Smith 
In these challenging economic times, many people are realizing how important it is to plan their finances well. You want to make sure your money is used effectively, and that means creating a spending plan that fits your situation and helps you prepare for the future. Good budgeting software can play a big role in managing your money. Luckily, there are a lot of free online budget tools available to help with almost any financial need you might have.
Let’s explore nine free online budget tools that can help you take control of your finances:
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Mint: Mint is a game changer in online budgeting. You can link your financial accounts like savings, checking, and credit cards to Mint. Your information gets automatically updated as it appears in your accounts, and spending categories are often assigned for you. Track your retirement goals, create a debt pay-down plan, and use visual tools like graphs and reports to understand your financial situation better.
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Empower: With Empower, you can add tracking to various aspects of your budget. The financial dashboard gives you a clear picture of your finances and tracks your progress towards goals. Additionally, you can track your investment portfolio and get objective investment advice. The basic service is free, although personalized investment management costs 1%.
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BudgetPulse: If you’re concerned about online security, BudgetPulse lets you track your spending and set financial goals without sharing account usernames and passwords. Visualize your money with charts and graphs and share financial goals with friends and family. This can keep you accountable and even help loved ones contribute through PayPal or Amazon Payments.
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Buxfer: Perfect for young adults, Buxfer helps you monitor spending and upcoming bills. It allows you to project earnings and savings into the future, set financial goals, and manage group expenses. Split bills, figure out who owes what, and make payments online to handle IOUs easily.
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MoneyStrands: This tool imports your financial information from banks and credit issuers, helping you create and stick to a 12-month spending plan. Schedule upcoming bills and view future projections of your finances. MoneyStrands supports multiple languages and currencies, making it ideal for frequent travelers or people with international income sources.
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Moneytrackin’: This tool helps you see where your money goes and spot financial leaks. It also helps with tracking shared expenses and small business accounting, making it useful for home businesses by keeping track of income and expenses efficiently.
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My Spending Plan: This software uses the envelope system to help you plan your budget. Create plans for long-term and short-term goals, get emails and alerts for bill reminders, and personalize your settings to see the big picture. It also provides coupons and promotions to help you save money.
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BudgetSimple: If you prefer something straightforward, BudgetSimple can help you get out of debt by tracking expenses, managing bills, and learning to live within your means. It’s simple, without frills, but effective with charts and other visuals to track your progress.
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SavvyMoney: For those aiming to pay off debt faster and increase savings, SavvyMoney offers a clear picture of your current situation and creates a debt repayment plan that suits you. It keeps you on track and provides tips for quicker debt paydown.
In today’s economic climate, effective financial planning is essential. Free tools like Mint, Empower, and BudgetPulse offer a range of features from linking accounts and tracking expenses to managing investments and visualizing financial goals. Whether you need straightforward budgeting or detailed investment tracking, these tools are great for achieving financial freedom and making informed decisions to secure your financial future.
