As a college student, navigating your finances can be one of the most challenging and daunting tasks. But as more and more apps roll out with their prime focus on deconstructing this boring task into something simple, managing your money on your phone is simpler than ever before.
While there are several money-saving app combinations out there to play with, these 3 apps struck the perfect balance for my financial goals.
1. Digit
If you already have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish with your finances but struggle to come up or stick with a plan, this is just the app for you.
Digit works as a spending tracker, comparing your income with your expenses, and then lays out a simple-to-follow plan tailored to your specific needs. Just like that.
Other selling points for this app are that it provides weekly status reports/reminders, easy one-day transfers to your bank account, and a no-overdraft guarantee.
2. Robinhood
This app is a must-have for students looking for an entry point into the investing world. This app takes away everything about the big-name online brokerages that doesn’t suit a student’s needs – the exorbitantly high account minimum and the heavy commission fees.
Being free for college students, this app is a great starting point for your investing journey, as it will give you a fair chance to make more than you lose in the plethora of trading fees otherwise.
3. Qapital
This is the ideal app for all the learners in the house. Not only does it provide personalized feedback, but it also comes with valuable lessons on financial goal-setting. The Qapital app, which is free of cost, rounds up all your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and stores the savings in an FDIC-insured account.
You can also play with and automate other saving strategies, making this app considerably flexible. And as the proverbial cherry on top, your Qapital account also earns a small amount of interest periodically.
So as you start your journey toward better financial health, whether it is with these apps or others, remember that a big component of saving as a college student is patience. Initially, the changes may only be incremental and might make you wonder if it is even worth it to try. Nonetheless, it is remarkable how those small changes add up over time and propel you toward your goal of financial wellness!
