As a college or university student, managing finances can be a tricky endeavor. With tuition, textbooks, and living expenses piling up, it’s crucial to find ways to save money wherever possible. Thankfully, we live in an age where technology is at our fingertips, offering innovative solutions to help manage our funds more efficiently. In this digital era, a myriad of applications have been developed specifically to aid students in keeping their finances in check. From budget trackers to discount finders, these apps are designed to help you hold onto your hard-earned cash. Here are 7 money-saving apps that every student should have on their devices to ease the strain on their wallets.
1. Mint: Streamline Your Budget
The key to saving money effectively begins with understanding where it’s going. Mint is a popular app that creates a personalized budget for users while tracking their spending. It categorizes each transaction, so you can pinpoint areas to cut back on. Mint also provides useful insights into spending habits and helps set achievable financial goals. What’s more, you’ll receive alerts on upcoming bills and unwanted fees, ensuring that you never miss a payment and keep those pesky late charges at bay.
2. PocketGuard: Guard Your Pocket Wisely
PocketGuard helps students prevent overspending by showing them exactly how much they can spend after accounting for bills, groceries, and other essentials. By linking your bank accounts and identifying recurring payments, PocketGuard can deduce your ‘in my pocket’ balance – a clever way of showing disposable income. It’s not just a budgeting tool; the app also negotiates better rates on your bills, saving you money without lifting a finger.
3. Honey: Save on Online Purchases
In an increasingly digital shopping age, Honey is the go-to app for students making online purchases. By automatically finding and applying coupon codes at checkout, the app ensures you get the best deal possible. Additionally, Honey offers a rewards program, letting you earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards. So before you finalize that next online payment, let Honey take a crack at reducing the price tag for you.
4. UNiDAYS: Unrivaled Student Discounts
We all love a good discount, but with UNiDAYS, it’s not just about loving them—it’s about having them readily available. This app provides exclusive discounts for students on a variety of brands, both online and in-store. UNiDAYS offers savings on everything from tech and clothing to food and fitness, making it an essential app for students looking to stretch their dollars further. Sign up, verify your student status, and watch the savings roll in!
5. Goodbudget: Digital Envelope System
Goodbudget takes the proven envelope budgeting method into the digital world. It allows students to earmark their income for specific spending categories. With Goodbudget, you can manage your expenses proactively by allocating set amounts of money to different ‘envelopes’ each month. It’s excellent for visual learners and those who like a hands-on approach to budgeting. Plus, it can sync across multiple devices, enabling you to manage your finances together with roommates or family.
6. Acorns: Invest with Spare Change
Acorns is an innovative savings and investment app that rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the spare change into a diversified portfolio. It’s a fantastic tool for students who want to start investing without feeling the pinch. Acorns also offers cashback at certain retailers, adding more to your future investment nest egg just by shopping. Saving for your future has never been easier or more accessible.
7. Rakuten: Cashback on Everyday Purchases
Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates, is a cashback and shopping rewards company that can help students earn money back on their everyday purchases. By shopping through the Rakuten app at endorsed stores, students can receive a percentage of their money back on their buys. Moreover, Rakuten provides access to store discounts and exclusive promo codes, which can be combined with cashback offers for even greater savings every time you shop.
In today’s world, every penny counts, especially for those in the midst of their education. Balancing the books while navigating the journey through college or university can be made significantly easier with the aid of the right tools. By harnessing the power of these 7 money-saving apps, students can take control of their financial destiny, one transaction at a time. Start downloading these gems today, and give your bank account that much-needed reprieve!