3 money-saving apps you need to have right now
Need to save money? There's an app for that!
Need to put away more money for college? Are you terrible at saving altogether? It’s safe to say that between unexpected expenses and the constant need to have more personal buying power, the physical action of saving is likely one of the most challenging tasks out there.
Whether you’re an impulse buyer or someone who just wants to stay ahead of your own budget, here are three money-saving apps for various parts of your life guaranteed to put you in complete control of your finances, and more money going where you need it most.
The magic happens when you connect their participating retail loyalty cards and your bank account. When you scan your loyalty card at checkout, the discounts are automatically applied. The savings accrued from items you purchased and swiped right on are moved into a savings account that you designate, whether it’s a personal savings account, a 529 college savings plan or even a participating charity organization. Over time, the app even learns your preferences and will offer up deals catered to what you’re mostly likely to purchase.
Truly, Dash “turns any car into a smart car.” The app requires a purchase of a device, ranging from $10-$99, which plugs into a port compatible with most cars made since 1996. It utilizes what’s called the On-Board Diagnostics II port to access your vehicle's computer. That information is transmitted via Bluetooth to your smartphone where all that data from your car is disseminated into a number of sections that tracks and translates real-time information into alerts and reports that will help you save money on what could be costly fixes before they happen. Think of it as pre-preventative maintenance. Diagnostic information is exchanged that helps everyday drivers save on fuel economy, and can even flag if a cylinder has misfired, alerting the driver to check the engine before a "Check Engine" light on the car's dashboard may even come on. As an added safety bonus, the app can even be set up to notify friends and family if the vehicle has been involved in a crash. Dash makes driving smarter, safer, greener and more affordable.
The app also helps you set a budget once you’ve got a sense of where you are financially from month-to-month and ideally, from year-to-year. For those of you who want to take saving even further, Mint allows you to have free access to your credit score and even options for tracking investments, all in one place.