Taking care of your finances can be overwhelming. It’s easy to ignore mounting debt, let bills pile up, and choose to spend for the moment because retirement seems so far away.
Facing up to financial responsibilities isn’t as scary as it might seem. In fact, gaining control of your money and setting goals for the future will give you a sense of security and calm.
Not sure where to start? You’re not alone. There are apps for just about everything, from chipping away at debt to managing funds through an e-wallet. Some of them even come with free support sessions, so you can chat to an expert in real-time.
We’ve rounded up four of the best to help you make the most of your money.
YNAB
YNAB stands for You Need A Budget, and impressive stats back up the app’s no-nonsense acronym. On average, new YNAB users save $600 in their first two months of using the app, and $6,000 or more in their first year.
Rallying against the retrospective analysis of spending typical of budgeting apps, YNAB promotes proactive money management. Looking over a colorful pie-chart that reminds you how much was spent on take-out the previous month doesn’t help anyone.
YNAB’s forward-thinking model encourages users to do better, manage their priorities and start adopting mindful spending habits. Planning for holidays or large one-off payments are included, as well as partner budgeting. The app comes with free 20-minute workshops led by an expert to help you get the most out of your money.
payit
payit is the UAE’s first fully-featured e-wallet for cash payments. Fast, free, and completely secure, the lifestyle app allows users to shop, dine, pay bills, send money, and a whole lot more.
Conducting all financial moves from one e-wallet makes money management simple. It’s much easier to track the dirhams when you’re in complete control of how much digital cash the e-wallet is loaded up with, or which cards and accounts it’s linked to.
More than 500,000 people across the UAE have downloaded the app to date, unlocking exclusive discounts and offers that make dirhams go a lot further. Debt Payoff Planner & Tracker
The Debt Payoff Planner & Tracker has a boring name, but a really cool philosophy. Using the metaphor of a snowball, the experts behind the app give users the option of snowballing or avalanching their debts, depending on their personal circumstances.
There’s no doubt the strategy works: to date, the app has helped users pay off more than $600 million of debt.
The app helps users to stop feeling overwhelmed and start making progress. It keeps debts and loans in one place and prioritizes them so debts are paid off sooner.
TravelSpend
Glowing reviews of TravelSpend say the app is so intuitive, it feels as though it was designed by travelers familiar with life on the move.
This money tracker keeps spending under control, so you can focus on enjoying your getaway. Foreign currencies are automatically converted to your home currency, and it works offline too, so you won’t have to wave your phone around looking for a free WiFi connection at Machu Picchu or Buckingham Palace.
A map function tracks spending in different locations, and if you’re sharing the trip with a travel buddy, you can sync up your finances. It’s not just for the backpackers and jet-set though. Those who travel for work can track and claim expenses easily with the CSV export function.
