1. Introduction
Welcome to Budget Direct ("we," "our," or "us"). Budget Direct is a personal finance management application designed to help you track expenses, manage budgets, monitor savings goals, and organize your financial life from your mobile device.
This Privacy Policy explains how Budget Direct handles information when you download, install, access, or use our mobile application (the "App"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about our data practices.
By using Budget Direct, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please discontinue use of the App.
Budget Direct is developed and published for Android devices under the package name com.budgetdirect.app.
2. Scope of This Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to:
The Budget Direct mobile application and all features within it
Local data processing performed on your device
Optional backup, export, and restore functionality initiated by you
Third-party advertising services integrated into the App
This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites, services, or applications that may be linked from the App or that you may use independently. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you interact with outside of Budget Direct.
3. Information You Provide
Budget Direct is designed so that the financial information you enter remains under your control. Depending on how you use the App, you may voluntarily provide or generate the following types of information, which are stored locally on your device:
Financial and account data:
Transaction records (amount, date, category, notes, and type)
Account balances and account names
Budget limits and spending categories
Savings goals and contribution history
Bill reminders and payment records
Recurring transaction schedules
Preferences and settings:
Preferred currency and display format
Theme preferences (light, dark, or system default)
Financial goals selected during onboarding
Monthly budget targets
Security settings:
App lock PIN (stored securely on your device using platform encryption)
Biometric unlock preferences (fingerprint or face unlock, where supported by your device)
Backup and export files:
If you choose to create a backup or export data (JSON, CSV, or PDF), those files are generated at your request and saved to a location you select on your device or share through your device's standard sharing options.
We do not require you to create an account, provide your name, email address, phone number, or government identification to use the core features of Budget Direct.
4. Information Collected Automatically
Budget Direct does not operate its own cloud servers to collect or store your personal financial data. However, certain limited information may be processed automatically in the following circumstances:
Device and app functionality:
Basic device information necessary for the App to function (such as operating system version and screen size for layout and ad display)
App preferences stored locally using secure on-device storage
Advertising-related data:
Budget Direct displays advertisements through Google AdMob. When ads are shown or loaded, Google may collect certain information as described in Google's Privacy Policy and the Google Advertising Policies, which may include:
Device identifiers (such as Advertising ID, where permitted by your device settings)
IP address
General location derived from IP address (country/region level)
App interaction data related to ad impressions and clicks
Device type, operating system, and network information
We do not receive your transaction details, account balances, budgets, or other financial records through the advertising system. Your financial data entered in Budget Direct is not transmitted to us or to Google for advertising purposes.
We do not integrate third-party analytics SDKs (such as Firebase Analytics) for tracking your in-app financial behavior.
5. How We Use Information
Information processed by Budget Direct is used solely for the following purposes:
To provide core App functionality, including recording transactions, calculating balances, generating reports, and displaying charts
To send local notifications for bill reminders and recurring transaction alerts, when you enable these features
To enforce optional app lock and biometric security settings you configure
To create, restore, export, or share backup files when you explicitly request those actions
To display advertisements that support the free availability of the App
To improve stability and performance through standard Android system logging on your device
We do not sell your personal financial data. We do not use your transaction history, account details, or budget information for marketing profiles or targeted advertising based on your financial activity within the App.
6. Data Storage and Security
Local-first architecture:
Your financial data is stored primarily in a local database on your device using Android's Room persistence framework. App settings are stored using Android DataStore. This means your data remains on your phone or tablet unless you choose to export or back it up.
Security measures:
Optional PIN lock to restrict access to the App
Optional biometric authentication (fingerprint or face unlock) where supported
PIN credentials are handled using Android's secure storage mechanisms and are not stored in plain text
Backups you create are stored in files you control; we recommend protecting backup files as you would any sensitive financial document
Internet connectivity:
Most Budget Direct features work without an internet connection. An internet connection is required only for loading and displaying advertisements through Google AdMob. Financial data entry, editing, reporting, and local backups do not require internet access.
No cloud sync by default:
Budget Direct does not automatically upload your financial records to our servers or to a cloud service. You are responsible for maintaining backups of your data if you replace or lose your device.
7. Advertising
Budget Direct is supported by advertising provided by Google AdMob, a service offered by Google LLC.
Types of ads:
Banner advertisements displayed within the App interface
Full-screen interstitial advertisements that may appear during navigation or feature access
Ad personalization:
Google may show personalized or non-personalized ads depending on your device settings, region, and Google's policies. You can manage ad personalization on Android devices through:
Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization
(or the equivalent path on your device)
AdMob may use cookies, device identifiers, and similar technologies as described in Google's privacy documentation. For more information, please visit:
https://policies.google.com/privacy
https://support.google.com/admob/answer/6128543
Children and ads:
We do not knowingly target advertising based on financial data entered in the App. The App is intended for general personal finance use by adults and is not directed at children under 13 years of age.
8. Permissions
Budget Direct may request the following Android permissions to provide specific features. You can revoke most permissions at any time through your device settings, though some features may not work if permissions are denied.
INTERNET — Required to load advertisements from Google AdMob
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE — Used to determine network connectivity before requesting ads
com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID — Used by Google Play services for advertising identifiers where applicable
POST_NOTIFICATIONS — Used to deliver bill reminders and recurring transaction alerts (Android 13+)
USE_BIOMETRIC — Used for optional fingerprint or face unlock
READ_MEDIA_IMAGES / READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE — Used when you choose to restore a backup file from your device storage
Budget Direct does not access your contacts, SMS messages, call logs, camera, or microphone for its core functionality.
9. Backup, Export, and Data Portability
You have full control over exporting and backing up your data:
Local backup — Creates a JSON file containing your App data on your device
Restore — Imports data from a backup file you select
CSV export — Exports transaction data in comma-separated format
PDF export — Generates a printable financial report
When you export or share files, those files leave the App through your device's file system or sharing tools (email, cloud storage apps, messaging apps, etc.). Once shared, those files are subject to the privacy practices of the services you use to store or transmit them.
We strongly recommend:
Encrypting or password-protecting backup files where possible
Avoiding sharing financial backups over unsecured channels
Deleting old backup files from shared or public locations when no longer needed
10. Third-Party Services
Budget Direct integrates with the following third-party services:
Google AdMob (Google LLC)
Purpose: Displaying banner and interstitial advertisements
Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Google Play Services
Purpose: Required components for AdMob and standard Android functionality
These third parties may process limited device and usage information as independent controllers or processors under their own privacy policies. We do not control and are not responsible for the data practices of third-party services, except as described in this Privacy Policy regarding our integration choices.
Budget Direct does not integrate social media login, cloud financial aggregation services, or third-party payment processors.
11. Data Retention and Deletion
Because your financial data is stored locally on your device:
Data persists on your device until you delete it within the App, uninstall the App, or reset the App through Settings
Uninstalling Budget Direct will remove locally stored App data from your device, subject to Android system behavior
Backup files you created separately are not automatically deleted when you uninstall the App; you must delete those files manually
Advertising-related data collected by Google is retained according to Google's retention policies
To delete all App data without uninstalling, use the "Reset All Data" option in Settings if available, or uninstall and reinstall the application.
12. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding personal information. Because Budget Direct stores financial data locally and does not maintain user accounts on our servers, many requests can be fulfilled directly by you:
Access — View all your data within the App at any time
Correction — Edit or update transactions, accounts, and settings directly in the App
Deletion — Delete individual records or reset all App data
Portability — Export your data via backup, CSV, or PDF features
Opt out of personalized ads — Adjust your device's ad personalization settings as described in Section 7
Withdraw consent — Uninstall the App and delete associated backup files
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with comprehensive privacy laws, you may have additional rights including the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. Because we do not operate a centralized database of user financial records, we cannot retrieve data from your device on your behalf.
For privacy-related inquiries, contact us at the email address provided at the end of this policy.
13. Children's Privacy
Budget Direct is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information through the App, please contact us and we will provide guidance on removing locally stored data by uninstalling the App and deleting any backup files on the device.
14. International Users
Budget Direct may be used in multiple countries and regions. By using the App, you understand that:
Your data is stored on your local device in the country where you use the device
Advertising services may process data in countries where Google operates infrastructure
You are responsible for ensuring your use of the App complies with applicable local laws regarding personal and financial data
If you use Budget Direct while traveling or in a jurisdiction with specific financial record-keeping requirements, you remain responsible for compliance with those requirements.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the App, applicable laws, or our practices. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy within the App.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of Budget Direct after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
If changes significantly affect how we handle information, we may provide additional notice within the App where reasonably practicable.
16. Disclaimer
Budget Direct is a personal finance tool provided for informational and organizational purposes only. It is not a bank, financial advisor, tax advisor, or investment service. We do not provide financial, legal, or tax advice.
While we implement reasonable measures to protect locally stored data, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your device, PIN, biometric credentials, and any backup files you create.
17. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or Budget Direct's privacy practices.