RSS FeedAlthough we’ve been emphasizing using a budget printout, or a cash envelope to help you keep track of your income and expenses, those aren’t the only methods available to you.
New apps make it possible to track your spending, your income, pay your bills, check your accounts, put money into savings, and many more tasks.
Here are some of the more popular money-managing apps:
For Money Management
Mint: Free, and available for iOS, Android, and Amazon
Easily pulls all your accounts, cards, and investments into one place so you can track your spending, create a budget, receive bill reminders, and get customized tips for reducing fees and saving money. Syncs with your bank account and/or credit card to track your spending patterns, and lets you know when you’re slipping up.
Level Money: Free, and available for iOS and Android
A simple tool to automatically analyze your financial picture, Level Money is a day-to-day expense tracker, helping you understand how much you have left to spend in a given day, week, or month. If you’re puzzled about how you ended up with an empty wallet by the end of the day or week, this is perfect for you.
Bills Monitor: 99¢, and available for iOS
Never be late paying your bills! Bills Monitor will track and check your bills, and remind you to pay them
Daily Budget Original: Free, and available for iOS
Warning: There are numerous in-app purchases you can make for additional services. Make sure it’s something you really need and will use before purchasing.
Daily Budget is simple and easy way to calculate and track your daily budget. It will calculate your daily budget based on your income and fixed expenses. If you save today, you’ll have a larger daily budget tomorrow. Save for large purchases or other purposes—an amount will automatically be withdrawn from your daily budget.
Prosper Daily: Free, and available for iOS
View all your accounts in one place, track your credit score, know exactly what you are spending and what you are spending it on, checks for fraudulent charges, and comes with ID protection.
For Saving
Acorns: Free, and available for iOS and Android
Acorns makes it possible for anyone to slowly build an investment portfolio. It rounds up everyday credit and debit card purchases to the next dollar, and deposits the difference into a savings account. So for example, if you buy a coffee for $2.63 using a linked card, it will charge you $3 and automatically deposit the $.37 into your diversified portfolio. Plus, it only costs $1 a month to manage your savings investment account, and you can withdraw whenever you want without a penalty.
RetailMeNot: Free, and available for iOS and Android
You may already know about RetailMeNot’s website, where you can download coupons and look up discount codes. Now they’ve taken it a step forward: All you need to do is launch the app while you’re shopping and it will gather all the deals and discounts available in that store, then display a barcode for any you want to redeem at checkout.
Podcasts
Listen to podcasts focused directly on managing your income, saving money, and improving your financial life.
The Control of Your Money: The Dave Ramsey Show: Dave Ramsey’s show is about real life and how it revolves around money, teaching you how to manage and budget your money, get out of debt, build wealth, and live in financial peace.
Money Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life: Money Girl provides short and friendly personal finance, real estate, and investing tips to help you live a rich life.
The SavingsAngel Show with Josh Elledge: Each week TV personality and improv comedian Josh Elledge shares how to save money, make more money, and live a more abundant life.
The Clark Howard Show: The nationally syndicated show covers how to save more, spend less and avoid consumer rip-offs.
You Need a Budget (YNAB): Not just a podcast, but an app, too. The app will help you organize your spending and income, and the podcast shares honest and upfront financial thoughts and discussions to help you take control of your financial life.
Remember, there are all kinds of ways you can manage your income and your spending—now there are no excuses!
