There's a common expression about the prevalence of technical solutions for virtually every problem that faces the human race: "There's an app for that." Usually said in a half-joking way, the adage is right on the money when it comes to investing, trading, and managing your finances with ease. Maybe apps are so good at money-related chores because they have the ability to automate thousands of tasks instantaneously. So much of financial planning and money management is math-related that some folks are put off by the very idea of budgeting. But if you're one of the many working adults who want to get their finances in order for the new year, consider the following applications that can help get the job done. In less than a minute of online searching, you can easily find free versions of each one. Here's a quick overview of the best ones out there.
Saving and Rounding
Do you have trouble putting money aside each pay period? You're not alone. The good news is that a simple computer application can do the heavy lifting and deposit funds for you. Some of these programs use the rounding principle to make every one of your purchases slightly higher than the actual amount. Those extra pennies are instantly stored in an account that you set up to receive them. Then, once per month, quarter, or year, you'll be alerted to send the total to your own bank account.
If you get direct deposit checks from your employer, many banks offer in-house applications that can divert any percentage or flat amount of each check to the place of your choosing. For most people, that destination is a Christmas, vacation, retirement, certificate of deposit, or IRA. The beauty of rounding or automatically saving money is that you don't have to think about it, and you never actually see the cash.
Trading on the Go
Some of the best brokerage apps allow traders to engage in swing trading, day trading, or long-term investing whenever they wish, and from wherever they happen to be. Mobile applications can be downloaded for free or your broker might offer a proprietary one. Either way, it's the simplest way to trade and you'll never have to wait until you get home to do your trading. This works especially well for swing traders, who don't rack up too many transactions per week but always want to have their eye on the market.
Deal and Coupon Finders
Some of the most interesting apps are the coupon-hunters and deal-finders. Be careful when you download them because some may not be any benefit. Always be aware of the source and do research on the company before letting the software onto your device. Just sticking to the big, reliable industry names will usually be enough. What do you get? Daily or weekly coupons and special discounts from retailers that you put on a favorites list. Don't be surprised if you discover that you're able to save five percent or more on things you already buy, like groceries, furniture, clothing, personal services, and other goods.
