system that prevents one-sided edits without requiring approval workflows for every small transaction.

// Outcomes

A functional prototype demonstrating an empathy-first approach to shared fintech — no gamification, no shaming, just a clear view of where money is going. The UX work on this project directly informed approaches used on other app projects.