Best and Free Apps for Managing Your Money in a Sustainable Way

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Being good with money can be tricky. It’s not just about making ends meet, especially in times like these, with the ongoing health crisis and the economic difficulties that it triggers.  Financial stability becomes one of people's greatest challenges and desires. In order to be prepared for everyday life, including such unforeseen events, it is necessary to learn how to manage money properly.

It is common to think that having more money will be the solution to all our problems and worries. However, it’s not that simple. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Becoming economically stable and knowing what you’re spending your money on require habits and strategies that, together with discipline and perseverance, will allow you not only to learn how to manage your money, but to learn how to face any type of financial situation; whether it’s a good one or a bad one.

We’re giving some tips and tricks, and apps that will help you manage your money in a sustainable way. Thus, you will be able to cover your daily expenses while saving for the future. There are two basic savings rules that explain how to spend and invest our money. The first, 50 / 30 / 20, is to divide monthly income into percentages so that all your primary needs are covered (50 %), you can indulge yourself (30 %) and, on top of that, you save for the future (20 %). The second is basically the same but split 70 / 30. 70% is used to maintain your lifestyle and 30% to save and invest.

If all this seems complicated to you, the following apps will make it all a lot easier.

1.MINT

It’s one of the best options if you’re looking for a way to improve or track your spending habits. Mint is available for both iOS and Android. One of the best things about the app is that you can easily connect all your accounts, cash, credit, loans, or investments, you can see the big financial picture. It notifies you whenever any type of bill or subscription is due and when the price of them increases. If saving is your main priority, Mint offers you the option to create a budget, categorizing every expense so it’s clear how and where you spend your money.

2.POCKETGUARD

As the name implies, the app helps you guard the amount of money you spend. It was designed to curb the tendency to overspend. PocketGuard links all your financial accounts and tracks your spending compared to your monthly budget. It’s one of the best apps if you want to have meaningful savings since it tracks how much you earn, follows what you spend on regular bills and everyday expenses while it tracks deposits into your savings account.

3.GOODBUDGET

If you’re trying to manage your money as a couple, as flatmates or as a family Goodbudget is for you. Previously known as Easy Envelope Budget Aid, the app uses the envelope budgeting philosophy – a method that allows you to physically portion out your monthly income toward different spending categories, traditionally, people have used actual cash and envelopes – to empower your proactive budget for all your expenses. Available for iOS and Android you can share and sync your financial plan with your friends, or partner. However, in case you prefer to go solo, Goodbudget has your back.

4.PERSONAL CAPITAL

It’s a free financial software that helps you with wealth management, cash management and offers financial tools so that you have everything under control. Its main focus is investment, displaying the performance and changes of your portfolio over time and assisting you in making the best decisions for the future. Personal Capital is a great if you want to save for college, for retirement or for your dream trip. You can access it via web, iOS or Android.

5.HONEYDUE

We finish our list with another app for couples. Honeydue is a free mobile app that makes it easy for couples to keep on top of their money. You will be able coordinate invoices like a pro. Thanks to its reminder you’ll never have to face any penalties or delays when it comes to paying the bills. The app has an integrated chat where you can talk about transactions and account movements with your partner. It is available for both iOS and Android devices.