Capstone Project REVIEW-1
Capstone Project REVIEW-1
Bachelor of Technology
in
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
by
VIT, Vellore.
September, 2024
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the thesis entitled “Pocket Punch” submitted by me, for the award
of the degree of Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology to VIT is a record
of bonafide work carried out by me under the supervision of Prof. Karthikeyan J.
I further declare that the work reported in this thesis has not been submitted and will
not be submitted, either in part or in full, for the award of any other degree or diploma
in this institute or any other institute or university.
The contents of this report have not been submitted and will not be submitted either in
part or in full, for the award of any other degree or diploma in this institute or any other
institute or university. The thesis fulfills the requirements and regulations of the
University and in my opinion meets the necessary standards for submission.
Programme
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who have supported
and guided us throughout the development of our project, Pocket Punch.
First and foremost, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Sumathy S, Dean of the
School of Computer Science and Engineering with Information Systems at Vellore
Institute of Technology, for her invaluable support and encouragement. Her leadership
and vision have been instrumental in laying the foundation for the success of our
project.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Prabhavathy P, Head of the Department of the School of
Computer Science and Engineering with Information Systems, for her unwavering
support and for fostering an environment that encourages innovation and learning. Her
insights and guidance have significantly shaped the direction of our work.
We also wish to express our profound appreciation to our guide, Dr. Arunkumar A, for
his expert advice, patience, and continuous encouragement. His mentorship has been
crucial in overcoming the challenges faced during the development of this project, and
his contributions have been pivotal in bringing Pocket Punch to fruition.
Our sincere thanks go to Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, for providing the
resources and platform necessary for undertaking this project. The institution's
commitment to academic excellence has inspired us throughout our research and
development.
Lastly, we acknowledge and appreciate everyone who has directly or indirectly
supported us in the completion of this project. Your contributions have been
invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for your support.
The development of Pocket Punch was motivated by the need for a tailored financial
management tool that caters specifically to students. Traditional finance apps often
lack features suited to the unique financial situations of college students, such as real-
time expense tracking and personalized budget recommendations.
Pocket Punch aims to bridge the gap left by existing financial management tools by
offering a solution that is not only functional but also tailored to the specific needs of
college students. By providing a combination of financial tracking, budgeting tools,
and personalized insights, Pocket Punch aspires to empower students to manage their
finances effectively and improve their overall financial well-being.
This report outlines the project's objectives, development phases, system design,
implementation details, and testing outcomes, highlighting how Pocket Punch stands
to make a significant impact on student financial management.
CONTENTS
Page No.
Acknowledgement i
Executive Summary ii
List of Figures ix
Abbreviations xvi
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Objective 2
1.2 Motivation 3
1.3 Background 4
3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 3
.
4 DESIGN APPROACH AND DETAILS (as applicable) .
6 PROJECT DEMONSTRATION .
8 SUMMARY .
9 REFERENCES
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objective
The goal of the Pocket Punch project is to create an easy-to-use app
that helps college students manage their money. The project aims to:
1.2 Motivation
The motivation for Pocket Punch comes from the difficulties college
students face in managing their finances, especially with the rise of
digital payments. Many students struggle with budgeting because they
lack tools designed specifically for their needs. Existing financial apps
are often too general or not focused on student challenges.
Although there are many financial tools available, most are not
designed specifically for students. They often lack features or support
that students need. Pocket Punch aims to address this by offering a
user-friendly app that combines expense tracking, budgeting help, and
financial education all in one place. This way, students can better
manage their finances and reduce the stress associated with money
management.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
The link between financial stress and mental health issues among college students has
been increasingly acknowledged in recent studies. Financial stress, exacerbated by the
complexities of managing personal finances in the digital age, significantly impacts
students’ mental health, contributing to higher levels of anxiety and depression (Smith
et al., 2021; Brown & Jones, 2020).
Research shows that students with strong financial literacy skills—those who are
knowledgeable about budgeting, saving, and managing expenses—exhibit better
financial management and lower stress levels. Studies have demonstrated that financial
education and practical budgeting tools can lead to improved financial outcomes and
reduced anxiety (Lusardi & Mitchell, 2014; Mandell & Klein, 2009). These findings
highlight the necessity for comprehensive financial management solutions that address
both technical and emotional aspects.
For instance, the Financial Literacy Scale (FLS) developed by Collins and O’Rourke
(2015) provides a reliable measure of students' financial stress and knowledge. The scale
identifies areas where students commonly struggle, such as budgeting and expense
tracking, and highlights the need for targeted support in these areas.
Incorporating financial education into academic programs has been shown to improve
financial behavior among students. A study by Xiao et al. (2015) found that students
who engaged in financial literacy programs and used budgeting tools displayed better
financial habits and experienced less stress. This research underscores the importance
of integrating financial education with practical tools to support students effectively.
Overall, the literature indicates that addressing both practical and emotional needs is
crucial for effective financial management among students. Pocket Punch aims to bridge
this gap by providing a unified platform that combines expense tracking, budgeting, and
educational resources with mental health support, thus promoting a balanced and
supportive approach to financial management (Johnson & Sherraden, 2007).
References
Smith, A., Jones, M. (2021). The Impact of Financial Stress on College Students’ Mental
Health. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 58(2), 134-146.
Brown, R., & Jones, T. (2020). Financial Literacy and Mental Health Among College
Students. Financial Counseling and Planning, 31(1), 45-56.
Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2014). The Economic Importance of Financial Literacy:
Theory and Evidence. Journal of Economic Literature, 52(1), 5-44.
Mandell, L., & Klein, L. S. (2009). The Impact of Financial Literacy Education on
Subsequent Financial Behavior. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 20(1),
15-24.
Collins, J. M., & O’Rourke, C. M. (2015). The Financial Literacy Scale: Measuring
Financial Literacy in College Students. Financial Education Research, 17(2), 23-35.
Xiao, J. J., Chen, C., & Wong, N. (2015). Financial Literacy and Financial Behavior
Among College Students. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 26(2), 156-
167.
Tufano, P. (2009). Financial Literacy and Financial Education: Evidence and
Implications. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper.
Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health,
Wealth, and Happiness. Yale University Press.
Johnson, D., & Sherraden, M. (2007). Financial Capability and Asset Building:
Research, Policy, and Practice. Policy Press.
3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND END GOALS
Pocket Punch is a comprehensive web-based platform designed to help college students
manage their personal finances effectively. Acknowledging the unique challenges
students face in tracking and managing their expenses amidst their busy schedules,
Pocket Punch offers an all-encompassing solution that integrates financial tracking
tools, budgeting features, and educational resources within a single platform.
The platform features a variety of tools and resources tailored to meet students' financial
needs:
Expense Tracking: Provides a user-friendly interface for tracking daily expenses and
visualizing spending patterns.
Budget Management: Allows users to set and monitor budgets, helping them manage
their finances more effectively.
AI-Driven Financial Insights: Utilizes AI and machine learning to offer personalized
financial advice and alerts.
Financial Literacy Resources: Includes tutorials and articles to educate users on
financial management and planning.
Mental Health Support: Integrates resources and tools to address financial stress, such
as surveys and stress management tips.
Community Engagement: Features forums and peer support groups to foster a sense of
community and shared learning among students.
Pocket Punch is built using a modern technology stack, including MongoDB, Express.js,
React.js, and Node.js (MERN stack), with cloud storage solutions for data management.
Key components of the platform include:
Pocket Punch Dashboard: Central hub for tracking expenses, setting budgets, and
accessing financial reports.
Financial Planner: Tools for creating and managing budgets, forecasting expenses, and
analyzing spending patterns.
AI Financial Advisor: Provides personalized financial recommendations based on user
data.
Learning Center: Educational resources and tutorials on financial management and
planning.
Mental Wellness Module: Offers mental health resources and stress management tools
to help students cope with financial pressures.
End Goals of Pocket Punch:
Enhance Financial Management Skills: Provide students with interactive tools and
resources to improve their financial management and budgeting skills in a user-friendly
environment.
Support Financial Wellness: Integrate mental health support and stress management
resources to help students handle financial pressures and maintain overall well-being.
Promote Financial Literacy: Offer educational materials and insights to increase
students' understanding of personal finance and financial planning.
Foster Community Support: Create a collaborative platform where students can engage
with peers, share financial tips, and provide mutual support.
Integrate Financial and Emotional Support: Develop a holistic platform that combines
financial management tools with mental health resources, ensuring comprehensive
support for students.
Encourage Sustainable Financial Practices: Improve students' financial habits and
reduce financial stress, contributing to a healthier and more balanced college experience.
By addressing both technical and emotional aspects of financial management, Pocket
Punch aims to empower students, enhance their financial literacy, and promote a
balanced and sustainable approach to managing personal finances.
3. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
For the development of Pocket Punch, a robust and flexible technology stack has been
chosen to ensure a dynamic and effective personal finance management platform.
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: These core technologies are employed to create the
dynamic and interactive user interface of the platform. They enable the development of
engaging and responsive web pages.
Tailwind CSS: Chosen as the utility-first CSS framework, Tailwind CSS simplifies
styling and ensures a consistent and visually appealing design across the platform.
React.js: This library is employed for building user interfaces, offering a fast and
interactive experience. It is enhanced by Next.js, which facilitates server-side rendering
and optimized client-side navigation.
Flask: A lightweight Python web framework used for building the backend services,
Flask allows for the development of flexible and maintainable server-side applications.
MongoDB: Utilized as the NoSQL database for scalable and efficient data management,
MongoDB handles the application's diverse data storage needs.
Pocket Punch addresses the dual challenge of financial management and mental well-
being by integrating essential tools with resources aimed at reducing financial stress.
This unified approach ensures that users have access to comprehensive support for both
A. Software Architecture
The software architecture of Pocket Punch is designed to offer a cohesive and user-
• Frontend: Developed using React.js and styled with Tailwind CSS, the
• Backend: Implemented with Node.js and Flask, the backend handles server-
side logic, data processing, and API management. It ensures smooth and efficient
• Database: MongoDB serves as the primary database for storing user data,
financial records, and app configurations. Its NoSQL structure supports flexible
devices.
B. Entity-Relationship (ER) Diagram
The Entity-Relationship (ER) diagram below illustrates the key entities in Pocket
Components:
• Client Machine: The user's device (e.g., computer, smartphone) where the web
application is accessed.
• Web Server: Handles HTTP requests from the client and serves the web
application's static and dynamic content.
• Application Server: Executes the application's logic, interacts with databases,
and provides services to the web server.
• Database Server: Stores the application's data, such as user accounts,
transactions, and budgets.
• Cloud Platform: (Optional) A cloud service provider (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure)
that hosts the application's infrastructure.
D. SEQUENCE DIAGRAM:
E. CLASS DIAGRAM:
FLOW CHART:
5.PLANNING
The financial difficulties experienced by students, including budgeting anxiety and poor
spending habits, are well-documented in existing research. However, there remains a
gap in providing tailored solutions that cater specifically to the unique financial
challenges faced by students. This study addresses this gap by proposing Pocket Punch,
a comprehensive personal finance management application.
Expense Tracking: Allows students to record and monitor their daily spending.
Budget Setting: Enables the creation and management of personal budgets.
Financial Reporting: Provides insights into spending patterns through data visualization.
AI/ML Integration: Offers personalized financial advice based on user behavior and
spending trends.
By leveraging these features, Pocket Punch aims to empower students with the tools
they need to manage their finances effectively, reduce financial stress, and develop
healthy financial habits. The application not only addresses the immediate need for
financial management but also fosters long-term financial literacy, contributing to
students' overall academic and personal success.
9. SUMMARY
In summary, addressing financial challenges in student life requires a multifaceted
approach. Collaboration among educators, financial experts, policymakers, and
technology developers is essential to create effective solutions. By investing in
innovative tools like Pocket Punch, conducting comprehensive research, and prioritizing
the financial well-being of students, we can foster a more supportive and financially
aware environment for students pursuing their academic goals.
Pocket Punch represents a significant step toward achieving this goal, offering a user-
friendly platform that combines financial management with advanced technology to
provide personalized support and guidance. This initiative not only addresses the
financial challenges faced by students today but also prepares them for a financially
secure future.
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