In a recent episode on Time + Money = Joy, I shared how when I was in university I would return bottles from house parties just so I could buy a five-pack of noodles to eat for dinner for the rest of the week. The last thing on my mind was saving money, let alone managing my finances effectively so it’d benefit me in the future.
Now, when I think back to my younger self, I sympathize with her scrappiness - she was just trying to keep her account from hitting zero - but, I also wish she could have had the opportunity to learn and implement a few financial wellness practices to set a foundation for years ahead.
Navigating how to manage your money at any stage of your life can feel intimidating. Thankfully, there are many options at our fingertips now to help us manage our money. The difficulty is knowing which one is right for you.
So, we’ve done the hard work for you - we’ve taken a look at the most popular financial apps in the market, and have reviewed them based on how you can use them on your financial journey.
Let’s get started…
Mint
Mint is a free budgeting app that allows you to connect all your financial accounts in one digital space so you can get an overview of your finances. The app allows users to track, spend, save and budget.
After connecting your financial accounts, Mint tracks your transactions and categorizes them into budget categories to simplify tracking. You are able to sync financial accounts with someone with their own Mint account, but there’s no option for a joint Mint account. While Mint does allow users to sync their credit cards, retirement, and investment accounts - it is not an investing app.
What is it best for?
Mint was one of the first to show up on the scene. Taken over now by Intuit, it helps track spending and sets goals but is better at informing a user's behaviour rather than helping them change it.
YNAB (You Need a Budget)
You Need a Budget or YNAB, is a budgeting app designed to help people take charge of their spending. YNAB allows individuals to create a budget and can help you save money.
You are able to link a bank account to YNAB to automate your transactions, or you can manually add transactions.
Once you sign up with YNAB, a user sets goals, adds expenses, and adjusts budgets as needed.
What is it best for?
It’s in the name, budgets. YNAB is designed with a “give every dollar a job” framework, so it is a much more involved process than with many other budgeting apps. You’re able to sync up other financial accounts like an investment account, however, the app is not designed for this feature, so you may be better off using another app specifically for investments if that’s a feature that’s important to you.
Honeydue
Honeydue is a financial platform that’s designed to allow couples to oversee and collaborate on their finances and expenses. The app is divided into 3 parts: each individual’s personal expenses plus an ‘all’ section where shared transactions appear.
Couples can gain greater insights into their finances, and can even utilize a chat function to discuss any issues that arise. The app is designed to track everything from bank accounts to credit cards, loans, and can even coordinate bill paying. Additionally, Honeydue offers a joint bank account - if desired - to bank together.
What is this best for?
Couples getting used to managing their spending together. This app is designed for transparency, with some privacy available within the app. However, the app does lack features like building an emergency fund, tracking your investment portfolio or establishing financial goals as a couple.
AfireFi
AfireFi takes the view that money is part of a user’s everyday life so they need a well-designed workspace they want to visit often.
Created by an ex-Wall Street trader, Patricia Whittaker, industry knowledge, tips and hacks to help users take control of the full range of finances. Users can use the 7-step roadmap or hit one section at a time.
The platform uses Dreams as motivation to manage a user's time, spending, income, investments and even dependents. Risks and achievements are highlighted. Users are intentionally asked to make manual updates. Users journal observations, and the next step making this a place users check into weekly.
Monthly prompts and a growing library covering bigger issues like career or household changes create a loyal user base.
What is it best for?
AFIREFI uses a more active approach toward your finances to create calm and clarity. Covering the full financial ecosystem, the ultimate goal is to enable a client to use their money and time for a more intentional lifestyle.
This is a good space for users wanting to grow and have access to human support.
EveryDollar
EveryDollar is a free budgeting app with an option for a premium upgrade, that solely focuses on budgeting. The app is designed using a zero-based budgeting system, with the mind frame that you give ‘every dollar a job.’
In short, before you spend money, the money you have in hand is assigned to a particular expense or savings account. This forces you to plan out your spending ahead of time and aims to help you avoid impulse purchases and spending.
The upgraded premium plan allows users to gain access to financial coaching, planning to budget for irregular income, and financial goal planning.
What is this best for?
The app is designed to help users budget with confidence, and track their spending. Additionally, you gain access to spending insights and smart tracking recommendations.
As we’ve seen above, every financial platform is different and offers a different approach to managing your finances. No financial journey looks the same, and finding a financial platform that works for you, and your lifestyle is ultimately the best way to face your finances, and manage them with confidence and clarity.
Whatever your finances look like, make sure you’re using something or someone to manage and maintain your finances. Stuck, and don’t know where to get started. Book a complimentary financial reading with us today!
