Apps to help manage your spending

These apps will help you stay on top of your buying habits

WE COULD all do with a friend who’d ask, “Do you really need that?” when we have those “I-must-have-it” moments. These apps offer that service – and who knows, maybe you’ll no longer blow your budget!

LEARNVEST

LearnVest is a technical app that sends you email alerts if you overspend. It has basic budget functions plus extra features such as an option to create financial goals with progress tracking, and a broad overview of your net worth to put things into perspective. There’s also an educational section that includes great finance and budgeting advice. You can even set these tips to be emailed to you. Free on iOS

BUDGET BUDDY

Budget Buddy is a locally made app that tracks your income and expenses “auto-magically”. It captures your income and expenses using incoming SMSes from your bank then calculates how much you’ve been spending.

The user creates categories (such as groceries and eating out) and then inputs keywords related to those categories such as PnP or KFC.

The app matches the wording used in the bank notification and deducts the amount used from the related category. Free on Android and iOS with in-app purchases 66 | 30 MARCH 2017 you.co.za

EXPENSE CALCULATOR

If you like tracking your spending by clipping together all your receipts and putting them in a file, this app will evolve your spend tracking immensely.

Expense Calculator has a feature that allows the user to take a picture of receipts, store them on the app and back them up on Dropbox later. You can also have multiple accounts and track your tax. Free on Android

SPENDING TRACKER

If you prefer graphs over numbers and want a simple app without the bells and whistles, Spending Tracker would suit you best.

Nothing puts unnecessary expenses into perspective like a good old pie chart – and it’s interactive too!

The features include being able to choose time periods to track your money, summary reviews and reports on your daily, weekly and yearly spending habits.

You can also choose to have your data backed up on Dropbox. Free on iOS and Android