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10 Best Personal Finance Apps

July 12, 2017 By Mary Newton 1 Comment

Modern lives center around cell phones, so it only makes sense that our financial lives should as well. But how can you decide which financial apps are best for you? Here is a list of the ten best personal finance apps available.

Best Free Personal Finance Apps

Stash Invest

Stash offers a simplified approach to investing. You can start with an investment as low as $5, as well as receive personalized guidance for your investments. Stash also offers financial and investment education for users looking to learn more about investing. Stash is free on both iTunes and Google Play.

Mint

Mint offers a one-stop-shop for all your personal finance needs. It helps you track and pay bills, budget, track investments, and even check your credit score. Mint is free on both iTunes and Google Play.

Robinhood

Robinhood’s platform offers free stock trading for users. Their fast execution and real-time market data allows users to keep track of stocks and trade at opportune moments. Robinhood is free on both iTunes and Google Play.

Paribus

Paribus is a finance app that helps you “find” money. Essentially Paribus scans your inbox that you use for online shopping. Once the service has scanned all your receipts it checks price match guarantees, other deals and even if the item went on sale shortly after. Then Paribus contacts the company about you getting your money back. You don’t lift a finger. Paribus is free on iTunes with a Google Play app in the works.

Personal Capital

If you are an investor you may want to turn your attention towards Personal Capital. Personal Capital can give you a snapshot of your investments, savings and even help you plan for retirement. Personal Capital is free on iTunes and Google Play.

Best Paid Personal Finance Apps

Not all personal finance apps come for free though. Some apps are a bit more involved and, therefore, cost a little more than others. In some cases, though, it may be worth it.

BillMinder

BillMinder organizes your bills with reminders so you are always paying bills on time. You can also track where your money goes with comprehensive charts and graphs. The app even offers syncing capabilities across households. BillMinder is $1.99 on iTunes and $2.99 on Google Play.

Pennies

Pennies is an everyday money tracker that provides you with daily budgets. It helps you keep track of your spending health, as well as offering syncing across all devices and compatibility with any major currency symbols. Pennies is only available on iTunes for $3.99.

HomeBudget with Sync

HomeBudget tracks expenses, income, bills due, and account balances. The app offers budgeting support and analyzes your expenses and income. All of its features are integrated, and the app has a Family Sync option, which allows a group of devices within the household to exchange information and work within a single budget. HomeBudget with Sync is $4.99 on iTunes and $5.99 on Google Play, and also offers a free version with limited features on Google Play.

Money Pro

Money pro offers bill planning and account tracking, and can be used at home and even at businesses. Among its many features are account reconciliation, split transactions, detailed reports, and multiple profiles. Money Pro is $4.99 on iTunes and free on Google Play.

Income OK

Income OK is a basic app that allows you to input your income and expenses. It also has a partner app, Expenses OK, which just offers expense tracking. Income OK also offers a widget feature for easier access to information and input capabilities. Income OK is only available on iTunes for $0.99.

With so many apps out there, it is difficult to know which ones are best for you. Try downloading some of the best personal finance apps out there, and you are sure to find the right fit for your financial needs.

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Three Ways to Make Money Online

February 26, 2016 By Spencer Mecham 1 Comment

One of many game-changing inventions in earth’s history was that of the Internet. Nothing else has come close to impacting the lives of so many people, in so many different ways, and in so many different places. One of the most positive opportunities the Internet has provided stems from the Internet’s ability to build help wealth or a secondary income. Millions of people are making a great living without ever leaving the confines of their own home. It’s wonderful!

A significant amount of people have wondered if making money online is something they could do, but a much smaller number have taken the steps necessary to generate that income. Here are three ways people are making their livings online.

Amazon

You would be hard pressed to find someone that uses the internet but has not used Amazon. The ecommerce giant sells billions of products each year, making a significant amount in the process. Many people have learned that they can buy products in bulk online, then turn and sell those products for a much higher amount on Amazon. While the process can be a little complicated to learn, once understood it is quite simple. Millions of people are making significant amounts of money buying products straight from manufacturers and selling via Amazon and many of them have systems that require almost no work on their part.

There are many sites including Udemy that provide trainings for those interested in selling via Amazon. Most trainings cost as little as $9 and if you’re serious about selling on Amazon are well worth the buck. The good thing about this method is very little risk. After the price of a course many users can find small products for $10-$20 to start out selling, then after making small profits they reinvest and continue to grow their business.

Stock Market

Most people know a bit about the stock market, though that knowledge is likely a distorted puzzle with plenty of Hollywood truths slipped in. What is true about the stock market, however, is that there is a lot of potential to make a lot of money via stocks. Similarly there is the potential to lose a lot of money. Luckily the internet not only provides a medium to trade stocks, but there are thousands of stock trading websites that offer free market trader courses to get beginners started..

One recent update in the world of stocks is the Robin Hood app for iPhone, which offers completely free stock trades. The goal of Robin Hood is to make it possible for everyday people to invest and benefit from the economy that they are a part of.

Websites

There are billions of websites on the internet today, with the average adult spending 20 hours online each week. Most of these websites are finding ways to profit off of the service they provide, whether it is through eCommerce or advertising. Many companies will pay websites to offer ads on their site, which is why most people are used to seeing ads on the top and sides of pages they visit. These ads typically pay the website owner each time someone clicks on them. With enough traffic to their website, many of these owners make a great living off of their sites. As with the other two, there are dozens of sites offering free web-building tips, as well as simple site builders like WordPress.

The point of all of these is that opportunities are out there. With so many opportunities available online, it is a simple matter of getting the motivation, seeking out the learning, finding your passion, then doing it. Millions of people do this each year and often succeed beyond their wildest dreams.

Photo: Flickr: Pictures of Money

Apple Privacy Standards Go Face-to-Face With U.S. Government

February 24, 2016 By Amanda Blankenship 1 Comment

The Apple corporation (APPL) is one of the largest companies in the world. It is not only a leading manufacturer of smart phones, but it also creates consumer electronic products: computers, iPods, iPads and even televisions (with sound systems to match). Despite Apple’s success and the widespread popularity of the products, the company seems to have worked themselves into a standoff over privacy with the United States government.

The standoff relates to the December 2015 terrorist shooting in San Bernardino, California. The mass shooting was a direct result, according to the U.S. government, of cybercrime. The terrorists who performed the shooting were alleged to have used their iPhones to communicate.

A huge part of Apple’s decades-old success has been its ability to provide its customers privacy and security through its products. The company, which has sales all over the world, is now pondering whether or not it will help U.S. government officials gain access to the iPhone of one of the shooters from the San Bernardino attacks. Since privacy is a huge part of the company messaging and corporate values, Apple’s management is worried that if they cooperate with the U.S. governments demands to build a back door into their operating software, they’ll have to do the same for others, including China where citizens value the privacy that Apple products offer.

Apple doesn’t seem to be wavering much. It looks as though the company is going to take a stance to protect consumer privacy and take the matter to court. Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the matter in a letter to Apple customers saying, “The government suggests this tool could only be used once, on one phone. But that’s simply not true. Once created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number of devices.”

Cook has received supportive emails from across the country regarding Apple’s decision to stand up for the privacy of its customers. Many critics are saying that this decision is simply a business stunt. However, Cook’s statements suggest Apple has taken this stance to protect their customers from potential hacking by government officials, an issue which speaks directly to the business’ core values.

So far, Apple shareholders have remained silent on the issue. In the past, some shareholders have complained about Apple’s strong social stance and argued that the socially driven initiatives of the company have been a bit too political. However, no one has spoken up about Apple’s stance as far as privacy goes.

On Friday, the U.S. government filed suit against the technology giant to get the tool that will help them gain access. Apple appears to show no signs of backing down.

Regardless of the law suit that has been file, Apple is continuing to sell phones. However, it will be important for those who hold stock in the company to keep a close eye on court proceedings in the coming months. This is because the movement of Apple stock has a massive impact on the US equity markets. For example, Apple is a part of the S&P 500, and many major pension funds hold Apple stock as part of their portfolios. Also, many individuals hold stock in Apple directly, and since the company’s market capitalization is in the billions, its sales have an demonstrable impact on the US economy – research shows that iPhone sales add between one quarter and one third of a point to gross domestic product growth.

All of this, plus the sizable impact Apple’s products have on the U.S. economy as a whole. The company’s yearly announcements are one of the most anticipated releases in the technology market every year. It is possible that if (and it’s a big if) the U.S. government puts a dent in Apple’s stock prices through the lawsuit that it will also put a huge dent in the economy.

iPhone Apps to Help You Keep Your Financial Resolutions

January 2, 2010 By Guest Writer 2 Comments

By C Craig

It’s that time of year, when we set down promises to make this — and the coming years — the best yet. “I’ll lose that 10 pounds!” we promise ourselves, “Give up late night snacking, get to the gym, and get organized.” Most of us share a common aspect of New Year’s resolve: spend less, save more. It’s one of the keys to reducing stress and creating a secure future. Imagine where you could be a year from now if your basic financial needs were met. Here is a short but powerful list of the top five iPhone and iPod Touch apps to help you keep your financial resolutions for the New Year and beyond.

Paper Calc ($1.99)

When it comes to your finances, information is power. No matter what tools you use, the basic and most helpful will provide solid information in real time. Paper Calc from Interlocken Technology is a user-friendly app which combines high-tech (a 25-function scientific calculator) with what some of us remember as the “paper tape” from an adding machine. So, if one of your resolutions is to get your expense account settled (on time, every month), this is your app — no more double or triple-checking your math, because this app keeps track of every element of your calculations. The “paper” in Paper Calc is virtual: you can check the numbers you’ve entered, timestamp an entry, add notes… and save it. This will become your calculator of choice — there’s nothing else like it on the market. For $1.99, the time you’ll save (think: ultra calculator plus handwritten notes all in one, at the touch of a button) can help make 2010 your best year financial year yet.

Bill Minder ($0.99)

Late payments can hurt your credit score, incur tremendous fees and make you feel about an inch tall (how do you explain to your boss that you couldn’t be reached because you forgot to pay your cell phone bill?). Late payments no more! Bill Minder is your personal assistant, keeping track of what you need to pay and when, as well as a history of what you have paid. Bill Minder takes some of the stress out of bill paying (and that alone provides a big payback in terms of your health and productivity), because you can see your entire scope of bills in one place, and make good decisions about paying those bills down. For less than a dollar, the peace of mind this app affords is priceless.

20-Minute Meals – Jamie Oliver ($4.99)

Save money enjoying gourmet food at home — with meals you can cook in less time than it takes to drive to a restaurant and wait for a table. This app features more than a year’s worth of weekly recipes with step-by-step instructions and a handy shopping list that saves your time with recipe ingredients listed by supermarket aisle. Even a novice chef can master these easy, yet sumptuous dishes. You’ll save the $4.99 cost of this app the first time you skip the prepared side-dish aisle at your grocery store. A great way to save money, master a new hobby and bring joy to your family and friends. Note to single guys: one of these meals will mean more (and cost substantially less) than two dozen roses, trust me!

eBay Mobile (Free)

eBay is definitely a treasure trove and can easily get you to spend a bit more than you’d planned. If you are an eBay newbie, make one or two small purchases just to get a sense of what to expect in the course of an eBay transaction. Then sell, sell, sell and enjoy the profits! If your New Year’s resolutions include getting organized, use this app to research the going price of items in your attic, basement, closets and garage. This app will help you decide in which category to put your own treasures: one stack to sell on eBay, another to give to charity (and remember to keep your receipts for tax deduction purposes). You’ll enjoy the space (think: cleaning out the garage and turning it into a workout room for that other resolution) and the additional income, as well.

CNBC Real-Time (Free)

Whether you are an investment pro or just thinking about where to put some of your hard-earned dollars, CNBC Real-Time will provide you with round-the-clock information, direct from the NYSE and NASDAQ –before, during and after market hours. More than 150 video clips are offered each day to keep you up-to-the-minute on business news. You’ll also be privy to information from US and world indexes. Use this free tool to study the market and create your own watch lists — for your current investments and the ones you’ll make in the future. This is your free financial advisor at your fingertips, any hour of the day or night.

You Have Too Much Cash and It’s Costing You Money

November 29, 2009 By Jeffrey Strain 7 Comments

Dan Ariely, a professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke University, says that studies show that when people pay off loans, they pay off the small loans first rather than the loans with the highest interest rate. Studies also show that even when people have debt, they keep a lot of cash. Both of these in combination cost people a lot of money that could be saved if they thought more rationally.

Ariely also believes that the cell phone may be our financial salvation. Through apps that tell you the cost of the item you are purchasing in terms of the cost of your favorite things, and ones where you you pose a financial question and the people that you trust most give you their answers, these types of apps can make people be more rational in the money decisions that they make.

Are you saving too much cash and do you think the cell phone will make us a more financially literate nation?

An iPhone Money App That I Would Buy

November 27, 2009 By Jeffrey Strain 2 Comments

I don’t have an iPhone (I don’t even have a cell phone, but that’s a whole other story), but if I did, I would definitely buy the Opportunity Cost of Money iPhone app. This iPhone app makes the cost of your purchases concrete.

Basically, it’s an iPhone app where you list all of the things that you buy that give you the most pleasure and the costs of those things. Then when you are getting ready to make a purchase, you can input the price into the iPhone app and it will tell you the cost in terms of those things that you find most pleasurable.

For example, maybe you love Sees candy, Jamba Juice and personal pizzas. One day you are shopping and you find something for $50 that is screaming at your impulses to buy. before you buy it, you input the $50 price and the iPhone app which will tell you that the impulse purchase would cost a box of Sees candy, two Jamba Juices and 3 personal pizzas. It turns all your purchases into the things that you love the most so that you can judge whether or not the purchase you are about to make is something that you really want to buy. Brilliant!

Do you think that a device like this would save you money?