**Phase 1 — Foundation & Database Setup** Create: `.htaccess` · `includes/config.php` · `includes/db.php` · `includes/helpers.php` · `includes/layout/header.php` · `includes/layout/nav.php` · `includes/layout/footer.php` · `assets/css/app.css` · `assets/js/app.js` (stub) · `index.php` (temp shell) · `database/schema.sql` · `database/seed.sql` · protected `logs/` + `backups/`

**Phase 2 — Authentication** Create: `login.php` · `logout.php` · `includes/auth.php` · `includes/csrf.php` · `database/migrations/002_auth_tokens.sql` Modify: `index.php` · `header.php` · `nav.php` · `config.php`

**Phase 3 — Dashboard Core ⭐** Create: `api/expense_save.php` · `includes/validation.php` Modify: `index.php` · `app.js` · `app.css` · `helpers.php`

**Phase 4 — Edit & Delete** Create: `api/expense_delete.php` Modify: `index.php` · `app.js` · `api/expense_save.php`

**Phase 5 — Month Navigation & Archive** Create: —
Modify: `index.php` · `helpers.php`

**Phase 6 — All Expenses: Search & Filters** Create: `expenses.php` Modify: `nav.php` · `app.css` (minor)

**Phase 7 — Manage & Settings** Create: `manage.php` · `settings.php` Modify: `nav.php` · `helpers.php` · `auth.php`

**Phase 8 — Monthly Budgets** Create: `budgets.php` · `api/budget_save.php` · `database/migrations/003_budgets.sql` Modify: `index.php` · `nav.php` · `helpers.php`

**Phase 9 — Income & Monthly Savings** Create: `income.php` · `api/income_save.php` · `api/income_delete.php` · `database/migrations/004_incomes.sql` Modify: `index.php` · `nav.php` · `validation.php` · `manage.php`

**Phase 10 — Reports & Charts** Create: `reports.php` Modify: `nav.php`

**Phase 11 — Export, Backup & Go-Live** Create: `export.php` · `api/backup_download.php` · `docs/DEPLOY.md` Modify: `settings.php` · `config.php` · `.htaccess`

**Post-launch — CSV Import (C5, blueprint Section 25.6)** Create: `includes/import.php` Modify: `settings.php` — user's own per-month ledger CSV format, not the C1 export format


