A Smartphone Can Make You Financially Smarter

As of February of 2012, smartphones accounted for 49.7% of all US mobile phones. That number is only expected to go up. Because of this saturation, more and more apps are being added to the already huge selection for iPhones, Android, and other smartphones. When the first iPhone came out in 2007,  you couldn’t even get third-party apps. But now, there is a myriad of apps you can download, anything from art to zoo apps. I will admit that when I got my first iPhone, it was a glorified game playing machine. Fortunately, I have since matured and realized that there are other apps out there that can benefit me in different ways.

I love technology. I enjoy finding the newest piece of technology and how I can use it. I also love making my life more simple. So when it comes to my smartphone, I am constantly searching for the next app that I can tinker around with and that will make my life easier.

In an earlier post, I mentioned Mint.com. The Mint.com app is a must have for any smartphone user looking to keep track of all their finances. The app is very similar to the website, allowing you to view multiple bank accounts, loans, credit cards and more. You can check your budget, set goals and other cool things within the app.

If you want to keep track of an account with any major bank, there is an app for that. Since I have my bank’s app on my phone, I check my accounts at least once a day. Doing this keeps me current with how much money I have and where it’s gone. A couple weeks ago I found out that there was an app that allowed me to check my hometown credit union account, which made me very happy. TouchBanking is available for many credit unions that otherwise wouldn’t have their own app.

Many companies have apps for their customers to make handling their bills and payments easier. ATT and other phone carriers have apps that let you pay your bill, modify services, find wifi spots and more.

One nice thing about all of the apps I’ve discussed is that they are free. There are a few paid-for financial apps out there. I personally haven’t tried any, just because the free ones do plenty for my needs. They do go on sale every now and then, so keep an eye on them.

Having all of these apps and others will help you become more financially aware and successful. What financial apps do you have on your phone? Let me know! I may be missing out on a great one.

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