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Here’s our full review of YNAB if you’d like to learn more. College students can use YNAB free for one year and get a 10% discount for their second year. After a 34-day free trial, an annual plan costs $98.99 upfront or $14.99 per month. YNAB costs money to use but the plan fees are reasonable. The automatic syncing is helpful as you and your spouse categorize transactions in real-time. What you do in one app automatically syncs with your other apps.

#Best budget planning app install#

You can also install the app on Apple Watch and Alexa devices.

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The YNAB mobile apps work with most Android and iOS devices. You’ll also have multiple ways to customize your budget and track your progress for your money goals.

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Manual inputs are handy if you pay with cash or your bank’s security software prevents automatic downloads. YNAB connects to most bank accounts (like many budgeting apps) and you can enter manual transactions too.

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There are also free online workshops to learn budgeting basics and how to navigate YNAB. The free budgeting apps were not as effective in making a serious budget. We loved their step-by-step approach to making a budget and planning for almost any potential expense.

I discovered YNAB several years ago when my wife and I adapted to living on one income. In other words, you don’t live paycheck to paycheck and are one surprise bill away from financial ruin. YNAB’s goal is to help you pay this month’s bills with last month’s income. YNABĬonsider You Need a Budget (YNAB) if you don’t even know where to start when it comes to making a budget. The lack of customization is common with most free budgeting apps and can make planning in-depth spending plans and savings goals frustrating.Ĭheck out our full review of Mint here. Mint’s largest limitation is that it’s free and lacks the advanced customization tools that premium apps offer. There is also an investment tracking tool that can be sufficient for beginner investors.Īs your money skills increase, you may choose to switch budgeting apps to one that offers more features. You can also receive bill payment reminders, low account balance alerts, and personalized tips to help improve your money habits. To use it’s budgeting features you can categorize your transactions into your budgeting categories so you can see how you spend your money and where you stand in each category. It syncs with most bank accounts so you can see real-time account balances and transactions. Mint’s budgeting and expensing tracking tools are pretty good for a free app. Intuit, Mint’s parent company, powers Quicken and TurboTax too. Probably the best-known free budgeting app is Mint. Once you find one that works for you you’ll likely use the budgeting app long term – think of the impact a decade of smart money management can make. The sooner you start budgeting, the quicker you can maximize your paycheck. While each app has its unique traits, standard app features include: Finding “the perfect budgeting app” can initially be a process of trial and error to see what works for you. There are several different budgeting strategies you can practice. A budgeting app helped me see what it took to spend less than I earn. While my first job as a college grad boosted my disposable income virtually overnight, I also had to start paying off $50,000 in student loans, saving for a replacement vehicle, and invest for retirement. I was getting serious about money when I only had a part-time job and relatively few bills prepared me for living on my own. I started using budgeting tools like Quicken during my first year of college after working my first Christmas break to replenish my bank account from the many frivolous purchases – I realized money doesn’t grow on trees. Spoiler alert: I’m a fan of budgeting apps. It’s possible to reduce your stress levels and avoid common money mistakes. The best budgeting apps for grads can make “adulting” easier as you can plan and reach your short-term and long-term goals. Having to balance your income and expenses can feel overwhelming. Textbooks can’t teach every money lesson so learning the basics as soon as possible can help you build a rock-solid financial foundation. Most recent high school and college graduates don’t learn about managing money in school.