Posted 31 weeks ago (October 11, 2011 at 10:00 AM) in Common Financial Questions
Being able to manage personal finances on the run has never been easier! Money management apps for smart phones are abundant and here at Sterling Finance Company®, we’re excited to share with you five of the heavy hitters we’ve seen helping people just like you keep their budgets in order with fantastic financial phone apps!
Mint.com
Named one of Time Magazine’s 50 Best iPhone Apps of 2011, this password protected personal finance management app allow you to view all of your accounts, including investment accounts, while on the go. You must first sign up, enter your information, and set budgets on the mint.com website to be able to view your accounts on your phone. Though the phone app was previously read-only, the newest version allows you to enter pending transactions as you make them and includes the Google Places feature to help find merchants that you can log in conjunction with the money you spend at their establishment so that you can keep track of money you spend by category and by merchant!
Pennies
This app to help manage personal finances lets you enter your monthly budget and then keep a log of what you spend by category. It’s got a gauge that shows you how much if your budget you’ve used, expenditure lists by category and by day, and even keeps a spending history so you can review what you’ve spent, how often you’ve spent, and what you’ve spent your money on.
Tipulator
We know that tip calculators come in a hundred shapes and sizes and that calculating tips in your head is probably good exercise for your mind, but when you’re with a large party that wants to split the bill and still leave an appropriate tip, this is a great application! It’s especially useful at Mardi Gras celebrations, St. Patrick’s Day at the pub, or any other time your server would appreciate any help you can find to get the math right!
PocketMoney
An oldie but a goodie, this app has been helping people wrangle their finances into order since 1994 and is a favorite internationally! Using this powerhouse to manage finances on the run makes money tracking a snap, the paid version allows tracking for an unlimited number of accounts, adds repeating transactions such as automatic deposits from work, helps you create budgets, and even builds charts and graphs to help you see and understand how you use your money so you can make more informed decisions over time!
Envelopes
If these other money management apps seem too involved and you’re looking for something really simple yet entirely effective at keeping you aware of your finances, definitely check out the Envelopes app. You create different ‘envelopes’ of money by category and while you’re out and about, you can subtract money you spend from the appropriate envelope. You’ll never be surprised about when you’ve exhausted your budget and avoid overdrafts!
Technology is helping everyone manage personal finances on the run and can really help people beat the age-old problem of overspending without notice. We encourage you to try different money management apps until you find a good fit that works with your lifestyle and desired level of involvement!
To speak with our seasoned professionals about other ways we can help you meet you financial goals, call your local SFC branch today to explore the possibilities! For more information on how to successfully manage your money, save for the future, and make smarter choices with your assets, check out more of our informative articles from Money Matters!