---
title: "WorthTheHours – Rethinking spending in terms of time — Paolo Ronco"
language: "en"
url: "https://paoloronco.it/en/writing/worththehours-ripensare-le-spese-in-termini-di-tempo"
---

[← writing](/en/writing)

17 December 2025 · 2 min read

# WorthTheHours – Rethinking spending in terms of time

WorthTheHours is a native Android app I built to transform the way we evaluate everyday spending. The idea behind it is simple but powerful:…

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**WorthTheHours** is a native Android app I built to transform the way we evaluate everyday spending.  
The idea behind it is simple but powerful: instead of asking ourselves _“can I afford it?”_, the app invites us to ask a deeper question:

> **“How many hours of my working life does this purchase cost?”**

By converting prices into **hours and minutes of work**, WorthTheHours helps you make more conscious, considered spending decisions.

## 🔗 Project links

-   **Source code (GitHub):**  
    👉 [https://github.com/paoloronco/WorthTheHours](https://github.com/paoloronco/WorthTheHours)
-   **App on the Play Store:**  
    👉 [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paoloronco.worththehours&hl=it](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paoloronco.worththehours&hl=it)

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## 💡 Concept & goal

WorthTheHours started as a personal project to bring together:

-   reflection on the value of time
-   digital minimalism
-   modern Android development

Seeing an expense in terms of working time radically changes the perception of its “real cost”, making the impact a purchase has on our life immediate.

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## ✨ Key features

-   **Flexible salary setup**
    -   Enter your net hourly pay directly
    -   Or compute it automatically from monthly salary and working hours
    -   Sensitive data is **stored locally and encrypted**
-   **Purchase management**
    -   Quickly add items with name and price
    -   Instant conversion into **hours and minutes of work**
-   **Privacy-first**
    -   No account
    -   No network connection
    -   No backend or tracking
    -   All data stays on the device
-   **Modern interface**
    -   UI built entirely with **Jetpack Compose**
    -   **Material 3**, clean and minimal design
    -   Light/dark theme support

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## 🧱 Tech stack & architecture

The app is built following **modern Android best practices** and a clear, scalable **MVVM** architecture.

## Technologies used:

-   **Kotlin**
-   **Jetpack Compose**
-   **Material 3**
-   **MVVM Architecture**
-   **Hilt** (Dependency Injection)
-   **Kotlin Coroutines & Flow**
-   **Navigation Compose**
-   **Room** (local persistence)
-   **EncryptedSharedPreferences** (sensitive data)
-   **DataStore** (user preferences)

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## 📂 Project structure

The code is organized in a modular, readable way, clearly separating:

-   **data layer** (repository, database, secure storage)
-   **UI layer** (Compose screens, navigation, theme)
-   **ViewModel** (business logic and state)
-   **Dependency Injection** with Hilt

This approach makes the project easy to maintain and extend.

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## 🚀 Final thoughts

WorthTheHours is a project that captures my approach to development well:

-   attention to user experience
-   focus on privacy and security
-   thoughtful use of modern technologies

It’s a simple-looking app, but built on a solid, professional foundation, designed to grow over time.

On this page

-   [🔗 Project links](#-project-links)
-   [💡 Concept & goal](#-concept--goal)
-   [✨ Key features](#-key-features)
-   [🧱 Tech stack & architecture](#-tech-stack--architecture)
-   [Technologies used:](#technologies-used)
-   [📂 Project structure](#-project-structure)
-   [🚀 Final thoughts](#-final-thoughts)