Guess your Spend
Monarch Money is a personal finance app that helps people track spending, customize financial planning, and build healthier money habits over time. Like many modern lifestyle apps, Monarch users frequently asked for an end-of-year recap—a way to reflect on their financial behavior across the year.
Concept & Goals
The concept originated from a hackathon project called The Price is Right. Instead of a passive year-end summary, we explored a gamified approach that invited Monarch members to actively reflect on their spending. Users were asked to guess how much they spent in categories such as shopping, groceries, and DoorDash.
We aimed to boost referrals and app shareability by prompting members to share their results and recommend Monarch to friends, family, and social networks to drive sign-ups.
Gameplay
Each round prompted members to make a spending guess, followed by a reveal comparing their estimate to the actual amount spent. After every round, users also received a benchmark showing how their spending compared with the average Monarch household.
Results & Comparison
After six rounds of guessing, the game ends with a results screen that displays a member’s actual spending per category alongside an accuracy score. They are also presented with a badge showing their percentile for their top expense.
Additionally, a member receives a clear comparison walkthrough that shows how their spending compares to an average Monarch household. We found many Monarch users were curious about how other households and the average household’s financial situations looked, so this comparison flow was designed to satisfy that curiosity in a positive, informative way.
Positive impact
To our surprise, members responded positively to the Guess Your Spend mini‑game. Reviews and comments about the game appeared across several social outlets, including Reddit, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
There was strong user interest in the gameplay's comparison phases. It gave existing users a reason to share Monarch and prospective users a reason to try it.
Data and Performance
Since the game’s release, roughly 105 thousand users have engaged with the game, exceeding our target of 10% of our monthly average users. Monarch also gained 15% of new members. It was an overwhelmingly successful addition, and there are hopes of continuing Guess Your Spend the following year.