If you can hold a New Year’s resolution through February, it’s much more likely you’ll convert that goal into a positive habit. For many revolutionist, that goal is to get finances back on track. Unfortunately, most resolutions are over with before the end of February. According to a recent survey, only 8 percent of people who make a New Year’s resolution will keep it. That’s a very discouraging number, but there are ways to keep yourself out of the 92 percent if you know the right trending apps and gadgets to keep your finances in check.
Mint QuickView (Free, Mac OS only)
If you already use Mint.com to manage finances, you’ve started 2013 right. Mint is a great tool for managing accounts, debts and setting personal goals. One deterrent, though, is that you might be checking the website diligently, and its notification emails aren’t always as instant as we’d like. If you’re a Mac user, the app is also a great way to get a snapshot of your finances.
Like Mint, QuickView is free and available on the Mac App Store.
SigFig (Beta)
Mint is great for personal accounts, but it is limited to only basic finances. For those looking for a step up can now check out SigFig, a web app that tracks investments in the same way Mint tracks bank accounts. It won’t go into enterprise level tracking like Liquid Holdings, but will have you covered if you want to keep an eye on IRA, mutual funds and trust accounts.
Right now, SigFig is an invite-only beta, but once the testing phase ends it will be open to the public.
Evernote (Free)
It’s not a finance app, specifically, but to those who are set on tracking by pen and paper might find a good compromise in Evernote. The popular note-taking app excellently organizes files, stores photos and can even transcribe handwriting and make notations with a specially made Moleskin notebook. Of course, Evernote isn’t a means to replace the suggestions above, but it’s a way to keep personal notes and long-form accounts of your financial habits something Mint and SigFig fall short of.
Evernote is free and has versions for both computer and smartphone. A premium version is also available.
Wunderlist (Free)
A bad memory can be the worst enemy to good financial habits. Forgetting to pay bills on time accumulate detrimental fees and cause serious setbacks to savings plans. Wunderlist is a very clever list and reminders app that can help you set dates and times to pay your bills, as well as track goals when it comes to putting money aside in savings.
Wunderlist is available for both Android and iOS.
