New Expense Entry State Is Lost When App Is Backgrounded

Summary

When preparing a new expense entry and temporarily locking the phone, the app frequently loses the unfinished entry if it is backgrounded. Upon reopening the app, the new entry dialog is gone, and all previously selected fields must be re-entered.

Context / Real-World Scenario

In German supermarkets, the packing area after the cashier is typically very small, which creates a high-pressure situation. Groceries must be packed very quickly to avoid delaying the queue.

Because of this, I prepare my expense entry in Budget Flow while waiting in line. I:

1. Open Budget Flow

2. Start a new expense entry

3. Select the correct category

4. Add relevant tags

5. Prepare everything except the final amount

I then put the phone in my pocket to focus on packing groceries quickly.

When it is time to pay, and the total amount appears on the cashier screen, I unlock my phone, intending to enter the amount into the prepared expense entry.

Actual Behaviour

In most cases:

• The app has been minimized or backgrounded by iOS.

• When reopening Budget Flow, the previously opened "New Entry" dialog is no longer present.

• The partially prepared entry is lost.

• I must recreate the entire entry (category, tags, etc.) from scratch.

Expected Behaviour

If a new expense entry is being prepared and the app is backgrounded or temporarily suspended by iOS, the state of that entry should be preserved.

When the app returns to the foreground, it should restore the exact state of the in-progress entry, including:

• Selected category

• Tags

• Any other entered fields

This would allow the user to simply enter the final amount and save.

Technical Note

I understand that iOS may suspend or terminate apps based on its lifecycle management. However, it should be possible to persist the view state or draft entry before the app is suspended and restore it when the app becomes active again.

This appears to be a state restoration or draft persistence issue.

Impact

This behaviour creates repeated daily friction in a very common real-world usage scenario.

Being unable to prepare an entry and finish it moments later reduces the practical usability of the app in fast-paced situations.

Resolving this would significantly improve the user experience.


Device

iPhone 13 Mini

iOS Version

Latest available iOS version (fully updated at time of writing)