\nWhen it comes to choosing where to rent, it is important to consider how much you are willing to set aside for bills each month. The best place to start is with a budget. Are you tracking where your dollars are actually going? If not, don’t worry. It turns out that over half of Americans do not actively budget and track their money. But New Year, new goals, right? And in the era of smartphones and apps, budgeting is easier than ever. If you’re wondering where you should start, these apps can really help. And they’re free.<\/p>\n

\nMint<\/b>
\nMint is owned by the company that runs Turbotax. The great thing about this app is that you can link up all of your financial institutions and the app will do the tracking for you. From your checking account to your investments, it monitors it all, including your credit score. Another great feature is that you can set savings goals and set up alerts that will let you know when you have overspent. The app is user friendly and holds you accountable. <\/b><\/p>\n

\nTruebill<\/b>
\nLike many Americans, you likely have a few subscriptions that reoccur each month. Maybe you signed up for a Black Friday deal for a monthly beauty box and you forgot to cancel it after the first month. Or maybe you moved in with your significant other and still have your old Netflix account. The beauty of Truebill is that it finds these subscriptions while monitoring your accounts and sends you alerts to make sure you want to continue the subscription. Think of it like having a personal assistant to manage your money. You can also access reports, and the app provides you with ways to save money and meet savings goals by finding and negotiating your monthly bills like cable and internet.<\/p>\n

\nLemon Receipts Refreshed<\/b>
\nIt is always tempting to crumple up your receipts and throw them away, or leave them cluttering up your space until you “come back to them.” But with Lemon, you can snap a picture of your receipt and it will keep track of all of it for you. The beauty of the app is that it will categorize your purchases and show you which businesses are getting your money. This is also a great way to keep everything organized for tax purposes down the line. <\/b><\/p>\n

\nPersonal Capital<\/strong>
\nMuch like the other apps that track your spending, Personal Capital offers you the ability to see a full financial picture by directly linking your bank accounts and investments. It creates a visual picture of your net worth, taking into consideration your bills and income, and will send you monthly alerts letting you know how much more or less you spent than the previous month. In addition, the app offers to connect you with an investment professional who can guide you through starting to invest or managing your current investments. The big picture view of your finances is useful and, again, all the work and tracking is done for you.<\/p>\n

\nCreating a budget for the first time can be overwhelming, but apps like the above allow you to be more mindful of your spending and financial health without requiring you to put in a lot of time and energy. Use these tools to help you plan for your rent and other bills each month and breathe easier knowing what your finances look like and where the money is going.<\/p>\n

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