Anyone with a New Year’s resolution to get on top of their personal finances has a new tool available – entirely free – thanks to Alex Portelli, a local software developer who recently launched a website that invites users to get on top of their personal finances – PersonalFinanceTool.com

Building on his own “challenging” experience with understanding and managing his expenses, Mr Portelli tells WhosWho.mt that he wanted to build something simple and effective that would “empower others to make informed financial decisions without requiring complex spreadsheets or expensive software.”

Significantly, the platform is available in both English and Maltese.

“As a Maltese developer, I felt it was important to offer the tool in Maltese because language plays a big role in accessibility,” he says.

“Personal finance can already feel daunting for many, so providing the tool in the user’s native language makes it more approachable and relatable.

“It’s also my way of contributing to keeping our language alive in the digital space – a space where Maltese is often underrepresented.”

The web-based tool does not need to be downloaded, is accessible across all devices, and requires no sign-up to use.

Mr Portelli says the tool allows users to input their income and expenses to gain immediate insights into their financial health.

The plan, he continues, is to update the tool every six months with new feature additions and functionality improvements informed by users’ feedback, encouraging everyone using the tool to share their suggestions: “This feedback loop ensures the tool remains practical and relevant.”

After inputting the requested financial information, PersonalFinanceTool.com gives users an easy-to-digest visual representation of key indicators, including things like their savings-to-income ratio and their debt-to-income ratio.

“I included these ratios because they are critical, yet often overlooked metrics for understanding financial health,” says Mr Portelli. “They provide users with a quick snapshot of how they’re managing their finances – whether they’re saving enough or if their debt levels are sustainable relative to their income.”

He believes that the tool, built to be “universal, practical, and straightforward, so anyone can use it, regardless of their financial background,” can empower people to take charge of their money and ultimately improve their quality of life.

Asked for his own top financial tip for anyone who wants to start the new year on the right foot, Mr Portelli says: “Start with awareness. You can’t improve what you don’t understand. Whether it’s tracking every cent you spend for a month or reviewing your bank statements regularly, the first step is to understand where your money is going. Once you have that clarity, you can take deliberate steps toward budgeting, saving, and ultimately, financial freedom.”