Flash aplication : host on web to save data?

Hi all,

I am making a budgeting program, partly because I need one, and I want to learn more about flash.

My main question is this - because I will need to track data over many months, how do I make sure it is saved by flash? Do I have to host it as a website so it is ‘always running’? I would hate to think what would happen if the host were to go down, I would lose everything.

Its seems like there would be a way to export the data (via a save button) to xml or some other format after I have finished my session. Could anyone point me in the right direction?

thanks,

haus

EDIT : I would note that this is not going to be used on the internet.