Staying financially fit is difficult, to say the least. Many of us have worked hard to gain a certain level of comfort with our finances. But whether or not you're simply struggling to get out of debt or maintain a level of security that you've fought long and hard for, everyone can use at least a little bit more help.
Here are three apps that can help you on your daily path to financial independence:
Budget Simple
Budget Simple is a free web service where you can set your monthly budget and track percentages of your income and expenses easily and efficiently. Whenever you make a purchase, simply enter it into the app and it's recorded on the Budget Simple website. Budget Simple keeps track of your monthly spending and allows you to copy over each month's budget easily so that you don't have to constantly copy and paste encrypted spreadsheets and store them in random nooks and crannies of your laptop. Budget Simple is nothing fancy but that's its strength. It's straight-forward, no-nonsense, and easy to use so use.
Checkbook Ledger
Checkbook Ledger is similar to Budget Simple in that it's simply a checkbook on your phone. How many times have you had to go through your bank statement trying to figure out where and when a payment was made or a product was purchased? Checkbook Ledger allows you to quickly and easily input any purchase or payment so you can easily keep track of what's going on with your bank account without constantly looking at your bank statement. You can break things down by card, by bank account, or even by family member. And Checkbook Ledger protects this information with a password and pin that you set. Checkbook Ledger has saved me from an overdrawn bank account many a time and is a great addition to your financial arsenal.
Evernote Scannable
Tired of piling up receipts and stuffing them in the drawers of your work desk? Then get Scannable from Evernote and start scanning your receipts. All you need is a phone and... that's actually all you need! You can use the camera on your smartphone to quickly and easily scan your receipts. Once you scan your receipts they can be stored on Evernote, sent as an email, or text them directly to your accountant – if you guys happen to be that close. Scannable works for all kinds of documents but it's a great solution for efficiently gathering receipt information.
Fancy apps won't replace good financial sense, but the right tools always make the job just a little bit easier. So try these out and best of luck on your financial future!
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- 6 Best Personal Finance Apps | Investopedia ›
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Airbnb is a great option while traveling, but you should protect yourself from damage charges from unscrupulous hosts.
Airbnb offers an affordable option for people looking to be more comfortable as they travel.
However, there are downsides to staying in a host's home rather than a hotel. Whereas hotels are designed for constant streams of visitors and often have furniture built to last, at an Airbnb, you may be staying on old or cheap furniture that a host is using in order to maximize their profits.
And while most reputable hotels will have regular room inspections from staff to check for any wear and tear, Airbnb damage disputes are oftentimes he said, she said situations. If you are in an Airbnb and something breaks, there are a few steps you should take in order to ensure that you are not on the hook for damages out of your control.
If you're keeping tabs on the art and tech worlds, you've probably been hearing whispers about "NFTs" for the past month. Just over the past week they've entered the mainstream lexicon.
Twitter founder Jack Dorsey made the news for selling his first ever tweet. The app has been teasing paid subscription models and newsletter-like features, but tweets for sale is "the next frontier."
just setting up my twttr— jack (@jack)1142974214.0
The 2006 tweet went up for auction as an NFT, and the current bid is $2.5 Million. But what does it mean to own that? Why would anyone want to? And what even is an NFT?
Long gone are the days when the majority of Americans dreamed about owning a home with a white picket fence.
The traditional American Dream may be on its deathbed, but that doesn't mean a core component of the vision can't survive. It simply takes a diverse perspective. People can still believe they can attain their own vision of success in society with hard work, knowledge, and risk-taking. Investing in today's American Dream may literally mean investing money in our modern economy, starting with our infrastructure.
Real estate investing in particular is a lucrative method that can boost income and secure a better financial future for many. There's always risk involved, but the payoffs can far outweigh the uncertainty. Selecting solid financial investments is about confidence and competence. If you're looking for some advice on this kind of investment, here are a few savvy tips for new real estate investors.
Stick To a Specific Strategy or Niche
Real estate is a challenging sphere of the business world, one that requires several key skills: groundwork knowledge, networking, perseverance, and organization. True knowledge of the real estate market will come with time and experience, but it's a smart idea to select one area of the market and stick to it. This is the best way to attain in-depth familiarity with your specific niche.
First, choose a geographical area close by and then a niche strategy within it, such as house flips, rental rehabs, or residential or commercial properties. By doing so, you can become aware of current inner working conditions in the market and you'll have a better idea of how these trends may change in the future.
Be Vigilant About Viable Financing Options
While it takes money to make money, you don't have to use all your own money. A common misconception about real estate investing is that you must be wealthy to start off. This isn't straight fact, however. A majority of people can test the waters of real estate investing without a lot of initial cash in their pocket.
Aside from traditional financing options from banks and institutions, private lending options can be worthy solutions. Hard money lenders are popular, reasonable choices, and they tend to have fewer qualification requirements upfront. However, be sure to strategically choose a hard money lender to find the best possible fit.
Master the Art of Finding Good Deals
There may be hundreds of thousands of available properties for sale on the current market, but the bulk of them will never amount to the final money-making result you desire. Another great tip for new real estate investors is to use good math to estimate profit. Taking risks is part of the process, but you have the ability to analyze properties and use networking sources to find the greatest deal. You can't win every deal, but you can steadily work towards a thriving financial future.
