I’m sure most of your resolutions this year include to save and be more mindful of where your money goes. Ditto. The truth is, I had a similar resolution last year. I downloaded an app and started to keep track of my finance diligently, but at around the middle of the year, that plan pretty much went out the window. But I’m not giving up. I would like to start over this year and I’m pushing myself to keep better track of my expenses. If you’re with me and would like to see the end of this goal, here are some of the best budgeting apps that promises to assist us with our financial goal this year. Feel free to choose one which you feel best works for you according to your style of budgeting.
Mint
Mint by Intuit has been the gold standard for budgeting apps for a long time now because of its all-in-one capabilities. Aside from tracking and managing your money, it can connect to your bank, credit card, and even loan accounts so all your finances are in one convenient place. It also helps you save by giving tips according to your spending habits, as well as avoid late fees by alerting you of your monthly bills. Another feature is it updates your transactions automatically so you can view your financial situation in real-time. According to Gotta Be Mobile, it “uses the same security as banks and the team behind this service also makes TurboTax and Quicken, so you can trust that they take all possible steps to secure your accounts and your data.” Available on iTunes App Store.
Good budget
If you want to be really disciplined with following your budget this year, this app is for you. It is based on the envelope budgeting philosophy which lets you divide your income according to categories. Every time you add a new transaction, you can add various details as well as break up the expense into multiple envelopes. It works great for couples who share finances too, as it includes an option to share and sync the budgeting process. Available on iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
You Need a Budget
YNAB has a cult-like following because of its unique approach to managing your money. Essentially, it lets you create your budget based on your actual income. Don’t worry, YNAB helps you “roll with the punches” and see how you can re-organize your budget through its built-in “accountability partner” if something unexpected comes and you get off track your initial budget (as we all usually do.) Another favorite feature is the debt payoff, which, as the name suggests, helps you securely be free from the stress of debts. Online classes with a live instructor can assist you in learning budgeting basics if you decide to purchase it. Available on iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
Wally
Designed for millennials who love to be as organized with their personal expenses as they are with their expense reports at work, Wally does not only track where your money goes, but with whom you spent it with by tagging friends, and even input your sentiments on your transactions. And instead of manually logging your expenses, Wally allows you to simply take a photo of your receipts. Plus, you can turn on your geo-location and Wally will automatically fill in that info for you. Available on iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
Money Manager: Expense Tracker
If you want none of the fuss and complications of expense tracking, opt for Money Manager. Out of all the budget apps out there, this is definitely one of the easiest to use. You only need a couple of seconds every day to record your transactions (There’s a built-in reminder.) It then gives you a clear picture of your financial situation through visualized reports like its pie chart that lets you identify which categories you least or most spend on. Best of all, it’s free and has no ads or features restriction. Available on iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
BlueCoins
Another minimalist app, this one by Mabuhay Software is equipped with cloud sync and multi-currency so you can access your data anytime, anywhere. Aside from giving you a picture of your daily expenses, net earnings, cash flow, budget summaries, and credit card reports—you can also export all that to PDF, Excel, and HTML! Plus, it allows for flexible budgeting, and can predict your spendings while alerting you with your remaining money so you can avoid potential financial troubles. Available on Google Play Store.
Art by Marian Hukom
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