diff --git a/app/src/components/steps/ProfessionalExpensesStep.vue b/app/src/components/steps/ProfessionalExpensesStep.vue
index 27d1c7d..8745936 100644
--- a/app/src/components/steps/ProfessionalExpensesStep.vue
+++ b/app/src/components/steps/ProfessionalExpensesStep.vue
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@
               v-if="form.eatsOut"
               v-model="form.hasCanteenOrVouchers"
               :label="t('professionalExpenses.hasCanteenOrVouchers')"
-              :rules="[requiredWhenEatsOut]"
               class="q-mt-md"
             />
             </div>
@@ -78,9 +77,10 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { reactive, onMounted, ref, nextTick, watch, computed } from 'vue'
+import { onMounted, ref, nextTick, watch, computed } from 'vue'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import type { StepDescriptor } from '../../types/types'
+import { useProfessionalExpensesStore, type ProfessionalExpensesData } from '../../stores/professionalExpenses'
 
 type CommuteMethod = 'CAR' | 'BUS' | 'BIKE' | 'WALK'
 
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ type ProfessionalExpensesForm = {
   hasCanteenOrVouchers: boolean
 }
 
+const store = useProfessionalExpensesStore()
 
 const props = defineProps<{ step?: StepDescriptor }>()
 const emit = defineEmits(['next', 'prev'])
@@ -120,15 +121,7 @@ const minLength = (n: number, msg?: string) => (v: unknown) => {
 
 
 
-const form = reactive<ProfessionalExpensesForm>({
-  expensesChanged: false,
-  workplaceDescription: '',
-  commuteMethod: null,
-  commuteKm: null,
-  lunchAtHome: false,
-  eatsOut: false,
-  hasCanteenOrVouchers: false
-})
+const form = store.data as ProfessionalExpensesForm
 
 const commuteMethodOptions = computed<Array<{ label: string; value: CommuteMethod }>>(() => [
   { label: t('professionalExpenses.commuteMethodOptions.car'), value: 'CAR' },
@@ -137,11 +130,6 @@ const commuteMethodOptions = computed<Array<{ label: string; value: CommuteMetho
   { label: t('professionalExpenses.commuteMethodOptions.walk'), value: 'WALK' }
 ])
 
-const requiredWhenEatsOut = (v: boolean | null) => {
-  if (!form.eatsOut) return true
-  return v !== null || t('validation.required')
-}
-
 /* const professionalExpensesSchema = {
   fields: [
     { key: "expensesChanged", type: "boolean", required: true },
@@ -160,10 +148,13 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   formRef.value?.resetValidation?.()
 })
 
-// persist when expensesChanged toggles
-watch(() => form.expensesChanged, () => {
-  //store.setChildren(buildPayload())
-})
+watch(
+  () => form,
+  () => {
+    store.persist()
+  },
+  { deep: true }
+)
 
 watch(() => form.eatsOut, (value) => {
   if (!value) form.hasCanteenOrVouchers = false
@@ -179,10 +170,12 @@ async function saveAndNext() {
   } catch {
     return
   }
+  store.setProfessionalExpenses(form as ProfessionalExpensesData)
   emit('next', props.step?.next)
 }
 
 function emitPrev() {
+  store.setProfessionalExpenses(form as ProfessionalExpensesData)
   emit('prev', props.step?.prev)
 }
 
diff --git a/app/src/stores/professionalExpenses.ts b/app/src/stores/professionalExpenses.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b4877f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/stores/professionalExpenses.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+import { defineStore } from 'pinia'
+import { LocalStorage } from 'quasar'
+
+export type CommuteMethod = 'CAR' | 'BUS' | 'BIKE' | 'WALK'
+
+export interface ProfessionalExpensesData {
+  expensesChanged: boolean
+  workplaceDescription: string
+  commuteMethod: CommuteMethod | null
+  commuteKm: number | null
+  lunchAtHome: boolean
+  eatsOut: boolean
+  hasCanteenOrVouchers: boolean
+}
+
+const STORAGE_KEY = 'professionalExpenses:v1'
+
+const DEFAULT: ProfessionalExpensesData = {
+  expensesChanged: false,
+  workplaceDescription: '',
+  commuteMethod: null,
+  commuteKm: null,
+  lunchAtHome: false,
+  eatsOut: false,
+  hasCanteenOrVouchers: false
+}
+
+function isRecord(v: unknown): v is Record<string, unknown> {
+  return !!v && typeof v === 'object' && !Array.isArray(v)
+}
+
+export const useProfessionalExpensesStore = defineStore('professionalexpensesstore', {
+  state: () => {
+    try {
+      let saved: unknown = LocalStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY)
+      if (typeof saved === 'string') {
+        try {
+          saved = JSON.parse(saved)
+        } catch {
+          saved = null
+        }
+      }
+      if (isRecord(saved)) {
+        const merged = { ...DEFAULT, ...(saved as Partial<ProfessionalExpensesData>) } as ProfessionalExpensesData
+        return {
+          data: {
+            ...merged,
+            hasCanteenOrVouchers: merged.hasCanteenOrVouchers === true
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // ignore and fall back to default
+    }
+    return { data: { ...DEFAULT } as ProfessionalExpensesData }
+  },
+  actions: {
+    persist() {
+      try {
+        LocalStorage.set(STORAGE_KEY, this.data)
+      } catch (err) {
+        console.error('professionalExpenses.store: persist error', err)
+      }
+    },
+    getProfessionalExpenses() {
+      return this.data
+    },
+    setProfessionalExpenses(partial: Partial<ProfessionalExpensesData>) {
+      this.data = { ...this.data, ...partial }
+      this.persist()
+    },
+    replaceProfessionalExpenses(payload: ProfessionalExpensesData) {
+      this.data = payload
+      this.persist()
+    },
+    resetProfessionalExpenses() {
+      this.data = { ...DEFAULT }
+      this.persist()
+    }
+  }
+})