Girls just wanna have funds, right? It's never a bad time to get your money right, and the first step is getting our budget under control.
Whether you're in a place where you want to switch up how you handle your coins or you have never really thought about money at all, a budgeting app is definitely a must for your phone's home screen. And the best part is, each of these apps offers a free version. These apps have a unique way of showing you how to track expenses, look at your spending habits, and let you know how much you can afford to save.
Get ready to live your best life while keeping your money in check.
11 Best Budgeting Apps For Saving
1.Mint
Mint
Mint has been running the budgeting game for years now. It has already served as the go-to for many of us who know we want to get our money right but aren't quite sure how to start. It lets you sync your bank accounts (which is perfectly safe on this app, of course) and your bills to not only remind you when they're due but also help you develop a system that will make budgeting a breeze. And the clean interface makes it really user-friendly.
2.You Need A Budget (YNAB)
The name really says it all. We all need a budget, but this app does even more than helping you set limits and boundaries for your coins. From letting you know every dollar needs a job, to urging its users to "embrace" their "expenses" and even "roll with the punches" when the unexpected happens, YNAB is an app that understands the realities of saving, spending, and all things budgeting. A bonus is that the app can sync with your computer and phone, so you can have access to it at all times.
3.Albert
iTunes
Albert was one of the first to take budgeting apps to a new level. It goes beyond the traditional way budgeting has been done in the past as it features a Siri-like budgeting friend, named Albert, who can chat with you. He'll tell you how you're doing with your saving goals, let you know if you can afford to eat out for the week, and even give you a friendly side-eye if you start spending more than normal. It's seriously the budgeting friend we could all use.
4.Every Dollar
iTunes
Every Dollar is another budgeting app that has been making major moves in the money industry. This one is a win for those who not only want to budget but also want to develop a plan to get out of debt sooner rather than later. It encourages users to develop a monthly budget, evaluate their spending (and literally track every dollar) while giving them tips on how they can start reducing their debt one dollar at a time.
5.Digit
This is one of the best ways to save money without even missing it. The app, which gives you $5 for each friend you refer, will automatically transfer amounts of money that you don't need into a savings account. This amount is typically between $2 and $17. But no need to freak out because it certainly won't ever transfer more than you can afford. It spends way too much time evaluating your income, bills, and spending habits to make you over-save. The key is that you really won't realize it's gone until you look in the Digit app to see how much you've saved. And you can always request it to be transferred back if you need it.
6.Pocket Guard
iTunes
This just sounds like it has your pockets' best interest at heart. Like many other budgeting apps, it first instructs you to link your credit cards and bank accounts so you can have an overview of your financial structure. It then categorizes your bills and expenses for you so you can see a comparison of your income and your expenses. With the money left over, or as Pocket Guard calls it, "in my pocket," you can spend or save depending on your goals.
7.Goodbudget
iTunes
Goodbudget is a great app for couples and families who want to start budgeting and saving together. While it does offer solo budgeting options, one of its main features is providing budgets for entire households. And for those who want to go back to the traditional envelope system, this app will definitely help you go in that direction, so you're never surprised by a checking account deduction you either forgot about or didn't see coming at all. It also helps couples and families develop a budget so they can spend their dollars on what truly matters to them.
8.Prism
iTunes
Known as "magic for your bills," Prism will have you feeling yourself when it comes to taking care of your expenses. The app gives you a major bird's eye view of your bills to help you stay ahead of them. After all, a key to budgeting is calculating and figuring out bills and what we have to pay each month. So apps like Prism and others on this list ease users' minds by letting them know they don't have to figure it all out on their own.
9.Wally
iTunes
This is an amazing app if you want to track your expenses and update your budget on a daily. While that might be too much for some to handle, for others it's a must, and that's where Wally comes in. From putting your regular bills into categories like home, transportation, entertainment, and clothes, to allowing you to scan receipts so it can update your budget ASAP, Wally is one of the most efficient ways to stay on track with what's really going on with your moola.
10. Personal Capital
iTunes
If you already have your budget intact and want to start investing, Personal Capital is an efficient start. While there's a paid version, the free version has its perks too. You can take advantage of a Net Worth calculator and a Cash Flow reviewer and even track your portfolio, key holdings, and all of the ups and downs that come with investing no matter how long you've been in the game. If you splurge for the paid version, you can get a professional investment management feature and have a portfolio created just for you.
11. BONUS: Acorns
Acorns is another investing app that automatically saves your spare change from purchases you make with a linked credit or debit card using a system called "round-ups". So, if you get your Starbucks fix for $2.75, Acorns will round up to $3.00 and automatically invest the $.25. There's also the option to turn off auto transfers if you ever have times when you need all your coins.
What are some apps you use to save? Let us know!
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RELATED
Camesha created the organization after her struggles with mental health and the lack of community she experienced. The Chicago native explains how she created Sista Afya to be rooted in “culturally grounded care.”
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet/ Shutterstock
“So at my organization, Sista Afya Community Care, we focus on providing mental health care through a cultural and gender lens,” she tells xoNecole. “So when we think about the term intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, we think about the multiple identities that lead to certain experiences and outcomes as it relates to Black women.
“So in the context of culturally grounded care, being aware of the cultural history, the cultural values, and then also the current issues that impact mental health outcomes.”
Words like “strong” and “independent” have long been associated with Black women for some time and many of us have begun to embrace the soft life and are using rest as a form of resistance. However, some of us still struggle with putting ourselves first and overall shedding the tainted image of the “strong, Black woman” that had been forced on us.
Camesha shares that while there’s more and more communities being created around empowerment and shared interests like running, she still questions, “are Black women really comfortable with being vulnerable about sharing their experiences?”
Being vulnerable with ourselves and others play an important role in healing the instinctive nature of always being “on” for everyone. “I'm currently facilitating a group on high functioning depression, and yesterday, we talked about how when Black women may be struggling or have shared their concerns with other people. They may be minimized, or they're told to just be strong, or it's not so bad, or I went through something worse back in Jim Crow era, so you should be thankful,” she explains.
“So I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people. So that is probably a very common theme. I think we've made a lot of progress when we talk about the superwoman syndrome, the mammy stereotype, the working hard stereotype, the nurturing stereotype. I think we're beginning to unpack those things, but I still see that we have definitely a long way to go in that area.”
I think there's a challenge with Black women being able to be honest, to be vulnerable and to receive the support that they need in the same capacity as how much they give support to other people.
Roman Samborskyi/ Shutterstock
While we’re unpacking those things, we know that we’re still women at the end of the day. So as we continue to serve in various roles like mothers, daughters, sisters, and caretakers, we have to make caring for ourselves a priority. Camesha reveals four ways we can still care for others without abandoning ourselves.
Trust
First things first, trust. Camesha explains, “Some of the burdens that Black women have can be linked to not feeling like you can trust people to carry the load with you.
“It's hard because people experience trauma or being let down or different experiences, but one of the things that I found personally is the more that I'm able to practice trust, the more I'm able to get my needs met. Then, to also show up as my best to care for other Black women.”
Know Your Limitations
Another thing Camesha highlighted is Black women knowing their limitations. “The other thing that I would like to bring up in terms of a way to care for yourself is to really know your limitations, or know how much you can give and what you need to receive,” she says.
“So often, what I see with Black women is giving, giving, giving, giving, giving to the point that you're not feeling well, and then not receiving what you need in return to be able to feel well and whole individually. So I really think it's important to know your limitations and know your capacity and to identify what it is that you need to be well.”
Don’t Take On A Lot Of Responsibilities
Next on the list is not taking on so many responsibilities, sharing herself as an example. “The other thing is taking on too much responsibility, especially in a time of vulnerability.
“One thing that I personally struggled with was being so passionate about community mental health for Black women, and saying yes to everything and taking on so much responsibility,” she reveals. “That affected me to do well in serving Black women and then also impacting my own well being.”
Practice Self-Care
Lastly, she notes the importance of practicing self-care. “The last thing is really practicing regular self care, regular community care, so that it's embedded into your daily life. So for me, having prepared meals, going to the gym, getting eight hours of sleep, spending time with friends and family, all of those things are part of my self care that keep me at my best,” she explains.
“Then community care, leaning into social networks or social groups, or spending time with other interests or hobbies. That's a part of my community care that keeps me going, so that I can take care of my needs, but also to be able to show up best in care for others.”
Find out more about Camesha and Sista Afya Community Care at communitycare.sistaafya.com.
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