You can increase your next bank statement with the click of a button—but there’s a catch: That button has to be part of a money-saving app or website. Nearly 60 percent of the people who frequently use online banking tools say the resources helped them save more cash, according to a recent survey from the insurance and investments company Country Financial. As an added bonus, 70 percent of all the people who reported using the tools say they’re also great for staying on top of their finances.
“The reality is that if you break down your financial life into a series of smaller, doable goals, you can spend less and save more,” says Catey Hill, a personal finance journalist and the author of Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl’s Guide to Spending Less and Saving More. “Lots of apps and websites can help do that.”
Hill shared a few of her favorites. The sooner you sign up for (or download) these, the sooner your bank account can start growing:
Mint.com
You may think of “budget” as the other B-Word, but Mint.com makes it a much friendlier term: The site links to your credit card accounts, and every time you swipe, the app automatically organizes your spending into categories (rent, groceries, gas, etc.) and creates a chart. “It’s unlikely that someone would write out every purchase he or she makes,” Hill says, “so this app does all the hard work for you.” The app also sends you email and SMS alerts when you’re close to going over your monthly spending limit, which helps prevent buyer’s remorse.
Red Laser
This app takes the legwork out of bargain hunting. Use your phone to scan the barcode of any item while you’re shopping, and the Red Laser app pulls up a list of websites and nearby stores that carry the same product, along with the price tag at each place. Driving five minutes to save $ 25? So worth it.
Gas Buddy
Filling up your tank and then realizing gas is 10 cents cheaper at a station off the very next exit is the worst. Enter Gas Buddy. The app keeps a running list of user-generated data from across the country (i.e., 20 million users who’ve shared gas prices), so you’ll know where exactly to make gas stops on your next trip, whether it’s from one coast to the other, or simply across town.
SnipSnap
Even if you tear out a coupon, that’s no guarantee you’ll remember to bring it with you when you go to the store. SnipSnap solves that problem. With the app, you can take a picture of a printed coupon and store it on your phone so you’ll be sure to have it on you at all times.
Retail Me Not
Saving money is no fun if you can’t splurge on clothing, shoes, and makeup every once in a while. The good news is you don’t have to give up your shopping habit—just rein it in a bit by downloading Retail Me Not. The app uses GPS tracking to determine what store you’re in, then gives you any available coupons for that shop and surrounding retailers. “All you have to do is hold your phone up at the register to be scanned,” Hill says.
More from Women’s Health:
Quiz: Are You Wasting Your Money?
6 Ways to Make Easy Money
Financial Advice: How to Save Money
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