If you're feeling overwhelmed by your budgeting skills, a money management app can help. But before you start searching for the right one, think about what exactly you need it to do. The app that's best for someone with limited self-control may not be the same as what works best for someone who doesn't want to be bothered with budgeting at all. And if you just want more control over your finances, there's no need to spring for an expensive service when there are plenty of free ones available that can do the trick just fine.
When you're looking for a financial app, the first step is to figure out what your needs are. Do you want to be able to track your spending, savings and investments? Or do all you need is a simple budgeting tool?
Once you've made a list of the features that are important to you, it's time to start narrowing it down. Some apps offer all of these things, but others specialize in certain areas of finance—like investing or tracking bills—and may not have as many features as a more general app would offer. You should also consider how each one works with your preferred phone or operating system (e.g., Android or iOS) before committing yourself.
To determine what kind of app you need, start by asking yourself some questions:
If the answer is "yes" to all three questions above, then an all-in-one money management tool may be best for your situation. This type of software will help with managing your finances across multiple accounts, as well as providing tools that help with long-term savings goals like financial independence.
You might want to treat your money like actual cash. That is, you can't spend it until you've earmarked it for a certain purpose. If you do decide on this approach, make sure the app you choose allows you to make purchases with your money, like the Pyypl app.
How much are you willing to spend on a budgeting app? If you don't want to spend money, there are free options. They may not have as many features or they may not be as robust as their paid counterparts, but if your budget is tight and you only need the basics, it's worth checking out some of the most popular free apps first.
On the other side of things, if you have a larger budget and want more robust features (such as budgeting across multiple accounts), then expect to pay around USD 50 per year for one of those apps. And if your budget is in the thousands—or ten-thousands—of dollars range each year, there are plenty of high-end options that offer extensive functionality at very reasonable prices.
It’s important to note that not all apps are free. In fact, the majority of them will require you to pay a monthly fee in order to use their services.
What can you expect when deciding on your payment plan? For starters, a paid service may offer more features than its free counterpart. Some apps don't allow users access to certain features unless they pay for them—so if you want those perks (like being able to link your account with other financial accounts), then it's worth paying for the upgrade.
Many money management apps also boast security measures that protect sensitive data from hackers and thieves. Paid services are generally seen as safer than those without subscriptions because they have more resources available at their disposal when it comes time for updating their software or fixing bugs in their system.
You may need to trial a few apps before you find one that works for you. Or, you might have to try a few different ones before settling on the one that’s best for your lifestyle and financial situation. But this is okay. Just keep searching until you find an app that works well with your financial goals and daily routine.
In the end, it’s important to choose an app that works for you. If you need help saving money, a budgeting app can be very helpful. But if you’re not sure what kind of help you need or how much time or money you want to spend on an app, then just try out different ones until something clicks.