The smartphone has become the one-stop-shop when it comes to consumer demands. It feels like there is an app for almost everything. With the influx of unique and intuitive apps, there is no better time in history to take advantage of finance-related technology.
We’ve rounded up our favorite apps to help calculate budgets, curb overspending and avoid late payments. Here are our top five recommendations:
Qapital
Qapital is considered one of the best apps for saving money. The app is free, and it allows you to round your spare change up to the nearest dollar or regularly contribute a lump into an FDIC-insured savings account.
Rounding up change or setting a specific monetary amount is an effective and non-intimidating way to get into the habit of saving extra money. Qapital allows users to earn interest on savings—although it is only at a rate of 0.10%. You can also sign up for a separate spending account that comes with a debit card. With this account, your spare change is transferred into a Qapital savings account any time you spend money.
Digit
If budgeting isn’t your strong suit, Digit can help. This app offers money-saving decision advice by evaluating your current income—plus all of your expenses—and computing the exact amount you can afford to save. If you agree to this savings amount, Digit will then transfer that amount into a Digit account that is insured by the FDIC.
Over time, users develop a better understanding of how much to save depending on their expenditures and income. Keep in mind, Digit charges a monthly fee starting at $2.99 after a 100-day free trial. It also pays any overdraft fees if it saves too much on your behalf. The app has great reviews as well.
Honey
Another great money-saving app is Honey. The PEW Research Center estimated that 80% of Americans have purchased something online, and forecasts for online shopping continue to show upward trends. If you are one of the millions of online shoppers who loves the convenience and ease of getting items you need without having to leave your home, the Honey app can help you save money and limit overspending—something that can easily happen when shopping online.
Honey also has a free browser extension for your desktop computer. The extension automatically finds coupon codes for your store of choice and then applies them at checkout. Honey can find coupons for over 30,000 shopping websites!
Mint
While some people deal with habits of overspending when shopping, others are plagued by fees and penalties from late payments. To help with the latter, Mint may be your new best friend. Mint allows users to track all of their bills and set up payment alerts, making late fees and penalties a thing of the past. The Mint app is free and simple to set up.
Clarity Money
This app does exactly what its name implies—it provides clarity with your finances and helps you understand where all of your money is going. Clarity Money recognized how common it is for people to forget about paid subscriptions. This app does help you find those forgotten subscriptions and will remind if you are paying for something you aren’t using.
Additionally, Clarity Money provides opportunities for you to negotiate lower rates on your credit cards or other loans in order to help you save money each month! If you struggle to save money or don’t know exactly where it’s going, Clarity Money can get you back on track.
Financial apps can be a great resource when it comes to the basics, but it’s also important to have a comprehensive financial plan. By working with an experienced Financial Advisor, you can gain a much better understanding of your financial situation. Our knowledge combined with today’s technological advances can help you get on track with your savings and finance goals before you know it.
References:
Want To Save Money Without Thinking? NerdWallet- USA Today – https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/banking/best-money-saving-apps/#qapital
Online Shopping and E-commerce Aaron Smith-Monica Anderson – http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/12/19/online-shopping-and-e-commerce/
15 Money-saving Apps For People Tired Of Being Nickle-and-dimed Renzo Costarella – https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/306015
Banking Designed with Your Goals in Mind. https://www.qapital.com/
Champion Of Your Money https://claritymoney.com/
Digit https://digit.co/
Honey https://www.joinhoney.com/
Money, Credit Score & Investing https://www.mint.com/
