I’ve been having a hard time trying to stick to a budget, mainly because I’m a full-time student with a limited and always-changing schedule. I’d love some advice on free budgeting apps that can help me manage my money better. Also, if anyone has tips on saving money, I’d really appreciate them!
Google Sheets all the way!
Keir said:
Google Sheets all the way!
Same here. I have a template set up where I enter weekly transactions, and it automatically tallies up everything for the month. It took a little time to set up, but it’s totally worth it in the end.
@Rin
Yeah, I just started using it last month, and though I had to tweak things every week, it’s still quick and easy. I love how customizable it is compared to regular budgeting apps.
Keir said:
@Rin
Yeah, I just started using it last month, and though I had to tweak things every week, it’s still quick and easy. I love how customizable it is compared to regular budgeting apps.
Totally agree! I’ve been tweaking ours since April, and it works perfectly for us now. Plus, it’s great if you need to share it with someone else. I think a lot of people sell budget templates too for those who might not know how to set one up themselves.
@Rin
It’s easy enough if you just know some basic functions, like using formulas to change colors for categories. You don’t need to be an expert!
I also use a spreadsheet, but I’m on Apple Numbers.
I’ve been using the free version of EveryDollar for a year and only upgraded to the premium version last month. I love how entering every single expense keeps you aware of where your money is going.
Not free, but you can find some really cheap budgeting templates on Etsy for Google Sheets or Excel. They look nice, which might motivate you to keep using them!
I think EveryDollar is great! A lot of people mention spreadsheets, but if you’re new to budgeting, a tool that does more of the work for you can make it easier to get started.
You should try Fina! They have a free trial and it’s super flexible and easy to use.
Shane said:
You should try Fina! They have a free trial and it’s super flexible and easy to use.
I use Fina too, and I agree, the flexibility is what makes it great!
Check out Define Your Dollars. It’s 100% free and helps you create a plan to get out of debt. If you’re not in debt, it’ll show you how much you can save or invest. It’s a pretty basic tool but works really well for that.
@Val
Luckily, I don’t have any debt yet (fingers crossed), but I’ll definitely check it out!
I use a combination of Google Sheets and Fina, and they work really well together.
Good Steward is a completely free app and only stores data locally. It’s a bit more manual since you have to import your transactions, but it’s a solid option if you want something free.
Rocket Money is another option you could check out.
Empower, Sofi Relay, Credit Karma, and USAA are all good free budgeting apps.
YNAB offers a free trial, and they have a lot of helpful videos and tips online. People who use it say it’s worth the cost in the long run, but it’s still useful even if you don’t end up paying for it.
Rocket Money has helped me a lot. I eventually upgraded to the full version, and it’s been worth it. I’m pretty disorganized, so having everything automatically tracked from my bank accounts really keeps me on top of things.