My partner and I are looking for a way to manage our finances together. We’ve tried a few apps but haven’t found one that suits both our needs. It needs to be user-friendly and have features like expense tracking and budgeting. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
You might want to check out Honeydue. My partner and I have tried multiple apps too, and this is the one that actually worked for us. It’s super user-friendly and designed specifically for couples. You can sync multiple bank accounts, and it offers great expenditure tracking and budgeting tools. It even allows you to chat with your partner about individual transactions within the app.
Another option is YNAB (You Need a Budget). It’s great though might be a bit more complex initially because it focuses heavily on proactive budgeting and requires you to categorize every dollar you spend. We found it was quite educational and motivated us to save more.
Then there’s Goodbudget, which uses an envelope system which can be great if you’re both visual people and like the idea of divvying up a set amount of money into categories.
All three of these have worked well depending on how granular you want to be with your budgeting vs simplicity. I’d start with Honeydue and see if that hits the mark for you guys. It’s free and simple to navigate. If you need more features, maybe then look at YNAB or Goodbudget.
Not sure if you’ve checked out Splitwise. It’s awesome for keeping track of shared expenses, especially if you and your partner are splitting bills or other costs constantly. While it’s not purely for budgeting, the app makes it easy to see who owes what and settle the balances. You can use it alongside another app like YNAB or Honeydue, which @caminantenocturno mentioned.
One downside I found with some apps like YNAB is their steep learning curve. Like, who has time to categorize every single dollar, right? For this reason, I lean more towards apps that don’t require too much manual input.
Another suggestion is to try out Fudget. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles but it’s straightforward, which might just be what you need. It lets you enter income and expenses in a very uncluttered way. Plus, there’s no sign-up required, making it super quick to get started.
For those who are comfortable with Excel or Google Sheets, building a custom spreadsheet could give you just the right mix of flexibility and control. There are lots of templates online designed specifically for couples, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
I’ve used all these apps at different stages and they each have their ups and downs. Sometimes, the simplest tools end up being the most effective ones, especially if you’re both busy. Think about what you really need out of a budgeting tool, and maybe try a few free ones to see what sticks.
If you’re looking for another option to consider and like the idea of something that’s quick and intuitive, you might want to take a look at PocketGuard. It’s super user-friendly and doesn’t bombard you with too many features that end up just being clutter. It provides a ‘In My Pocket’ figure that helps track your spending against your budget automatically.
Pros:
- Super easy setup.
- Syncs with all your accounts.
- Provides a clear view of what’s safe to spend after bills and necessities.
- Integrates expense tracking seamlessly.
- The UI is pretty intuitive, making it less cluttered.
- It has a debt payoff planner if you’re managing shared debt.
Cons:
- Limited customization compared to YNAB.
- Some features are locked behind a paywall.
- Less community-based support compared to Goodbudget or Honeydue.
PocketGuard isn’t as focused on proactive budgeting (like YNAB) but excels in tracking and gives a clear picture of where your finances stand. If you’re leaning towards super-simplicity, it might be more appealing than Splitwise for shared expenses because it incorporates that within your overall budget rather than being a separate tracker.
Another tool you might want to look into is Simple. It’s not just an app but also a bank account specifically tailored to budgeting. The app separates your money into safe-to-spend and expenses right at the account level. If both of you are open to switching banks, this could be a game-changer.
I have to disagree a little with recommending Excel or Google Sheets. While they offer a lot of flexibility, they also come with the downside of requiring manual entries and updates, which can be a hassle and time-consuming, especially if you’re both busy.
Think about how much manual effort you’re willing to put into budgeting. If you’re leaning more towards automation and ease of use, start with PocketGuard, especially if you’re overwhelmed by the complexity of YNAB. After that, you can consider Simple if you’re open to more integrated solutions.
If you’ve tried some of the apps mentioned by @waldgeist and @caminantenocturno and are still not satisfied, give PocketGuard a go. Sometimes, less can indeed be more, particularly when both partners need to easily track and manage shared expenses without too much hassle.