The Financial Tools That Didn't Stress Me Out

These are the tools I used to help me make financial decisions. Make life easier on yourself by choosing tools that automate your financial life.

Everyone will have their own system and I want to share the one I used at the time. Products and terms change, so check the current details before making a financial decision.

1. You Need A Budget - This is a budgeting app if it wasn’t obvious enough, and I used it every day. The big sell for me was their methodology. It helped me make the first step toward having a one-month emergency fund and then build it up to eight months. It taught me to make priorities, not just budgets. There was a learning curve, but it was worth it for me.
2. Aspiration - I used this account to hold my emergency fund so the money could work a little while it sat there.
3. Betterment - This took care of retirement accounts such as my Roth IRA. I was more of a set-it-and-forget-it retirement investor, and I liked seeing a forecast of how contributions could grow over time.

What does your financial set up look like?

Find Your True North:

1. Take inventory of the financial tools you use. What are the reasons you’re using these particular tools? Do they make life easier or harder for you?
2. Do any of the tools you use cost money? Is there a good reason for it to cost you money? Are there better alternatives?