7 Benefits of Using a Personal Finance Management App

We all have that friend that seems to know how to manage their money like a pro. They have multiple spreadsheets and never forget to balance their checkbook. They know precisely how many rewards points their credit card gives them for each purchase.

We live in an era where we can all be that friend. There’s no need for manually balancing checkbooks anymore — not when there’s a personal finance management app for it!

Personal finance management apps make banking more straightforward than it’s ever been. For instance, you can access your various accounts from your mobile device anytime, anywhere, so you’re never in doubt about your balances (which is especially useful for people who have accounts across multiple banks).

Mobile finance apps also provide you with unprecedented insight into your overall financial health. How close are you to reaching your savings goals? How much money are you spending compared to what you’re earning? For example, you could use Mint to track all your money coming in and going out, PocketGuard can help you stop spending money you don’t have, and Earnin to access your paycheck before payday if you have expenses due before it comes in.

The benefits of using a personal finance management app are numerous. Some additional advantages include:

Is budgeting one of your weak points? Perhaps you don’t know how much your monthly budget should be, or you have a hard time sticking to it. With a finance app for Android or iPhone, you can calculate how much you owe for all of your major expenses (such as rent, food, utilities, transportation, loan repayment, etc.), and then allot the remainder between savings and recreational spending that will keep you in a financially safe position.

GoodBudget is an app that allows you to separate your budget into categories, so you are less likely to overspend one or another.

Late fees are the bane of many people’s existence. Sometimes we forget to pay a bill, and other times, we don’t have enough money to cover particular expenses before they’re due. It doesn’t matter if it’s your fault or not — you’re hit with a late fee.

You can try calling a customer service representative at the institution you owe a late fee to and ask if they’ll knock off the charge, but if that doesn’t work, a finance app can help you avoid late fees in the future. Many apps can track your bills’ due dates, so you never forget to pay them.

If you’ve opted into overdraft protection, then overdraft fees occur when you try to make a purchase with your checking account that exceeds how much you have in it. If you only have $20 in your account but buy $30 of gas, then your bank will loan you the $10 you need to cover the difference so the transaction doesn’t decline — but they’ll also charge you around $34 for their “inconvenience.” If you don’t want to deal with overdraft fees, use a personal finance management app that includes low balance alerts, so you know when your account needs replenishing.

This is a sore spot for many people: poor spending habits. You deserve to have fun and buy things that will make you happy, but impulse purchasing can drain your account before you know it. It’s also possible you think you can afford a night out on the town, but one $10 drink means you don’t have an extra $10 for healthy food from the grocery store.

The right mobile finance app can monitor your spending habits and tell you where your money is going. If too much goes to unnecessary expenses, you know what you need to cut back on (and eventually, what you can add!).

Similarly, finance apps can keep track of how much you pay for essential expenses. You already know how much rent, food, and loan repayment cost, respectively, but looking at the total can put things in perspective. If you’re spending what looks like too much on essential expenses, then you can try negotiating with your service providers for lower rates or take other steps to reduce them.

Knowing you need to change your spending and saving habits is one thing, but actively doing it and seeing the results is another. A personal finance management app or finance calculator app can hold you accountable so you can resist the temptation to dip into your savings. Are you saving for a significant purchase, like a home or vehicle? The act of saving can feel slow-going, but apps like Peak enable you to visualize your progress and provide you a motivational boost.

Gone are the days when you have to wait to get home to balance your checkbook or manually fill out a budget spreadsheet. Personal finance apps allow you to access, monitor, and change your banking information whenever you need to. Plus, many apps on the market have user-friendly interfaces that are easy to navigate, so you don’t have to deal with complex documents or lengthy customer service calls nearly as often.

There are numerous finance apps for iPhone and Android available in each app store. Consider your financial goals and habits, browse around, and decide the one (or two) that’s right for you.