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MoolaMeter

A comprehensive personal finance management and planning application built with Laravel and React.

About this Project

MoolaMeter is a professional-grade personal finance tool designed to solve financial uncertainty. It handles complex income sources (W-2, 1099), estimates annual taxes for freelancers, and provides 30-day cash flow predictions. Built as a modern SPA using Laravel and React via Inertia.js, it offers a seamless, high-performance experience for tracking expenses and optimizing credit card rewards.

Features

  • Complete financial picture visibility
  • W-2 and 1099 mixed income tax calculations
  • 30-day cash flow balance projections
  • Fixed vs. variable expense categorization
  • Credit card cash back optimization engine
  • Automated annual tax obligation estimation

Challenges & Solutions

The Challenge

One of the primary challenges was building a real-time projection engine that could accurately reflect the impact of scheduled bills and irregular income on future account balances, while simultaneously calculating complex tax withholdings for multiple income types.

The Solution

I implemented a robust projection algorithm in Laravel that processes recurrence rules and tax logic server-side, then delivers the data through Inertia.js to a responsive React frontend. Using Chart.js, I created interactive visualizations that allow users to explore their financial future day-by-day.

Key Questions Answered

Q

Can I afford this purchase?

Check the 30-day projection to see the impact on your future balance.

Q

How much will I owe in taxes?

The annual tax estimate provides real-time calculations based on your income.

Q

Where does my money go?

Organized categories and historical data provide a clear breakdown of spending.

Q

Which card gives me the most cash back?

The credit card optimizer recommends the best card based on the current purchase category.

Q

When will I run out of money?

Cash flow projections highlight potential low-balance points well in advance.

Architecture & Stack

MoolaMeter is built as a Laravel + React SPA using Inertia.js as the bridge. This approach allows for server-side routing and data fetching with the responsiveness of a client-side React application. It leverages PostgreSQL for production data, Laravel Sanctum for secure API authentication, and Tailwind CSS 4 for a cutting-edge, high-performance UI.

How Users Interact With It

Initial Setup

  • Register and set tax preferences (filing status, dependents, etc.)
  • Add income sources (W-2, freelance, side hustles) with frequency and withholding
  • Add bills and expenses (rent, utilities, groceries) with due dates and recurrence
  • Set starting account balance and optional credit card reward rules

Daily/Ongoing Use

  • Dashboard: Overview of current balance and 30-day projection
  • Financial Overview: Interactive budget breakdown by category
  • Projections: Day-by-day cash flow charts
  • Cash Back: Real-time card recommendations for purchases