Okay, budgeting apps. Let’s be real. The sheer number of them is enough to make anyone’s head spin. I mean, where do you even start? And are they *really* going to help, or just add another layer of complexity to my already complicated finances? I was firmly in the “skeptical but desperate” camp.
The Great App Experiment (and My Spectacular Failures)
I decided to dive in headfirst. I figured, what’s the worst that could happen? (Famous last words, right?) I downloaded, like, five different apps. Mint, YNAB (You Need a Budget), Personal Capital, PocketGuard, and a few others I can barely even remember. The onboarding processes were all different, but equally overwhelming. Linking my bank accounts? Okay, scary, but I guess necessary. Categorizing every single transaction? Ugh, what a chore! Setting budgets for every single thing I spend money on? Honestly, it felt like a full-time job.
I thought Mint would be the easiest one to start with, seeing as it’s been around forever. It looked clean enough, and seemed relatively straightforward. I got all my accounts linked up, and then… nothing. Just a bunch of confusing charts and graphs that I didn’t even understand. I spent hours trying to make sense of it, and honestly, I just felt more lost than when I started.
Then there was YNAB. People *swear* by YNAB. They talk about it like it’s some kind of financial savior. But it’s… complicated. Like, *really* complicated. The whole “give every dollar a job” thing just didn’t click for me. I felt like I was constantly re-budgeting and moving money around, and I ended up feeling more stressed about my finances than ever before. I will say that I like that YNAB wants you to think of money as something that is already there, and it’s purpose.
Personal Capital was a bit better in terms of giving me a broad overview of my finances, including investments. But it wasn’t really a budgeting app, more of a wealth management tool. And I’m definitely not at the wealth management stage yet, haha. PocketGuard was… okay. I liked the “In My Pocket” feature, which showed me how much money I actually had available to spend. But it didn’t really help me get a handle on my spending habits.
Finding “The One” (Maybe?)
After weeks of struggling, I was about ready to throw in the towel. Budgeting apps? Total scam. I was convinced. But then, I stumbled across one called Monarch Money. It was getting good reviews, and it offered a free trial, so I figured, why not?
Monarch Money had a cleaner interface, I will give it that. It felt more intuitive than the others. But what really sold me was the fact that it allowed me to collaborate with my partner on our budget. We’ve always struggled to talk about money (who doesn’t?), and this seemed like a good way to get on the same page. It also allows you to see net worth over time. That’s really cool.
It also allows for custom categories and rules. That’s important! I was able to create specific categories that made sense for *our* spending habits, and set up rules to automatically categorize transactions. Suddenly, budgeting didn’t feel like such a chore.
The Unexpected Benefits (and a Few Regrets)
Using Monarch Money has actually helped me to understand where my money is going. I realized I was spending way too much on takeout coffee (oops!). And I’ve been able to identify areas where we can cut back without feeling deprived. It’s been a slow process, but we’re finally starting to get a handle on our finances.
One thing I regret? Not starting sooner. I remember back in 2018, I had a small side hustle that was actually bringing in some decent money. If I had been tracking my income and expenses properly, I could have saved a lot more. Instead, I just kind of blew it all on… well, I don’t even remember. That’s probably the problem, right?
Funny thing is, I almost didn’t give Monarch Money a try because I was so burnt out from all the other apps. I almost listened to my own defeatist attitude. I am glad I kept searching. If you are looking to be more organized with money, definitely try a few apps out and see what helps.
My Advice? Don’t Give Up!
So, here’s my advice to anyone who’s feeling overwhelmed by budgeting apps: don’t give up! It might take some trial and error to find the right one, but it’s worth it. And don’t be afraid to experiment and customize the app to fit your needs. After all, budgeting is a personal thing. What works for one person might not work for another.
And remember, it’s okay to make mistakes. I’ve made plenty of them along the way. The important thing is to learn from them and keep moving forward. Who even knows what’s next? It could be another app! But that is part of the fun.
