Controlling your finances

Controlling your finances

Managing your finances can be tough. With the busy hustle and bustle we have each day, its difficult to find a cadence that also lets us manage our finances. Depending on the current state they are in, it could also feel like a part-time job of it’s own to review and keep tabs on your finances, much less setting and achieving goals for yourself!

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And if you don’t have time then it’s easy to let the details slide and lose control. I always say that if you don’t control your money, it’ll control you! Money seems to have a mind of it’s own and it’ll control you if you’re not careful. That’s why in this blog, we’re taking a look at some smart tools that’ll help you stay in touch with your financial self and have round-the-clock access to your money when it counts.

QuickBooks

If you run a small business or if your bank account resembles one, then this app is the one for you. Use it to take care of all your business accounting, keeping tabs on payments and for sending invoices.

QuickBooks works best when you’re not blurring the lines between business and personal accounting so have it working with one or the other for effective results. They’ve got great online software that makes it easy to keep track of your income and spending.

Apps on your phone

Let’s face it, the place you do most of your banking is on the go. Whether that’s sitting in the back of a taxi, or a cafe your mobile phone is a powerful tool when it come to tracking your finances. Most banks and other financial institutions have apps that allow you to track your spending, investments and loans, and you can do a lot right from your phone! You’ll also be able to add to your savings and keep tabs on your credit score. That’s why you need an app that’s going to keep track of your payments or give you access to your investment portfolio. Check out what your financial institutions offer and get using them!

Mint

If you’re looking for a free App that’s no gimmick, then Mint is worth downloading. It’s been around a while and is quite popular. It’s not my personal favorite app, but I do know a lot of people use and love it. It’s super easy to use and make managing finances easy.

Its functions support a wide range of banks, so chances are yours will be among them and it’s a firm favorite among professionals wanting to keep track on their spending and saving.

My one complaint with the app is that it’s almost too easy sometimes. I fear that it’s so automated that you’ll stop using and forget about it, which is not the goal of a personal finance tool at all!

Mvelopes

Want to know a bit more about your spending habits? Mvelopes has the answer. This clever App will give you a forecast on your expected spending based on what it learns are your favourite purchases. If you’re addicted to Amazon, it’s going to know and will help you see where all your hard-earned cash is being spent.

I like how it gives each dollar a ‘purpose’, and keeps track of every dollar for you. That’s how I personally manage my own money, and make sure I account for every dollar that comes in. I’ll spend it, give it away, or save/invest it. I used to use the ‘envelope’ system back in middle school, and this is a modern spin on it!

Choose what works for you

There are a lot of great tools out there for managing your money. While all these are incredibly useful, nothing will beat your eyes and a regular check up for knowing where you are each month. I personally recommend a total check of all your accounts once a month (I do mine mid-month). It’s good to do a gut check and make sure that everything looks like it should!

Get tracking to figure out where your spending habits lie, help make better savings and investments. Find an App that not only tracks your spending but also predicts your expenses too. Use this information to make better decisions about your shopping but also to see where any unnecessary outgoings are leaking money. Those standing orders for warranties for tech you no longer own or gym membership you don’t use.

Stay on top it all with smart tech and you’ll be saving more than spending before you know it!

Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links that may earn me a commission.

One Response

  1. I’m finally tracking my spending after a couple of years of being too afraid to (spender ex-husband), then a few months of things needing to settle down before I could get a feel for my “normal” spending. But this is the month! So far I’m already a little surprised by how much I’m spending on groceries. It looks like I’m spending more than I thought, so that’s something I’ll know to keep an eye on/look for ways to reduce.

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