Ernie

Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 2025

1. Information We Collect

Ernie collects the following information to provide its core functionality:

  • Birthday: Used to calculate your current age and years until retirement.
  • Retirement age: Your target retirement age for financial projections.
  • Income information: Your hourly rate (entered directly or calculated from salary/paycheck details) to convert prices into work hours.
  • Wish items: Items you add to your list, including names, prices, and your decisions about them.
  • App preferences: Theme settings (light/dark mode).

2. How We Use Your Information

All information you provide is used exclusively within the app to:

  • Convert purchase prices into equivalent work hours based on your hourly rate.
  • Calculate potential investment growth if you skip a purchase.
  • Track your purchasing decisions and savings over time.
  • Send local reminders about items you're undecided on (if you enable notifications).

3. Data Storage

Your data is stored exclusively on your device. We do not operate any servers or cloud infrastructure that stores your personal information. This means:

  • Your data never leaves your device.
  • We cannot access, view, or retrieve your data.
  • If you delete the app or clear its data, your information is permanently erased.
  • There is no account creation, login, or cloud sync functionality.

4. Data Security

Your data benefits from your device's built-in security features. On iOS, data is stored in the app's sandboxed directory with device-level encryption. On Android, data is stored in the app's private directory with encryption varying by device. Since no data is transmitted over the internet, there is no risk of network-based data breaches.

5. Third-Party Services

Ernie does not share your data with any third parties. The app does not include:

  • Analytics or tracking services.
  • Advertising networks.
  • Social media integrations.
  • Crash reporting services that collect personal data.

The only external service used is the device's local notification system for reminders, which operates entirely on your device.

6. Your Rights

Since all data is stored locally on your device, you have complete control over it. You can:

  • Delete all your data at any time using the "Delete All History" feature in the app.
  • Remove individual items from your wish list.
  • Uninstall the app to permanently delete all associated data.

7. Children's Privacy

Ernie is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. Since all data is stored locally and never transmitted to us, we have no way to identify or contact users of any age.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected with a new "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Contact us at privacy@ernie.app