Best apps for tracking expenses
On Wall Street, I built companies by mastering one principle: what gets measured gets managed. The same applies to personal finance. A recent NerdWallet survey found that 61% of Americans don’t track their spending regularly, and those who do save on average 15–20% more annually. Expense-tracking apps are not just tools — they’re your personal CFO in your pocket.
1. Mint
- Tracks spending, budgets, and bills automatically.
- Links to 15,000+ financial institutions.
- Users save an average of $1,000/year by spotting overspending.
2. YNAB (You Need a Budget)
- Zero-based budgeting method.
- Every dollar is assigned a job (savings, debt, or spending).
- YNAB reports users save $6,000 in their first year.
3. PocketGuard
- Simple app that shows what’s “safe to spend.”
- Analyzes income, bills, and goals.
- Helps reduce overspending by up to 20%.
4. Goodbudget
- Envelope-style budgeting, perfect for families.
- Syncs across multiple devices.
- Users report higher savings discipline by visualizing categories.
5. Expensify
- Designed for both personal and business expenses.
- Smart receipt scanning + automatic expense reports.
- Trusted by 10M+ users and thousands of companies.
Final Word
On Wall Street, ignoring your numbers is how you lose money. In life, it’s the same. These apps don’t just track your spending — they create accountability, clarity, and control. Remember, every dollar untracked is a dollar wasted. Use these tools, and you’ll manage your money like an investor, not a spender.
