13 of the Best Apps to Make Saving and Investing Money Easy

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Most anyone with a cell phone, tablet, iPad or computer has heard, “there is an app for that,” whatever “that” might be. People have grown to rely on doing just about everything, from checking social media to shopping on their mobile devices.

While some people are taking advantage of banking on their cell phones, not everyone is in the know about the various applications, commonly referred to as apps, out there to help them save money and make investing easier.

Firstly, people need to be acutely aware of their spending habits, and then spend more wisely to start saving money.

It can be nearly impossible to find money to save, it is hard earned and goes so quickly.  Between coffee runs, eating out, and new shoes, some people find it difficult to find an extra dime. A first step toward putting away money might be saving on everyday purchases.

These apps can help get people get on a track toward saving by spending less.

1) BillGuard is an app that tracks user’s bills, alerting them to duplicate or suspicious charges. It will also alert users to the risk of a retailer’s data breach. Charges can be disputed straight through the app.

2) Key Ring is an app that consolidates user’s loyalty cards, eliminating the need to carry these cards to save money at favorite stores; people using the app are able to just show their phones to get the discounts.

3) RetailMeNot is a very popular website and mobile coupon app that stores all the current discounts and coupon codes from retailer websites and other sources, as well as the Sunday circulars. Similar to the Key Ring app, users just simply pull up the app on their cell phones at checkout to receive the discounted prices.

4) PriceBlink is a browser add-on which helps online shoppers ensure they are getting the best deal on a purchase. Prices around the Internet are continuously monitored so users can be directed to the retailer with the best price.

5) Ebates is a price comparison and deal tracking app that awards users cash back for purchases. Three years ago they unveiled Mobile Monday, which offers users even more savings, up to 20 percent, one Monday a month.

For those that struggle to save money, there are budgeting apps that can help.

Once people start saving money with more savvy shopping, they will need to establish a budget. By figuring out where their money is going, and saving when they spend, people can gain a greater understanding of how they splurge and see areas where they can cut back and start saving.

These apps can help users “color within the lines,” and keep track of their money.

6) You Need a Budget, or YNAB, is a budgeting tool that helps users stay within their means. It encourages people to spend wisely and save money with online classes, and basic lessons in personal finance. YNAB currently costs $60, but it comes with a promise of continuous expert support.

7) Mint is the highest ranked, and most popular budgeting app and website that tracks a person’s spending to aid in keeping within their budget. It features easy to understand visual representations of their spending, and will send alerts if a user is close to their spending limit in several categories. An added bonus is that it’s secure and free.

8) Your bank website is another source of budgeting and spending analysis tools. In exploring their bank’s online interface, a person is likely to discover debt payment tools and retirement calculators to help them manage their money.

9) Credit cards usually come with a variety of safeguards including retailer fraud and identity theft protection. Many credit card websites offer tools that can identify where money is going each month. These tools are free and come with the credit card, they just need to be discovered and used.

Mobile apps can help everyone, from novice investors to the more seasoned investors figuring out which stocks to invest in, and which stocks to buy.

Investing apps are useful resources offering tips and the capability to trade and invest; they are also even more convenient than a trading website, because a person is usually carrying their mobile device. One does not need a computer to check on their investments, or track trends, it is as easy as looking on their phone. There are better investment apps than others, and also apps that favor certain types of investments like real estate.

These investment apps are a few of the best to help build, and maintain a hearty portfolio.

10) Ameritrade is one of the most well-known and popular investment apps that charges high commissions on individual trades. This app does offer much more information and more trading tools to its users than most apps. New traders could benefit from this wealth of information, making it worth the higher commissions while learning to navigate in the trading world.

11) E-Trade is another popular investment app with many easy to use features. E-Trade’s experienced online brokers have skillfully adapted to the app’s ability to offer nonstop access to investment information. Casual investor’s may not find E-Trade very friendly with more fees assessed to those investing less frequently. The tiered commission structure encourages more regular trading with lower fees.

12) Acorns is a superior app for people that find it difficult to save more for investing.  Acorns automatically rounds purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference into a savings or investment account. The savings can be added to in order to make larger investments, with some vendors offering cash back on purchases to add to the funds.  Younger investors looking to save money and make small investments will find Acorn a very helpful app.

13) Redfin is an excellent app for people looking to invest in property. Redfin is a direct broker acting as an intermediary between real estate agents across the country and home buyers. Any listing is generated through a Redfin partner, offering a lower listing fee, which means properties sold through the company will make more money. Redfin is rich in tools helping to make home selling simple and quick.

Using the app, real estate buyers create preferences for their desired types of property, and receive updates when property matches are listed. For instance, if a buyer is looking for a condo in Fort Lauderdale, and a seller’s property matches the description, the potential buyer receives a notification of the property. Potential buyers can also be alerted if someone else has made an offer, and set deadlines for other interested buyers to make their offers. This can potentially create a bidding war, driving the price up and yielding a bigger profit for the investor.

In addition to these apps, many retailers have their own apps that offer bonus savings, sneak peeks of sales, member only discounts, easy checkout and item pickup, and many other features.

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