We're pretty straightforward about how cavalonexirya.org collects information when you visit. This page breaks down what we track, why we track it, and what you can do about it.
Look, most websites use some form of tracking. We do too. But we're not here to bombard you with ads or sell your data to random third parties. We track things to help families manage their budgets better and make sure the site actually works properly.
What Actually Happens When You Visit
When you land on our site, small text files get stored on your device. These are what people call cookies, though they also include similar tech like local storage and session tokens.
Think of them as digital sticky notes. Some remember that you logged in. Others track which budget calculator you used last week. A few measure whether people actually read our articles or just skim the headlines.
Not all tracking is the same, though. Some stuff is absolutely necessary for the site to function. Other bits are optional and exist purely to help us understand user behaviour.
The Different Types of Tracking We Use
Essential OperationsRequired
These keep the site running. Without them, you can't log in, save your budget plans, or access member areas. They're not negotiable if you want to use the platform.
Functional Preferences
These remember your choices, like currency format or whether you prefer dark mode. They make your experience more comfortable but aren't strictly necessary.
Analytics Data
We use these to see which features people actually use. If nobody touches the mortgage calculator, maybe we need to improve it or ditch it entirely.
Marketing Tracking
These help us show relevant content about budgeting tips. We don't run display ads, but we do track which educational content resonates with different audiences.
When you click "Decline All Tracking" above, we'll remove everything except the essential cookies. Your choice gets saved locally so we remember your preference next time.
Specific Tracking Methods We Deploy
Session Management
When you sign in, we create a session token that lasts until you close your browser or log out explicitly. This prevents you from having to re-enter credentials every time you switch pages.
These tokens expire after 2 hours of inactivity for security reasons. If you're working on a detailed budget plan, save regularly.
Analytics Platform
We run Google Analytics with anonymized IP addresses. This tells us things like how many people visited the debt reduction guide this month or how long they spent reading it.
The data helps us figure out what content actually helps families versus what's just taking up space on the server. We review this quarterly to make decisions about site improvements.
Performance Monitoring
We track page load times and error rates. If the budget calculator suddenly starts crashing for users on mobile devices, we need to know about it quickly.
This data is purely technical and doesn't include personal information about who experienced the issue.
Educational Content Tracking
When you download a budgeting template or watch a video tutorial, we note which resources get used most often. This influences what new content we create.
If the "saving for vacation" guides get downloaded constantly but the investment content barely gets touched, that tells us where to focus effort.
What We Keep and For How Long
| Data Type | Storage Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Login Sessions | 2 hours or until logout | Maintain authenticated access to account features |
| Preference Settings | 12 months | Remember display choices and customizations |
| Analytics Data | 26 months | Track usage patterns and site performance trends |
| Consent Records | 36 months | Document your tracking preferences for compliance |
| Error Logs | 90 days | Troubleshoot technical issues and bugs |
After these periods expire, data either gets deleted automatically or gets aggregated into summary statistics where individual users can't be identified.
Taking Control of Your Tracking
You've got several options here. The button at the top of this page handles our tracking specifically. But you can also manage this through your browser settings, which affects all websites you visit.
Browser-Level Controls
Chrome
Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data. You can block third-party cookies while allowing first-party ones.
Firefox
Options → Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection. The "Strict" setting blocks most tracking automatically.
Safari
Preferences → Privacy → Block all cookies. This is aggressive and might break some site functionality.
Edge
Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Tracking prevention. Choose between Basic, Balanced, or Strict.
Third-Party Opt-Outs
For analytics specifically, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. This prevents Google Analytics from tracking you across any website that uses it.
Keep in mind that blocking all cookies will log you out of cavalonexirya.org and prevent you from accessing saved budget plans or personalized features.
What Happens When You Block Everything
If you reject all non-essential tracking, here's what changes:
- You can still browse all public content about budgeting and financial management
- You can still create an account, though you'll need to log in more frequently
- Your display preferences won't save between sessions
- We won't know which resources you find helpful, making it harder to improve content
- Some interactive calculators might require you to re-enter data more often
The core functionality remains intact. You're just trading some convenience for additional privacy.
External Services and Their Tracking
We integrate with a few external platforms that have their own tracking policies:
Payment Processing
If you subscribe to premium features, payment goes through Stripe. They use their own cookies to prevent fraud and process transactions securely. We don't see or store your full payment details.
Email Communications
Our newsletter system tracks open rates and link clicks. This helps us understand which financial topics interest subscribers most. You can unsubscribe anytime, and we'll stop tracking your email interactions immediately.
Video Hosting
Tutorial videos are hosted on Vimeo. When you watch one, Vimeo collects data about video performance. We receive aggregated statistics but not information about individual viewers.
Updates to This Policy
We review this policy every six months or whenever we change how we handle tracking. The date at the top shows when we last made revisions.
If we make significant changes, like adding new tracking categories or extending data retention periods, we'll notify active users via email. You'll get at least 30 days notice before changes take effect.
Past versions of this policy are archived and available on request if you want to see what changed over time.
Questions About Tracking?
If something here doesn't make sense or you want specific details about what we've tracked from your account, get in touch. We'll respond within 48 hours during business days.