What it does
bless. is an app designed to promote mindful consumption and help users break the cycle of impulse buying. It goes beyond simple expense tracking by allowing users to log items across four distinct categories: things they want, things they've bought, things they decided not to get, and things they've gotten rid of. This creates a holistic journal of a user's relationship with material possessions, encouraging reflection and more intentional habits.
Where it shines
Where the app truly stands out is in its behavioral design. A core feature is the 'rethink' period (01:15), which forces a cooling-off delay before a 'want list' item can be purchased, directly targeting impulsivity. The app also closes the feedback loop with a 'reevaluate' feature (03:56), prompting users to rate their satisfaction with past purchases. This encourages learning from buying habits. The entire experience is wrapped in a clean, minimalist interface with playful gamification elements, like earning points for making mindful choices.
UX highlights
- Holistic Tracking: The four-quadrant system ('want', 'got', 'didn't get', 'got rid of') at 01:31 provides a comprehensive view of consumer behavior, celebrating avoidance and decluttering as much as purchasing.
- Gamified Patience: The app rewards users with points for postponing purchases (01:19), positively reinforcing delayed gratification.
- Post-Purchase Reflection: The 'reevaluate' feature (03:56) asks users if they are satisfied with past purchases, creating a powerful learning mechanism to prevent future buyer's remorse.
- Insightful Analytics: The 'trends' dashboard (04:38) provides a simple, visual summary of spending, saving, and the number of items in each of the four core categories.
- Integrated Education: A 'Lessons' section (06:03) offers articles on topics like the psychology of sales and minimalist principles, providing context and support for the user's journey.
- Behavioral Nudges: Features like the 'Shopping Shield' (06:03), which uses Screen Time to add a friction layer to shopping apps, actively help users build better habits.
Monetization & growth
The app's monetization strategy is direct and transparent. A premium subscription is presented immediately during the brief onboarding at 00:11. It's a single, yearly plan offered with a 7-day free trial. This 'soft paywall' approach filters for highly motivated users from the very beginning. Premium features, such as changing currency and accessing trend charts, are clearly listed on the paywall screen.
Who it’s for
This app is ideal for individuals looking to adopt a more minimalist lifestyle, gain control over impulsive spending, or simply become more conscious consumers. It appeals to users who are interested in the 'why' behind their purchases, not just the 'how much'. It's less for a hardcore budgeter and more for someone on a journey of personal finance and self-improvement.
Notes & opportunities
The app's core loops are strong, but the initial onboarding is so brief it might lose users who aren't already sold on the concept. Introducing a single interactive step, like logging a first 'want,' before showing the paywall could improve conversion by demonstrating value first. Additionally, the currency conversion interface (00:54) could be slightly more intuitive; while functional, the exchange rate application requires a moment of interpretation.