We all know that sticking to a budget is essential for reaching your financial goals, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy! If you’re one of the many people looking for a better way to track and manage your spending, we have good news:  there’s an app for that.

We’ve put together a list of the best budgeting apps so that you can get back on top of your finances and in control of your life.

 

Pocketbook

Pocketbook is a free budgeting app designed especially for Australians. On top of being super simple to navigate, it automatically collects information from your bank accounts so that each purchase you make is categorised and tracked seamlessly. 

Pocketbook tells you exactly how you’re spending money, and allows you to set yourself monthly allowances for each category you’re spending on, such as entertainment, groceries, bills and rent. 

To keep you mindful and on track, the app also sends you notifications when bills are upcoming or you’re close to your budget limits.

MoneyBrilliant

If you’re after a more comprehensive examination of your spending, MoneyBrilliant is a great app for providing a robust overview of your financial position. Great for people with debt, and lots of outgoing expenses, MoneyBrilliant lets you create detailed budgets that help you work towards major goals such as buying property.

If you’re willing to pay for its premium plan you’ll also get access to handy money-saving tools such as its Tax Tool feature which tracks and archives your tax-deductible purchases and Bill Watch, which helps you find better deals on utilities like electricity and gas.

Goodbudget

Back in the good old days, a solid budgeting strategy involved splitting up your cash into different envelopes only to be used for specific purposes such as groceries or rent. 

It’s a simple concept, but one that’s stood the test of time which is why the folks at Goodbudget have jumped on the idea and given it an upgrade for the digital age!

Goodbudget lets you create virtual envelopes which you can only spend from if it matches the purpose of the envelope. The simplicity makes it a great app for those who are just starting on their money-saving journey.

Moneytree

If you prefer having all your information together in one easily accessible interface, then Moneytree is the perfect app for you. It works by collecting all your financial data such as bank accounts, loans and credit cards and displays in-app for a truly holistic understanding of your ingoing and outgoings.

The best part? Moneytree also collects all your loyalty points such as Frequent Flyer and FlyBuys so that you know exactly how many you have and when you can use them. MoneyTree will even send you notifications when they’re going to expire. 

Spendee

Spendee is a clever budgeting app that can be used globally and lets you sync all your bank accounts so they can be accessed from the same interface, and easily managed.

Because of its Shared Wallet feature, Spendee is perfect for people with joint accounts or spending such as couples, housemates or parents who want to have oversight on their children’s spending. Spendee categorises transactions, adding a picture and location for easy identification.

Because it can sync with hundreds of different banks across the globe, Spendee is perfect for people who need to switch between currencies with the flick of a finger.

Pocketsmith

While Pocketsmith isn’t free, if you’re serious about changing your relationship with money, its niftiness and raft of amazing features make it worth the monthly subscription fee. A savings tool for people who like to see comprehensive spending reports on an easy-to-use interface, Pocketsmith will connect all your financial data and map out your personal path towards better financial freedom.  

Features include digital and cash spending projections, flexible budgeting options, personalised labelling, and a dashboard that displays your net worth and cash flow.

PocketSmith will also connect to Xero to simplify any expense submissions.

WiseList App

With WiseList you get the best of both worlds. As well as being a budgeting tool, this clever app helps with your bills and grocery management!

How can you track your spending while also saving money on your food bill each week? WiseList has inbuilt features that let you compare product prices and create grocery lists with people you share money with such as family or housemates.

You can also link your Woolworths Rewards card and get special notifications when your favourite products are discounted. WiseList will also help you manage your bills. Simply take a photo and the app will extract important information such as due dates and send you notifications when they’re approaching. 

Your bank app

Sometimes, the most simple answer has been right in front of you this whole time! If you’re not sure which personal finance app is right for you, you may find that your existing banking app has some tools that can help get you started on your journey.

Most major Australian bank apps have inbuilt functions that help their customers set and stick to a budget. One example is the ‘roundup’ feature that rounds up any transactions you make to the nearest dollar and sends the excess straight to a savings account. Many also allow you to see an overview of your weekly or monthly spending or have supporting budgeting apps that you can download for free.

Jump into your banking app now and see what you can do!

The verdict

While these budgeting apps are great tools that every Australian should use to improve their relationship with money, if you’re struggling with debt, an app may not be enough to help ease your situation.

You may want to speak to a professional who can help get you back on track.

Whether it’s credit card consolidation, debt consolidation or credit repair, Debt Negotiators can help you take control again.

Unlike some financial institutions, Debt Negotiators don’t make promises we can’t keep. We’ll carefully look at your unique financial situation and work with you to create achievable solutions you’ll feel good about sticking to. 

If you’re struggling with any debt, contact our friendly team today to find out how we can help.