Frequently Asked Questions¶

Privacy & Security First¶

Why doesn't Doughsense connect to my bank?¶

We believe your financial data is yours alone. Manual entry means:

No third-party access to your accounts
No risk of data breaches at aggregators
Complete control over what you track
Works with any account, anywhere in the world

Is my data really private?¶

Absolutely. Your data is:

Encrypted end-to-end
Never sold or shared
Accessible only by you
Deletable at any time

Can I use Doughsense anonymously?¶

Yes. We don't require personal information beyond an email for account recovery.

Getting Started¶

When will Doughsense be available?¶

Coming soon on iPhone, Android and Web. Join our waitlist to get early access!

How much does it cost?¶

All features are available with a Doughsense subscription. Start with a 14-day free trial, no credit card required. After the trial, subscribe for £3/month or £24/year to continue using the app.

What happens after my 14-day trial ends?¶

Your trial provides full access to all Doughsense features. After 14 days, you'll need to subscribe to Doughsense (£3/month or £24/year) to continue using the app. Your data is always preserved, so you can pick up right where you left off when you subscribe.

Do I need to enter payment details to start my trial?¶

No, the 14-day trial requires no credit card or payment information. Simply create an account with your email or sign in with Google/Apple, and start exploring all features immediately.

Can I cancel during the trial?¶

Yes, you can stop using Doughsense anytime during your trial with no charges. Your data is saved if you decide to return later and subscribe.

How long does setup take?¶

Basic setup: 5 minutes (main accounts + income)
Complete setup: 15 minutes (all accounts, expenses, and goals)
You choose your depth - start simple, add detail over time

Using Doughsense¶

How often should I update my account balances?¶

We recommend updating balances monthly, ideally on the same day each month. Set a reminder to make it a habit.

Why don't my projections match reality exactly?¶

Projections are estimates based on the information you provide. Market fluctuations, spending variations, and life changes all affect actual results. Regular updates improve accuracy.

Can I track investments in detail?¶

Doughsense tracks your investment accounts by total value, allowing you to monitor growth and projections.

How do I handle irregular income?¶

You can create multiple income entries with different frequencies, or use a conservative monthly average for variable income.

Features & Functionality¶

Account sharing is on our roadmap. Currently, each person needs their own account.

Does Doughsense work offline?¶

Both the iPhone and Android apps need an internet connection to function. The web app also requires an internet connection.

Can I use multiple currencies?¶

Yes! Doughsense fully supports multiple currencies with automatic conversion using current exchange rates.

How far into the future can I project?¶

The Timeline projects up to 100 years or to age 100, whichever comes first.

Common Issues¶

My net worth seems wrong¶

Check that:

All accounts have current balances
All debts are included
Asset values are up to date
You're viewing the current date, not a future projection

My goals aren't showing progress¶

Ensure that:

Your goal conditions are set correctly
Related accounts/expenses are properly linked
Account balances are updated

The Timeline won't load¶

Try:

Refreshing the page/app
Checking your internet connection
Signing out and back in
Contacting support if the issue persists

Technical Questions¶

What devices will Doughsense support?¶

iOS 18 or later
Android devices
Modern web browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)

How do I reset my password?¶

Click "Forgot Password" on the sign-in screen. You'll receive an email with reset instructions.

Can I delete my account?¶

Yes, you can permanently delete your account and all data from Settings. This action cannot be undone.

For Freelancers & Gig Workers¶

How do I handle variable income?¶

Create separate income entries for each client or revenue stream. Use conservative estimates and adjust monthly. Our guide shows you exactly how.

What about taxes when self-employed?¶

Set up automatic tax savings using the withholding feature:

Create a "Tax Reserve" account (mark as excluded)
Set withholding percentage on your income (e.g., 25-30%)
Tax money automatically separates from spending money
Only your after-tax amount shows as available

Why can't I enter my specific tax bracket?¶

Doughsense intentionally works with after-tax amounts and simple approximations rather than complex tax modeling. You enter take-home income and net amounts. For special cases:

Pension withdrawals: Use transfer multipliers to approximate tax on withdrawals
Self-employed income: Use withholding percentages to separate tax reserves
Investment accounts: Adjust growth rates to reflect tax drag

This simplification keeps you in control, adapts easily when tax laws change, and prevents analysis paralysis.

Can I track multiple currencies from international clients?¶

Yes! Add income in any currency. Doughsense handles conversion automatically and shows totals in your primary currency.

How do I plan for lean months?¶

Our Timeline shows your exact runway. Test scenarios like losing your biggest client to see how long you can survive and when you need replacement income.

Financial Independence (FI/RE)¶

What is CoastFI and can Doughsense calculate it?¶

CoastFI is when you have enough invested that it will grow to your retirement number without adding more. Doughsense calculates your exact CoastFI date based on your current savings and growth rates.

How do I track my FI progress?¶

Set a goal for 25x your annual expenses (or whatever your FI number is). Doughsense shows:

Current progress percentage
Projected FI date
How changes accelerate or delay FI

What's the difference between LeanFI, FI, and FatFI?¶

LeanFI: 25x essential expenses only
FI: 25x comfortable lifestyle expenses
FatFI: 25x luxurious lifestyle expenses

Create different goals for each to see all your options.

Can I model geographic arbitrage?¶

Absolutely! Set up scenarios with income in high-cost areas and expenses in low-cost areas. See how location independence accelerates your FI timeline.

Plans & Goals¶

How many goals can I create?¶

Unlimited. We encourage multiple goals - emergency fund, property deposit, CoastFI, full FI, and more.

Can I test different paths to the same goal?¶

Yes! Create scenarios with different approaches (aggressive saving vs. income increase vs. investment focus) and compare timelines.

What's the difference between a Goal, Milestone, and Event?¶

Goals: Achievements you're working toward (e.g., £100k invested)
Milestones: Important markers (e.g., positive net worth, CoastFI)
Events: Date-specific plans (e.g., mini-retirement at 35)

Behavioural & Emotional Questions¶

Why do I keep avoiding updating my accounts?¶

Fear of facing reality is normal. Your brain protects you from potential bad news. Start small: just update one account. Often the anticipation is worse than reality. If it's bad news, now you know and can make a plan. If it's good news, you get a dopamine hit. Win-win.

I feel overwhelmed by all the financial advice. Where do I start?¶

Analysis paralysis is real. Forget optimisation. Start with one simple action: track what you have. That's it. No goals, no budgets, just awareness. Everything else builds from there. Perfect plans never executed are worthless. Imperfect action today is priceless.

Looking at my debt makes me anxious. Should I just ignore it?¶

Anxiety often comes from uncertainty, not the debt itself. Knowing you owe £20,000 feels better than vaguely fearing you owe "a lot." The number gives you power - now you can make a plan. Set a tiny first goal (pay £50 extra this month) and build from there.

I know what to do but can't seem to stick to my budget. What's wrong with me?¶

Nothing's wrong. Willpower is finite and budgets that rely on it fail. Instead: automate everything possible. Savings leave your account automatically. Bills pay themselves. You can't spend what you never see. Design your environment for success, don't rely on discipline.

I panic when markets drop. How do I stay calm?¶

This is your survival instinct - it kept ancestors alive but makes modern investors poor. Before investing, write down: "Markets will drop 30% at some point. When they do, I will do nothing for 30 days." Put this somewhere visible. When panic hits, read it. Wait. Markets recover. You'll be fine.

I feel guilty spending money even though I can afford it¶

This is often rooted in childhood money messages. Ask yourself: "What did my family teach me about spending?" Challenge those beliefs. If you've saved for something and can afford it, spending IS the plan succeeding, not failing. Consider therapy if guilt is paralysing - money issues are often really about something else.

My partner and I fight about money constantly. Is this normal?¶

Very normal. Money represents security, freedom, values, and dreams - of course you'll disagree! Try this: each write down your "money story" from childhood. Share them. Often conflicts are about past experiences, not present choices. Understanding creates empathy. Empathy enables compromise.

I make good money but have nothing to show for it. Why?¶

Lifestyle inflation is invisible. You earn more, you spend more, nothing changes. Track your spending for just one month - the truth will shock you. Then implement the "Pay Yourself First" rule: savings leave your account the day you're paid. Live on what's left. Your future self gets paid before your current self plays.

Getting Help¶

How do I contact support?¶

Email us at support@doughsense.app. We typically respond within 24 hours.

Can I suggest new features?¶

Absolutely! Send feature requests to feedback@doughsense.app. We love hearing from users.

Can't find your answer? Email support@doughsense.app and we'll help you out!