Best budget and debt management apps?

marky0077

Hello,
Can anyone recommend a good budget and debt management app that connects to bank and credit card accounts? Mint.com app sounds perfect but does not work in UK. I’ve heard of ‘Emma’ and ‘Yolt’.

Does anyone have any recommendations please?

I currently use Quickbooks for my self-employed tax stuff - which is brilliant by the way - and I was looking for something similar to manage some debt and create a budget.

Many thanks
Mark

Willing2Learn

I have been using YNAB for the last 10 years. It uses a zero-based budgeting methodology and was successful in leading me away from a lifetime of debt, so that I am now a regular saver without any debt.

La_escocesa

I am also a big YNAB fan. I've never been as good with money as I have been since I started using it. Completely changed my outlook and how I think about money, saving up for things before they're due, having cash in the bank to pay off 'unexpected (expected) expenses' whenever something breaks etc. You can try it free for 34 days I think and they also have good tutorials that you can go through.

getmore4less

MsMoney still the best all round tool for setting budgets and reporting/tracking

Does require Manual updating but can be minimised by auto entery of most budget items.

The manual side still needs to done to categorise spends.which is good as it helps focus where the money is going

MSMoney is free.

FireWyrm

This is a third vote for YNAB. Although it costs £60 a year (or £5 a month) it will pay for itself within the first year just with 'found' cash and savings. The beauty of the system is that it follows well understood and sound methodology whilst being useful and relevant in the 21st century. The app is available on even the most backwards smart phone so it should work for just about anybody with a pulse and the right frame of mind. Go for it. Dont be afraid to ask for help or advice - there are many here who live and die by the green figure.

getmore4less

The basic principle of budgeting has not changed for centuries.

Plan in advance where you want all you money to go.
Longer(min 1 year) and more detailed the better.

Then track and adjust as you find things you forgot to put in the plan

No need to pay £60py for a tool to do that.

FireWyrm

getmore4less wrote: »

No need to pay £60py for a tool to do that.

The £60 isnt for the principle which any fool can follow. It is for the app which can be on your smartphone meaning you can 'log' transactions as they happen and for the ability to reconcile against actual bank data to get accurate figures. It is for the forum that provides endless support and encouragement. It is for the peace of mind knowing that every eventuality barring something really big is considered and accounted for. I take your point that 'every penny is a prisoner' - a creed I know you believe in very strongly, but sometimes we need a little help getting with the programme and YNAB does just that if you follow it religiously.:A

marky0077

Thank you all for your advice on this.

I have just signed up for the free trial of YNAB and I'm impressed.

Such a shame it doesn't link to UK banks and credit cards though. Having to do things manually is a pain. Does it recognise regular transactions?

I will do the free trial and see how I get on...

Thanks again
Mark

thriftychick

I've used MSMoney for the last 13 years and it has been great. I have also started using simplebudget which is a free app on my phone, it mimics the envelope system and I have found that very effective at keeping my spending in line.

chelseablue

I like Yolt and its free

sallybunny

Another vote for YNAB. I like that I have to go in and reconcile my budgets manually. I've picked up on a few errors doing it that way.