Does Technology Make Us Better At Personal Finance?

In what way would the ideal personal finance app improve your personal finances? I’m the last person to bash technology, everyone knows I love gadgets. I however think a swanky app or a great spreadsheet tool doesn’t make us significantly better at managing our personal finances, discipline is everything.

Technology is just a tool. A great app will help you track your expenses maybe better than a notebook and pen would, but it won’t stop you from impulse shopping.

A personal finance software will maybe help you track your savings and return rates, but it won’t transfer money automatically to good investments, and unless it’s very advanced, it won’t differentiate good investments from bad.

My point is, stop waiting for the next cool app or spreadsheet to start managing your money right. Our parents did it without all the tools we have today, all they had was the right mindset, and knowledge. Our generation has more knowledge than all the other previous generations combined.

If you have the basic knowledge (spend less than you earn, invest the excess), then stop waiting for the next cool tool to help you manage your finances better. Start honing the most important tool you have within:discipline.

If you have the discipline to do the right thing and are looking for an app or tool to make it easier, find below a wide collection of personal finance apps.

Nerd Wallet’s: Top 10 personal finance apps.
Independent.co.uk:The 10 best personal finance apps
Under 30 CEO:10 best personal finance apps you should know about
About.com:18 iPhone personal finance apps
App Appeal’s Ranking:49 best personal finance apps

I don’t use any apps to manage my finances, save for Ms Excel for budgeting and my phone’s note taking features to track my expenses. Coming month, I intend to get a bit antiquated: I’ll be using The Envelope Method to manage by day-to-day spending.

Do you use any apps to manage your finances?