diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 180bd6a..8431937 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 .env
 node_modules
 *.js
+config.json
diff --git a/commands/bal.ts b/commands/bal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8b0111
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/bal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import type { ChatInputCommandInteraction } from "discord.js";
+import { EmbedBuilder } from "discord.js";
+
+import type { CommandData } from "./index";
+import type { User } from "../db";
+import config from "../config.json";
+import { get_user } from "../db";
+import { BotError } from "./error";
+
+async function run(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction, user: User) {
+  const options = interaction.options;
+  const target = (await options.get("target"))?.user;
+  let embeds = [];
+  let bal_embed = new EmbedBuilder();
+  let bal_target = target ?? interaction.user;
+  let bal_user = target ? await get_user(target.id) : user;
+  if (!bal_user) throw new BotError("Target is not registered"); //must be target
+  bal_embed.setTitle(`${bal_target.tag}'s Balance`);
+  bal_embed.setDescription(`${bal_user.balance} ${ bal_user.balance === 1 ? config.currency : config.currency_plural }`);
+  embeds.push(bal_embed);
+  return await interaction.editReply({ embeds });
+}
+
+const data: CommandData = {
+  name: "bal",
+  description: "Show you or someone else's balance",
+  registered_only: true,
+  ephemeral: false,
+  admin_only: false,
+  run,
+};
+
+export default data;
+
+
diff --git a/commands/change_bal.ts b/commands/change_bal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6ba039
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/change_bal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import type { ChatInputCommandInteraction } from "discord.js";
+
+import type { CommandData } from "./index";
+import type { User } from "../db";
+import { get_user, add_balance, sub_balance } from "../db";
+import { BotError } from "./error";
+
+async function run(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction, _user: User) {
+  const options = interaction.options;
+  const target_id: string = (await options.get("target")).user.id;
+  const amount: number = (await options.get("amount")).value as number;
+  const negative_allowed: boolean = ((await options.get("negative_allowed"))?.value ?? false) as boolean;
+  let change_user = await get_user(target_id);
+  if (!change_user) throw new BotError("Target is not registered");
+  if (amount >= 0) {
+    await add_balance(target_id, amount);
+  } else {
+    const success = await sub_balance(target_id, -amount, negative_allowed);
+    if (!success) throw new BotError("Failed because would make target balance negative, so `negative_allowed` must be true to do this");
+  }
+  return await interaction.editReply(`Changed <@${target_id}> balance by ${amount}`);
+}
+
+const data: CommandData = {
+  name: "change_bal",
+  description: "Change a user's balance",
+  registered_only: true,
+  ephemeral: false,
+  admin_only: true,
+  run,
+};
+
+export default data;
+
diff --git a/commands/index.ts b/commands/index.ts
index 1ea2694..158a72b 100644
--- a/commands/index.ts
+++ b/commands/index.ts
@@ -1,28 +1,31 @@
+import type { ChatInputCommandInteraction, GuildMember } from "discord.js";
 import { EmbedBuilder } from "discord.js";
-import type { ChatInputCommandInteraction } from "discord.js";
 
+import type { User } from "../db";
+import { get_user } from "../db";
 import { BotError } from "./error";
+import config from "../config.json";
 
 import say from "./say";
 import roll from "./roll";
-
+import register_user from "./register_user";
+import bal from "./bal";
+import change_bal from "./change_bal";
+import transfer from "./transfer";
 
 export interface CommandData {
   name: string;
   description: string;
+  registered_only: boolean; //also means interaction will get deferReply()ed
   ephemeral: boolean;
   admin_only: boolean;
-  run: (interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction) => Promise<any>;
-  //
+  run: (interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction, user?: User) => Promise<any>;
 };
 
-const commands: CommandData[] = [say, roll];
+const commands: CommandData[] = [say, roll, register_user, bal, change_bal, transfer];
 
-//todo: look from config. also, have a config
 function is_admin(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction): boolean {
-  //
-  //placeholder
-  return true;
+  return (interaction.member as GuildMember).roles.cache.some((r) => r.id === config.admin_role);
 }
 
 export default async function run(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction) {
@@ -59,7 +62,15 @@ export default async function run(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction) {
   try {
     //admin stuff should be ideally handled by register.ts, but this is a fallback
     if (found.admin_only && !is_admin(interaction)) throw new BotError("Admin permission needed to run that command");
+    if (found.registered_only) {
+      await interaction.deferReply();
+      const user = await get_user(interaction.user.id);
+      if (!user) throw new BotError("You must be registered by an admin to use this command");
+      await found.run(interaction, user);
+      return;
+    }
     await found.run(interaction);
+    return;
   } catch (e) {
     if (e instanceof BotError) {
       //send error message to that channel
diff --git a/commands/register_user.ts b/commands/register_user.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e82b1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/register_user.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import type { ChatInputCommandInteraction } from "discord.js";
+
+import type { CommandData } from "./index";
+import { get_user, add_new_user } from "../db";
+import { BotError } from "./error";
+
+async function run(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction) {
+  await interaction.deferReply();
+  const options = interaction.options;
+  const target_id = (await options.get("target")).user.id;
+  if (await get_user(target_id)) throw new BotError("Target is already registered");
+  await add_new_user(target_id);
+  return await interaction.editReply({ content: `Registered <@${target_id}>`, allowedMentions: { users: [] } });
+}
+
+const data: CommandData = {
+  name: "register_user",
+  description: "Register a user so they can participate in the bot economy",
+  registered_only: false,
+  ephemeral: false,
+  admin_only: true,
+  run,
+};
+
+export default data;
+
diff --git a/commands/roll.ts b/commands/roll.ts
index 305165b..acdd0da 100644
--- a/commands/roll.ts
+++ b/commands/roll.ts
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ async function run(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction) {
 const data: CommandData = {
   name: "roll",
   description: "Roll dice",
+  registered_only: false,
   ephemeral: false,
   admin_only: false,
   run,
-  //
 };
 
 export default data;
diff --git a/commands/say.ts b/commands/say.ts
index 7653fd8..60d1dcd 100644
--- a/commands/say.ts
+++ b/commands/say.ts
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ async function run(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction) {
 const data: CommandData = {
   name: "say",
   description: "Have the bot say something in a channel",
+  registered_only: false,
   ephemeral: true,
   admin_only: true,
   run,
-  //
 };
 
 export default data;
diff --git a/commands/transfer.ts b/commands/transfer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a6a57b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/transfer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import type { ChatInputCommandInteraction } from "discord.js";
+
+import type { CommandData } from "./index";
+import type { User } from "../db";
+import config from "../config.json";
+import { get_user, add_balance, sub_balance } from "../db";
+import { BotError } from "./error";
+
+async function run(interaction: ChatInputCommandInteraction, user: User) {
+  const options = interaction.options;
+  const target_id: string = (await options.get("target")).user.id;
+  const amount: number = (await options.get("amount")).value as number;
+  if (amount <= 0) throw new BotError("Transfer account cannot be zero or negative");
+  let trans_user = await get_user(target_id);
+  if (!trans_user) throw new BotError("Target is not registered");
+  //no checks, baby! well, let db.ts handle it
+  const enough_balance = await sub_balance(user.user, amount);
+  if (!enough_balance) throw new BotError(`You do not have enough ${config.currency_plural} to transfer that amount`);
+  await add_balance(target_id, amount);
+  return await interaction.editReply(`<@${user.user}> transferred ${amount} ${ amount === 1 ? config.currency : config.currency_plural } to <@${target_id}>`);
+}
+
+const data: CommandData = {
+  name: "transfer",
+  description: "Send currency to another user",
+  registered_only: true,
+  ephemeral: false,
+  admin_only: false,
+  run,
+};
+
+export default data;
+
+
diff --git a/config.json.example b/config.json.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a79326b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.json.example
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "currency": "credit",
+  "currency_plural": "credits",
+  "admin_role": "000000000000000000"
+}
diff --git a/db.ts b/db.ts
index 75ff928..1f6fe97 100644
--- a/db.ts
+++ b/db.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,101 @@
 import { MongoClient } from "mongodb";
 
+import { did_update } from "./util";
+
 //figure out the options and whatnot later
 const client = new MongoClient(process.env.MONGO_CONNECTION_STRING);
 
-let store, users, income;
+let store, users, roleincome;
 
 client.connect().then(() => {
   console.log("Connected to the database");
+  const db = client.db("db");
+  store = db.collection("store");
+  users = db.collection("users");
+  roleincome = db.collection("roleincome");
   //
 });
 
+//db structure types
+
+export interface StoreItem {
+  //
+};
+
+export interface User {
+  user: `${number}`; //discord user id
+  balance: number;
+  items: Record<string, number>;
+  //
+};
+
+export interface RoleIncome {
+  //
+};
+
+//default
+
+const DEFAULT_USER: Omit<User, "user"> = {
+  balance: 0,
+  items: {},
+  //
+};
+
+//users collection db functions
+
+export async function add_new_user(user: string) {
+  return await users.insertOne({ user, ...DEFAULT_USER });
+}
+
+export async function get_user(user: string): Promise<User | undefined> {
+  return await users.findOne({ user });
+}
+
+export async function add_balance(user: string, amount: number) {
+  return await users.updateOne({ user }, {
+    $inc: {
+      balance: amount,
+    },
+  });
+}
+
+//if false, not enough balance
+export async function sub_balance(user: string, amount: number, negative_allowed: boolean = false): Promise<boolean> {
+  let query: any = {
+    user,
+  };
+  if (!negative_allowed) {
+    query.balance = {
+      $gte: amount,
+    };
+  }
+  return did_update(await users.updateOne(query, {
+    $inc: {
+      balance: -amount,
+    },
+  }));
+}
+
+export async function add_item_to_user(user: string, item: string, amount: number) {
+  return await users.updateOne({ user }, {
+    $inc: {
+      [`items.${item}`]: amount,
+    },
+  });
+}
+
+export async function sub_item_to_user(user: string, item: string, amount: number): Promise<boolean> {
+  return await users.updateOne({
+    user,
+    [`items.${item}`]: {
+      $gte: amount,
+    },
+  }, {
+    $inc: {
+      [`items.${item}`]: -amount,
+    },
+  });
+}
+
+//
+
diff --git a/index.ts b/index.ts
index 9aad70b..4ba7c6c 100644
--- a/index.ts
+++ b/index.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-import { Client, BaseInteraction } from "discord.js";
+import { BaseInteraction, Client, GatewayIntentBits } from "discord.js";
 import { config } from "dotenv";
 
-//import db from "./db";
-import run from "./commands";
-
 config();
 
-const client = new Client({ intents: [] });
+import {} from "./db";
+import run from "./commands";
+
+const client = new Client({ intents: [GatewayIntentBits.Guilds] });
 
 client.on("ready", async () => {
   console.log(`Logged in as ${client.user.tag}`);
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ client.on("interactionCreate", async (interaction: BaseInteraction) => {
   }
 });
 
-setTimeout(() => client.login(process.env.DISCORD_TOKEN), 2000);
+setTimeout(() => client.login(process.env.DISCORD_TOKEN), 3000);
 
diff --git a/register.ts b/register.ts
index 40b6ff4..a88d912 100644
--- a/register.ts
+++ b/register.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,73 @@ const commands = [
       },
     ],
   },
+  //economy related
+  {
+    name: "register_user",
+    description: "Register a user so they can participate in the bot economy (admin only)",
+    options: [
+      {
+        type: 6,
+        name: "target",
+        description: "The user to register",
+        required: true,
+      },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    name: "bal",
+    description: "Show you or someone else's balance",
+    options: [
+      {
+        type: 6,
+        name: "target",
+        description: "The user to check the balance of",
+        required: false,
+      },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    name: "change_bal",
+    description: "Change a user's balance (admin only)",
+    options: [
+      {
+        type: 6,
+        name: "target",
+        description: "The user to change the balance of",
+        required: true,
+      },
+      {
+        type: 4,
+        name: "amount",
+        description: "Amount to add/subtract",
+        required: true,
+      },
+      {
+        type: 5,
+        name: "negative_allowed",
+        description: "Allow user balance to become negative (default: false)",
+        required: false,
+      },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    name: "transfer",
+    description: "Send currency to another user",
+    options: [
+      {
+        type: 6,
+        name: "target",
+        description: "The user to send to",
+        required: true,
+      },
+      {
+        type: 4,
+        name: "amount",
+        description: "Amount to transfer",
+        required: true,
+      },
+    ],
+  },
 ];
 
 (new REST().setToken(process.env.DISCORD_TOKEN)).put(Routes.applicationCommands(process.env.CLIENT_ID), { body: commands }).then(() => console.log("Finished reloading slash commands"));
diff --git a/tsconfig.json b/tsconfig.json
index ef3a6b1..dfd0076 100644
--- a/tsconfig.json
+++ b/tsconfig.json
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
     "typeRoots": ["./node_modules/@types"],
     "esModuleInterop": true,
     "skipLibCheck": true,
-    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true
+    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
+    "resolveJsonModule": true
   },
   "lib": ["ES2020"],
   "exclude": ["node_modules"]
diff --git a/util.ts b/util.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7656b41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import type { UpdateResult } from "mongodb";
+
+export function did_update(result: UpdateResult): boolean {
+  return result.modifiedCount > 0;
+}
+