Ever since I started making a living for myself, I’ve had the hardest time-saving money. I would always end up overspending, and at the end of every month, I’d run out of money.
Then, a friend suggested that I try a couple of expense trackers to keep my expenditures in check. Now, it’s my habit to track every expense I make, and I save a lot of money. Easy to say that expense trackers have drastically improved my life. Here’s a list of expense trackers that I found helpful.
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
I’ll start off with the app that I use the most, You Need a Budget (YNAB for short). Once you download the app, it gives you a 34-day free trial during which you can test out all the features. After that, you can pay $109 per year, or you can pay $14.99 per month.
One thing to note is that this app works a bit differently than other expense-tracking apps. You allocate every dollar that you earn to something specific that you’ll do with it. This method is called the “zero-based budgeting system,” in which no dollar is left unaccounted for.
This way, you can segregate your money for your bills, eating out, miscellaneous expenses, and a lot more. However, one of the main reasons why I chose this app is because it comes with integrated security and encryption, especially when I link my banks to it.
For an added layer of security, I use Xfinity Internet since its xFi Advanced Security keeps my network as safe as possible. When the app encryption and a secure Wi-Fi connection come together, my YNAB app becomes very difficult to infiltrate by cybercriminals.
Pro Tip: To get a secure internet connection now, make sure to look into Xfinity Internet plans. Not only will you get a secure internet connection, but at an affordable price!
EveryDollar
If you’re looking for an alternative to YNAB, which follows the same “zero-based budget plan” strategy, then you should try out EveryDollar. While the interface may be a bit difficult to get used to, once you get the hang of it, the app is pretty great at helping you save.
You can allocate money for different tasks and use your money only there. This way, you can save money and avoid going overboard with your expenses! The basic variant of the app is for free; anyone can use it without paying anything. However, the premium version of the app costs $17.99 a month and $79.99 per year.
Expensify
Expensify is available on both Android and iOS phones. It’s a great app to use on the go. Just as soon as you spend on something, you can log into your app to keep track of it. The app is great for people who travel frequently, such as businessmen, or if you go on a vacation.
To use the app, you may take photos of receipts or log your expenses manually. If you take a picture of a receipt and upload it, the app will automatically scan your receipt and log the expense. This makes things very convenient when you are in a rush. Not only this, but you also have the option to categorize your expenses. For instance, you can create categories for travel, gadgets, gas, and a lot more!
The base version for an individual user is free with up to 25 receipt scans for free. However, the team pricing for unlimited scans starts at $5 per user per month after a six-week free trial.
PocketGuard
If you are an over-spender, then PocketGuard can help you get rid of this habit. You can sync this app with your credit and debit cards so that you have an easier time logging your expenses. Plus, the app has a feature called “In My Pocket,” which uses an algorithm to show you how much you have available for your everyday spending. You can also create saving goals for yourself, which the app can help you achieve. PocketGuard also comes with an integrated bill payment tracker.
You can also set categories for your expenditures and set a limit to each category. The app will give you an alert every time any category almost reaches its limit. This will also give you a better idea of how much more you can spend before going overboard.
The basic version of the app costs around $74.99 and the premium version costs about $155.88 per year. Yes, this is a bit expensive, but on the brighter side of things, the app helps you save a lot. You can spend a small smidge of your savings on this app!
A Bonus Tip to Save More Efficiently
Using these apps is a great idea, but with these, you also need some financial discipline in your life. You can use the 50-30-20 rule along with these apps to save more efficiently. According to this rule, you should spend 50% of your income on your needs, such as your bills, mortgage, etc, 30% on your wants, such as items of luxuries and vacations, and 20% of your income should go into your savings.
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