If you are like most people that are considering buying a new home, you are likely looking to improve your finances. No one is perfect, and there are always new ways to save, budget and invest more intelligently. Thankfully, technology has made it easier than ever to improve your finances. There are a variety of online tools that can not only help you manage your finances, but also educate yourself more on the topic as well. The best thing about the tools and resources included in this article is that not only are they helpful, they are also mostly free. So without spending a penny (and only a few hours of your time) you can learn so much more about finances than you ever thought possible.
Budgeting Software
If you want to be successful when it comes to your finances, you really should be using a budget. There is no better way to keep track of how much you bring in every month, as well as monitor how much you are spending and where it goes. For decades, people have been budgeting using pen and paper, but over the last few years technology has brought that market into the 21st century.
There are many different examples of budgeting apps and software out there that have made it easier than ever to keep track of your finances. Not only that, but many of the available software can actually link directly with your bank accounts and thus, can update automatically whenever you make a purchase or a transfer.
Many can be used on your phone or on your computer, so you can always have your budget with you, no matter where you go. Some might cost you a little, while others are free, but either way, these pieces of budgeting software can be a great way to get your finances in order.
Calculators
No, we’re not talking about the kind you would take with you to math class. There are dozens of different types of online financial calculators that can help you with figuring out and managing a wide variety of different things. They are normally incredibly simple to use for anyone with even a limited knowledge of finances.
There is a mortgage calculator (which can help you figure out a monthly mortgage payment), investment calculators (which can help you figure out how much your investments will grow over time) and so much more. Many of these do all of the heavy lifting for you and all that you need to do is to plug in a few numbers and look at your results.
Message Boards and Online Communities
If you want to become more educated about finance, there is no better thing to do than to talk to people who are also interested in the topic. Sharing stories and asking/answering questions are great ways to learn about new topics, while also becoming more well-versed on others. Reddit has numerous personal finance-related subreddits and there are many other sites with thousands of active users.
The conversations include everything from budgeting, to saving more, to earning more, to investing, as well as thousands of other topics. Many of these resources will also have links to very helpful articles or sites that will also be able to further your knowledge of the industry. If you do not already participate in some of these communities or boards, you should make a point to. You will find that you begin to learn and understand a lot more, relatively quickly.
