Inflation is making it difficult for anyone to save money, let alone in a substantial way. Fortunately, there are still ways to save—namely, tucking away a few pennies here and there whenever you get the chance. Stashing five dollars in a coffee can, or the digital equivalent, can add up over time when you make sure that you’re stashing more than you spend. The world of apps has created an entire industry of budgeting and money-saving apps that help people save in a way that works for them.
This is great news because it means that you’ll have a lot of apps and tools to choose from. However, it also means that you might have to look a little harder until you find the one that you like best. Usually, apps that help you save money are broken down into a few different categories:
Using the right combination of these apps can help you turn bits of savings into a whole lot of cash in the long run, when you do it correctly. So, which apps are best for the job?
Few people have hundreds of dollars to toss into savings regularly. Some of the modern savings and banking apps even have built-in stock options so that people can start investing with a fraction of what they normally would need, just as they can save without having hundreds of dollars to deposit. If you need an app to help you save when you can, check out the ones below.
This automated savings tool analyzes the transactions coming to and from your checking account, helping you see where you can save and eliminate spending. This app helps you make smarter spending decisions and see where your money is going. When there’s room, the app will even automatically put money in savings for you.
This is another app that helps you save small amounts of money by analyzing your spending. With this app, though, users can set their own savings rules to make the process even more personalized. This app includes visual goals to ensure that you can always track your progress, and you can link accounts to make it easy. There’s a 30-day free trial but it’ll cost $3 per month after that.
This is an app that’s designed to help people save with no thought required. When you use a card that’s linked to the app, Acorns rounds up the transaction to the nearest dollar and puts the rest in savings. So, if you spend $14.50 on gas with your debit card, Acorns will round it up to $15.00 and put the change away for you. This app isn’t free, but at most, it will cost $3 per month, and there are cheaper options, too.
Mint is a great tool that helps with monthly budgeting, savings, and even offers tools and resources for financial education and support. It can help you identify and modify spending habits, save more, and be smarter about your finances. You can create custom budgets, too, and the app is always free, giving you the chance to save even more.
1. Personal Capital
2. Pocket Guard
3. Zeta
4. YNAB
5. Prism
6. Wally
7. Clarity Money
8. Chime
9. Current
10. Qoins
While there is still an entire demographic out there that prefers stuffing their money into a mattress to using a bank, there is something to be said for the digital technology available today. Many of the modern savings and banking apps are specifically designed for user privacy and have much more flexible rules than a traditional savings account or budgeting software.
Apps are also accessible on the go since you’ll probably install them on your tablets, smartphones, and any other tech that you have. You can save and learn about better spending habits 24/7, no matter where you are. So much has changed in the world of finances, but the use of apps for savings is probably one of the best things to come of the Internet in that regard.
If you tend to spend before you save, an app could be a good way to rein yourself in and learn better spending habits. Unlike traditional accounts that want hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get started, some of these apps can be used with as little as a few dollars.
As a bonus, many of these apps will also help you decide what to do with your savings, as well as help you improve your financial situation with recommendations for lending products, credit products, and so much more. That way, you’re getting an all-in-one solution for your financial needs. If slow and steady is the pace you have in mind, check out the market of apps that help with saving money and budgeting for yourself.
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