Smart Money Moves with your Smartphone
Are you kicking off the year with a goal to boost your bank account and increase your income? Building wealth can start small, and you just might be holding the secret to your financial increase right in the palm of your hand. We’re talking about your device. That’s right. The device you paid for can now start paying you if you use it strategically, that is. If collecting spare change in a jar and carrying cash in an envelope aren’t your preferred budgeting tactics, then it’s time to step into the digital world for a new method of money management.
Budgeting isn’t a bad word.
Before we jump into adding a little more to our pockets, it’s important to first manage what we have. If you’re afraid of the B-word, then say it out loud with us: B-U-D-G-E-T. Now that we have that out of the way, it’s time to get your device to help you manage your money.
Budgeting Apps:
Mint: Budget Planner & Tracker: Mint is the number one downloaded personal finance app. Your entire financial life can be tracked in this one app, and it’s free! What’s better than not having to pay for an app that helps you save money? Instead of toggling between multiple apps to check your credit card balance, savings account and grocery spending, Mint allows you to connect all your accounts, so you can view your complete financial picture. Also, the app sends you notifications when your subscriptions try to quietly increase, which can save you more money than you might think. In fact, the average consumer reported spending $273 a month on subscription services.
Mint truly brings new meaning to SMARTphone, and here are a few of our favorite reasons why:
- Custom budgets: Mint automatically categorizes your transactions
- Mintsights™: This special feature sends personalized insights for you to save and pay down debt, and it even tracks your net worth and spending to find new ways to save.
- Credit score: Mint gives you free 24/7 access to your credit score.
Goodbudget:
This app takes cash envelopes to a new level. We know that envelope budgeting works, but Goodbudget brings this process to the virtual world. Each month, the app allows you to take your income and separate it into categorized virtual envelopes. Create an envelope for groceries, gas, dining out, and more. When you spend in a certain category, you take money out of the designated envelope. Goodbudget mitigates any overspending surprises since you have a visual of each dollar leaving the envelope.
Goodbudget is a simple way to get your device to work for you, and here’s why:
- Sync and share budgets: You may not be able to simultaneously share a real envelope full of cash, but you can share a virtual one. Goodbudget allows you to sync devices, so you and your family can pull from the same envelopes and track your spending altogether.
- Pay off debt: Incorporate your debt payoff plan as you save by viewing your progress within the app.
- Save for big expenses: If you’ve been dreaming of a summer vacation, there’s an envelope for that! Setting the money aside into a particular virtual envelope will get you to where you want to be faster.
Truebill:
If you’re looking for a finance app that works more like a virtual assistant, then Truebill is the answer. With a suite of valuable services and a focus on empowering members to live their best financial lives, this app can help you save time and money, and there’s nothing better than that.
Truebill boasts of saving over $100 million for customers, and they have over 2 million members, and there are many reasons why:
- Autopilot Savings: If you’ve ever wished you could save money without thinking about it, then this feature will be your best friend. Truebill analyzes your accounts to select the optimal time to save, and it only takes one minute to set up.
- Bill Negotiation: Do you avoid confrontations or difficult conversations? Let Bill Negotiation do the talking to get the best possible rates on your bills.
- Spending Insights: Find out where all your money goes with a simple breakdown. Are you spending too much on food delivery or have you visited the nail salon one too many times this month? Oversee all your spending with this easy breakdown.
Make money with your smartphone.
Now that we’ve covered a few ways to use your device to save, budget, and track your overall financial wellness, it’s time to talk about making money with your smartphone.
- Swagbucks: Earning money has never been easier. Swagbucks is available on iPhone and Android and has a variety of unique ways to increase your income. Play trivia for cash prizes, watch videos for gift cards, answer surveys for gift cards, watch movie clips for gift cards, watch videos about your favorite sports for gift cards, and more! Basically, you’re doing things you love and getting paid for it.
- Decluttr: Forget organizing a yard sale or monitoring flaky shoppers on other second-hand shopping apps, Decluttr is a fast, easy way to sell your tech items and more. With free shipping on all orders and next-day payments, there’s really no better way to sell the items you no longer need. From CDs to textbooks, Decluttr boasts in paying the most for tech goods.
- Investment apps: Once you’ve mastered savings apps, it might be time to step into the world of investment apps. Robin Hood is a great app for commission-free investing, and you get your first stock for free. Betterment is for investors on the go, and it uses automated technology to make investing easier and more accessible. Schwab Mobile is an app that’s perfect for beginners and advanced investors alike with it’s high volume of research and education. Plus, you get commission-free stock and ETF trades.
Your device is a mighty force, and it’s up to you to get creative with making smart money moves with your smartphone. From budgeting to investing, a world of wealth just might be at your fingertips if you make your phone work for you. So, whether you make your next big trade or earn a few bucks for that old DVD player you never used, it’s time to make 2022 a year of financial wellness. Stop into your local Verizon Victra store where our friendly team is ready to help you select your next device and get you on the road to making smart money moves.
The author is not a licensed financial advisor. Any recommendations in this article are based on publically available information. One should always seek financial advice from a licensed financial advisor.
is a skilled Web Developer and Designer. He builds and designs websites that focus on best UI/UX practices. Justin is also a Verizon Product Expert at Victra, helping customers with Verizon products and services. His mix of design, coding, product, and general knowledge makes him a valuable and knowledgeable team member.
