If budgeting bores you or seems way too complicated, here are 5 easy-to-use apps to help you keep track of your money.
Between all of your daily responsibilities at home and work, it’s easy to lose track of your money.
The ease of debit and credit cards can further compound the problem, making seemingly inconsequential purchases pile up into that mountain all those molehills keep becoming.
Unfortunately, just one forgotten pebble — an overdrawn bank account or a late installment payment — and soon you’ll turn around and there’s a mountain of debt behind you.
Fortunately, technology is keeping pace with today’s hectic lifestyle. With everyone having a smartphone in their pocket, companies are making it easier than ever to keep track of your money and take megatons of financial freedom dynamite to a debt mountain of any size. Here are 5 apps to help you keep track of your money and savings.
Your Bank’s App
Most large financial institutions provide customers with access to their bank accounts through the use of a mobile app. These apps can help you track expected expenses, such as recurring mortgage or insurance payments, and can provide a glimpse of your balances at your fingertips. You can log in from almost anywhere to keep track of deposits, transfer funds and monitor suspicious activity — all of which will hopefully keep you in front of any possible overdraft and fraudulent charges.
Mint (free)
Imagine being able to access all of your accounts, including your bank, credit and investment accounts, from one place. Mint provides app users with the ability to keep track of balances by connecting your bank accounts (completely secure) and the option to enter each debit and credit manually. Create budgets that work for your own personal needs and make it easy to reach your goals. Using this app can help you avoid overdraft fees and can also help you easily spot recurring expenses, such as that morning coffee, that are real budget-busters. Plus you can get custom tips for reducing fees and saving money and receive alerts for unusual accounts charges, which could help you catch fraudulent activity.
BillTracker ($2.99)
BillTracker allows you to manage all of your bills from one place. The app provides reminders for payment due dates, creates a database for account contact phone numbers and tracks payment confirmation numbers. BillTracker’s calendar view makes it easy to view upcoming payments, making it easier to plan ahead.
DebtMinder ($1.99)
Manage your debt with an app like DebtMinder. Part of keeping track of your money includes finding a way to increase your savings and decrease your debt. This app helps you visualize your debt with charts and reports while personalizing a debt payoff plan. Harness the power of technology and free up some time to focus on more important things in life, like family, friends and community.
LevelMoney (free)
With the LevelMoney app you connect all your financial accounts safely and securely, generate a monthly plan automatically based on your income and expenses, and personalize your spending and saving goals. You’ll receive customized notifications for updates on balances, credits and debits, and you can view your combined balance and compare your spending month-over-month, plus a whole lot more. Use it to get a big-picture view of all your finances in one spot, or use the app to really analyze your cash flows.
