Tips for Selecting a Budgeting Tool

 

The primary goal of all budgeting tools is to control the inflow and outflow of money. However, all tools are different from one another in the way they are executed. Some budgeting tools will allow you to directly import information from the bank while others do not have such a feature. Some of them may utilize your computer; others might not. There are budgeting tools that work on all operating systems, including some mobile platforms. Some cost money, while others may be free.

 

You might wonder which of the tools offers the best budgeting solution, and the truth is that there is no single budgeting tool that is well suited for everyone. The purpose of this article is to help you understand what kind of tool is best suited for you, and how and where you can use it.

 

What is a Budgeting Tool?
Four elements that a budgeting tool should have are:

Do You Trust Online Services with your Bank and Credit Card Log-in Information?
There are several companies that provide a budgeting tool that syncs your financial accounts. These kinds of software pull your transactional information so you can see it in one place. This method is very functional, but it does have a disadvantage: you have to share your account information. Although these companies utilize secure encryption to protect your data, it is up to you whether you think it’s worth using or not.

 

Do You Prefer a Non-Electronic Budgeting System?
There are people who prefer to keep their budgeting or financial data completely off the computer. They would rather not use online, or even offline, tools for budgeting.

 

Budgeting and Saving Apps
These tools are best for those who plan on saving more and spending less. If you are someone who doesn’t mind sharing bank information online, you should give these types of tools a try. You can quickly find free or paid programs that can help you keep your budget organized. However, be careful that you install real programs instead of malware disguised as helpful software.

 

Evaluating Investment Accounts
If you are investing in something and you want to keep track of these investments, then investment management services are the best. These tools will look at your investment accounts and give you suggestions of how to manage them most efficiently.

Envelope System
Those who prefer not to use computers for budgeting can utilize the envelope method. This system best works for people who like to deal in cash or checks for their expenses. You use a series of envelopes on which the particular expense is written and the approximate amount is kept.

 

Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are a great way to look into the flow of cash in an electronic document. Spreadsheets are based on the same principles as the paper version but are a vastly more flexible.

No matter which option you choose, we are always here to help! Give us at a call at 901-380-7400 or stop by any of our banking centers today.