Last updated: June 1, 2026
Personal Solutions Northwest, LLC (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates The Getting Ahead Guidebook (the “Service”) available through our website, progressive web app, and mobile applications. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the rights you have.
We built this product on a simple principle: your money is your business. We don’t sell data, we don’t run ads, and we don’t connect to your bank. Everything in the app is entered by you.
1. Information We Collect
Information you provide directly
- Account information: your name, email address, and a password (stored only as a one-way bcrypt hash — we can never see your actual password).
- Budget and financial data: income, expenses, account balances, category names, notes, direct-debit schedules, and anything else you type into the app. All of this is entered manually or imported from CSV/QIF files that you upload.
- Receipt images: photos of receipts you choose to scan. These are stored in our database and optionally sent to our AI partner for text extraction (see §3).
Information collected automatically
- Usage diagnostics: error reports, crash traces, and basic device info (OS, app version) via Sentry. These help us fix bugs.
- A single essential authentication cookie that keeps you signed in. We do not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or third-party analytics that identify you.
Information we do NOT collect
- We do NOT connect to your bank, credit card, or financial institutions.
- We do NOT collect your Social Security number, tax ID, or government documents.
- We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your data with anyone.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information you provide solely to:
- Operate your account and personalize the app to your budget.
- Send transactional emails (welcome, trial reminders, receipt notifications, billing confirmations) via our email provider Resend.
- Process your subscription payments securely through Stripe.
- Improve reliability by diagnosing errors via Sentry.
- Power AI features (CSV categorization and Receipt OCR) as described in §3.
- Comply with legal obligations.
3. AI Processing (Receipt Scanning and Categorization)
When you choose to use our AI-powered features — scanning a receipt with your camera or letting the app suggest categories for imported transactions — the relevant text or image is sent to OpenAI’s GPT-4o model through the Emergent AI gateway. Per OpenAI’s API data policy, this content is not used to train their models and is retained only briefly for abuse monitoring. We never send your account email, financial aggregates, or personal identifiers along with these requests.
You can opt out entirely by not using these features. Manual entry and non-AI CSV import remain fully available.
4. Subprocessors and Service Providers
We rely on a small number of trusted service providers, each bound by their own privacy obligations:
| Provider | Purpose | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe, Inc. | Subscription billing and payment processing | USA |
| Resend | Transactional email delivery | USA |
| Sentry | Crash and error reporting | USA |
| OpenAI (via Emergent) | AI categorization and OCR | USA |
| MongoDB Atlas | Database hosting | USA |
| IONOS | Website hosting | USA |
We do not share your information with any party not listed here.
5. How We Store and Protect Your Data
- Passwords are stored only as bcrypt hashes.
- Data in transit is encrypted with TLS 1.2 or higher.
- Data at rest is encrypted by our database provider.
- Access to production systems is limited to the LLC’s owner.
- We perform automated daily backups, retained for 30 days, and then deleted.
No system is perfectly secure, but we take your trust seriously and follow industry-standard practices.
6. Your Rights
Regardless of where you live, you may at any time:
- Access your data — export everything via Settings → Export.
- Correct your data — edit or delete any transaction, category, or account.
- Delete your data — see our Account Deletion page.
- Object to processing or withdraw consent — contact us at support@thegettingaheadguidebook.com.
If you are a resident of California, the EU, the UK, or another jurisdiction with privacy laws (CCPA, GDPR, UK-GDPR), you have these rights by default and we will honor them without discrimination. Email support@thegettingaheadguidebook.com to exercise any right.
7. Data Retention
- Active accounts: data retained as long as you use the Service.
- Closed accounts: see our Account Deletion page (30-day grace, then hard delete).
- Legal holds: we may retain minimal records if required by law.
- Billing records: Stripe retains invoice records for 7 years per US tax law; we keep only email addresses tied to those invoices.
8. Children’s Privacy
The Service is intended for users 18 years or older. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child has created an account, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
9. International Users
The Service is hosted in the United States. If you access it from outside the US, your data will be transferred to and processed in the US. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we’ll update the “Last updated” date at the top and — for material changes — email you at the address on file. Continued use of the Service after a change constitutes acceptance.
11. Contact
Questions, concerns, or requests? Write to us:
Personal Solutions Northwest, LLC
59014 Glacier Avenue
Saint Helens, Oregon 97051
support@thegettingaheadguidebook.com
We read every message and aim to respond within 3 business days.