Free Budgeting Software to Help You Spend Less Money

There are a number of choices when it comes to free budgeting software. But how do you determine if it’s worth your time to really learn more about a particular program?

Lucky for you, Emily Thomas wrote this guest post and guide to some online budgeting tools – some of which you may never have heard of before….

Do you want to understand how to stop spending money?

That’s a common question I hear from people who want to take the reins on their financial lives and really keep their spending in line but who lack the knowledge or training to jump head-first into rows of earnings data. But there’s good news. There are a variety of programs out there, some Web-based, designed to help you reorganize your cash flow and make better use of your money. Here are some to get you started:

Billster.net

This is a free service that comes in handy for understanding monthly expenditures, debts and income. There’s also a shared bills aspect that’s ideal for roommates who need to pool funds to cover things like utilities.

Mint.com

One of the biggest out there, this portal is a solid aggregator of your information across multiple financial institutions, and you can sign up to receive e-mails when bills are due. A very strong site.

Yodlee.com

Another Web-based service, Yodlee is a great way to visualize money-saving methods and plan for future purchases like cars or homes.

Wesabe.com

Like other services, Wesabe is designed to help you collect and better understand your financial information, but it also boasts a thriving user community that not every site can offer. This ability to get advice from peers who’ve been in similar cash situations can be very helpful.

Mvelopes

Although Web-based, Mvelopes isn’t a free service like the others. However, that’s no reason to overlook it. They offer a variety of helpful tips to teach you how to reduce spending, manage debt and work toward personal financial freedom.

Quicken

This classic piece of software has been helping individuals and families monitor their expenses for years now, and it’s a fantastic tool to get your budget under control and better understand how you spend your money. There is a caveat, though: After a few years, you’ll need to buy a new edition of the software to make sure you’ve got the latest tools and support available. But if you’re serious about getting your budget in order, it can be worth the expense.

Try these services out and see which one fits your needs and style. By taking control of your budget, you’ll start saving money and enjoying life more right away.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Emily Thomas, who writes on the topic of online college degrees. She welcomes your comments by e-mail: emily.thomas31@gmail.com.

PILGRIM UPDATE.  I have changed the way I do my personal books.  I use You Need A Budget…I’m a huge fan.  But there are various other programs.  If you want to learn more, check out this review of Moneydance.  It’s a program I know nothing about, but I’ve heard some good things.  Let me know what you think.