Your Finances in 2018: There’s an App for That – Part 2

By Delta Jones-Walker, Gary Crusader

Last month, I eased into the discussion about handling financial transactions on your computers and mobile devices. While a few of you were apprehensive, most of the feedback was positive, and the demand for more information flooded in. So, I decided to share a few more fun and clever apps designed to help keep track of your financial affairs.

1. Mint.com – is one of the most popular money managing apps. It helps you manage your spending, saving, budget, and earnings. It’s free, and you can even sync to all of your accounts, including 401(k), IRA, checking and savings accounts. The best feature is that it shows how your cash is moving in real time, so you can see what you are spending and saving without delay.
2. The Birdy – Want to see where all of your money goes? The Birdy can help. It sends you a daily email with a list of transactions from the day and then provides you with an illustration of where all your money goes. So if you’re buying fast food every day, imagine just imagine what your pie chart is going to look like!
3. Mvelopes – This app helps you think about growing your money long-term. To set it up, it will ask a few questions about your financial goals. Then, sync the app to your selected bank accounts so that it can track all of your debits and credits. Once you complete a budget and fill in your income information, the app starts creating virtual envelopes that help you determine how much you can realistically spend on certain things and what the best budget is for you.
4. Level – Sync this handy app to your savings or checking accounts. The tool then tells you how much you have left in your account after what you’ve spent that day, then uses your average daily spend to estimate how much you can spend in the next week, month, etc. The best part is, if there is not enough money in your account to continue spending as you have been, Level will let you know.

These are only a few apps of the hundreds that are out there. Use at your own risk. Those apps with greater features may have a monthly cost, so be careful before you download. And remember, no app takes the place of having a financial advisor, so be sure to keep someone on your team whom you trust to guide you through your finances.

Connect with Delta Jones-Walker and Atled Financial on Facebook, Twitter: @Atled Financial and LinkedIn! To schedule a complimentary consultation or a presentation to your group or organization, call 219-513-3710 or email [email protected] and mention this column. Topic ideas for this column are welcome!

 *Securities and advisory services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance services offered through At-led Financial Group 717 B Main Street Schererville, IN 46375 which is not affiliated with Woodbury Financial.