Make sense of your cents in 2018

Money matters may make your head spin, but these days it’s a little bit easier to keep track thanks to the small high-powered computers that we carry around with us every day! Even the most basic of smartphones are a huge step up from the common calculator or spreadsheet and it’s made money management all the more convenient in modern times.

If you ever find yourself thinking about finances enough to grab a pen and start writing stuff down, then it’s probably time to start looking for an app to help you keep track and figure it out.

There’s a huge range of apps available on the iTunes and Google Play stores, so we’ve put together our top finds that can help you out with everything from tax returns and budget management to simply splitting a bill with your mates.

Make your New Years resolution one of fiscal responsibility!

Unsplurge

If you’re looking for a clear way to visualise your saving goals, Unsplurge is the app for you. All you need to do is set up your goals, such as paying off a loan or buying a big ticket item, then make a record whenever you squirrel some more money away into your savings account or make a loan repayment. Your progress is clearly shown and you can even build up a daily saving streak which will do wonders for your motivation!

Available for free on iTunes.

Savings Track

Savings Track is a savings tracker app (who could have guessed with a name like that?!) for Android users. It’s been praised for its simplicity because let’s be honest, some apps try to offer far too many features at once which can leave many users feeling confused. Much like Unsplurge, Savings Track is an easy way to record your progress as you save your way to your next holiday or major purchase.

Available for free on Google Play.

Acorns

If you have trouble actually putting your money into a separate savings account so you can’t give in to the temptation of spending it, Acorns is a unique app that can not only help you save, but also introduce you to the concept of investments. You can sync the app with your bank cards so that any time you make a purchase, it rounds up to the nearest dollar. This “spare change” is then deposited into an investment portfolio that will gradually grow over time.

Acorns is a subscription service, so while the app is free to download, it charges a monthly fee – $1.25 permonth for accounts under $5,000 and just 0.275% per year for accounts holding $5,000 or more. That said, you can also deposit and withdraw money at any time without incurring any additional fees.

Available on iTunes and Google Play.

Spendee

Even if you’re not saving for anything specifically, it’s a good idea to get on top of your average spending habits so you can develop a solid understanding of where your money’s going and see where you may be spending too much. The Spendee app can sync up with your online bank account and automatically categorise your expenses into a simple chart. The only things you’ll need to log manually are cash expenses!

Available for free on iTunes and Google Play.

Your bank’s app

A lot of people may turn up their nose at the idea of using the app provided by their bank because historically, they’ve been a bit out of touch with their customers’ needs. However, a lot of banks have really stepped up their game in recent years – today you may find some extra features that can really help you out, such as:

• Withdrawing money from an ATM without your bank card
• Splitting bills and texting account details to your friends
• Storing all your loyalty cards and more!

Have a look at your bank’s app to see if anything catches your eye. They’re all free so you’ve got nothing to lose!

• CommBank – available on iTunes and Google Play.
• Westpac Mobile Banking – available on iTunes and Google Play.
• NAB Mobile Banking – available on iTunes and Google Play.
• ANZ goMoney Australia – available on iTunes and Google Play.
• Suncorp Bank – available on iTunes and Google Play.
• Bankwest – available on iTunes and Google Play.
• ING Australia Banking – available on iTunes and Google Play.

If you don’t see your bank in the list above, run a quick search on the iTunes or Google Play stores and you’ll find it in no time.

Expensify

If you run a business (or even just work at one!) then your annual tax return may be a big hassle, especially when it comes to keeping track of all your expenses. Expensify makes that easy with the ability to scan all your receipts and quickly categorise them into an expenses report, including automatic currency conversion for international jetsetters. If the whole company is on board, you can even set up multi-level approval chains, and it can integrate with HR and accounting softwares such as Quickbooks.

Available for free on iTunes and Google Play.

Settle Up

Imagine, if you will, a group of adults taking a trip together. Everyone needs to pay an equal share for the accommodation and they also owe Sam and Kyle some petrol money. Robert and Dianne bought the groceries but they didn’t split the cost equally and although Kyle put all the restaurant meals on his credit card, Sam didn’t have any beers. Confused yet? The Settle Up app isn’t! All you have to do is set up some names and punch in the numbers. The app will figure out exactly who owes who so you can settle up with ease. It’s a dream come true for travelers, flatmates, friends and couples alike!

Available for $2.99 on iTunes and for free on Google Play.

Do you have a tip to keep your finances ship-shape? Share it with us in the comments.

Image credits

• iTunes
• Google Play

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