Everyone wants to have a comfortable lifestyle and be able to cater for their dependents’ needs and wants. The foundation of such financial stability is good money management. With modern technology having firmed its roots in Africa, there are various digital ways that one can accomplish his or her fiscal goals. One of the ways is the use of finance apps, which act as enabling tools for saving funds and investing them wisely. While the list is long, some of the best personal finance Apps in Africa to help you save and invest money include:
Mint
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Mint is a personal finance app that enables its users to view their working budget with ease. Through this technology, African customers can save to purchase their desired items, pay bills promptly, and keep an eye on their credit score. It is also an effective tool for tracking the performance of various investments in addition to alerting the subscriber on any unusual activity.
To get the best of Mint, you need to link it to your accounts. This process requires you to:
- Register on the mint app or on Mint website using your email. Input a password for privacy.
- Follow the prompts in order to connect mint to accounts such as PayPal, credit and debit cards, and mortgages. The security features of this personal finance app are as strong as those of a bank hence no need to worry.
- Develop a budget. You can make adjustments such as structuring purchase categories, customizing notifications, and spitting up transactions.
YNAB
This is another personal finance app in Africa. YNAB (You Need A Budget) is a digital equivalent of the traditional envelope budgeting method. The app claims that its users are able to save over $6,000 during their first year of using the program. It offers a free trial of 34 days after which one has to pay $11.99 per month or $83.99 per year. The program has coaches, chats, podcasts, and other resources to further assist individuals with their budgeting.
The operating rules of YNAB are:
- Assign your paycheck to the set expense categories before spending it.
- Allocate some cash to non-monthly expenditures as a way of preparing yourself for such bills.
- Things can get tough so move your funds around to cater for the items that you are bound to overspend on.
- Strive to use the past month’s income on the current month’s expenditures by spending less than your earnings.
To use YNAB budgeting tool, you need to:
- Sign up on the website.
- Follow the prompts to enable you link it to your bank accounts.
- Decide on the amount of funds you want to budget on that month and allocate it to the customized categories.
Cinch Financial
Cinch Financial one of the best personal finance apps one can use in Africa, which operates by evaluating one’s spending and saving habits. This data enables the app to suggest improvements that will result in increased savings and overall financial stability. There are four pillars enshrined in this fiduciary’s operations. This includes:
- Spending flow. Cinch tracks your income, budgeting and spending. Subsequently, it informs you of the amount you have to meet specific expenses.
- Debt and credit. This financial management tool compiles your debts including your student loan, credit card bill, and auto loan. This acts as a reminder of your outstanding monetary obligations.
- Insurance. With a proper insurance cover being crucial for financial stability, this app evaluates your debt, dependents, and income to determine if your insurance is sufficient.
- Rainy day fund. Cinch shows you the amount of money you have set aside for unseen expenses and guide you in increasing this amount.
To sign up on this personal finance app, one needs to follow these steps:
- Personal information. Answer the presented questions related to your dependents, insurance, car and home ownership, and household income.
- Credit profile. Permit the app to gather additional information on your credit.
- Account linking. Link Cinch to your fiscal accounts
- Final details. Answer the presented questions on your financial habits.
Albert
This personal finance app is somewhat similar to Cinch Financial although it adds a human touch to its program. Albert is free and enables its users to adhere to their stipulated savings scheme. Upon determining the amount that you can comfortably save in a month, it automatically transfers it to your Albert Savings account. This approach further assists one to track his or her spending as a way of avoiding unnecessary spending. It also has a fairly priced feature of Albert Genius, which presents users with additional components such as savings goals, and expert financial advice.
To use this personal finance app, you will need to:
- Download it and follow the prompts.
- Activate your Albert Savings account. You can either use the smart savings option or decide on a fixed amount to save weekly.
Acorns
Acorns is another personal finance app that can help you save and invest money. It does so by rounding up each credit card or checking account transaction to the nearest dollar and investing the change. While it is not tailor-made for long-term goals such as saving for retirement, it is a suitable starting point for millennials and other population groups that have no substantial investments. It also has additional features to help with one’s savings program.
To get started, you will need to:
- Download the Acorns app or sign up on the website.
- Provide your email address so as to receive relevant information regularly.
- Enter details of your online banking login as well as the checking account and routing numbers. You will also need to provide your physical address.
- Fill in the required general profile details including your occupation, income, and financial goals.
Conclusion
The foundation of financial stability is increasing your income by investing wisely and curbing on overspending. In the modern era, technology has eased numerous activities including money management. The entities discussed in this article are just a few of the best personal finance apps in Africa to help you save and invest money.
