Monarch: Budget & Track Money

I'm really bad with spending and not knowing how bad it is for me. I also have ADHD. It took me a few tries to fully commit to using the app. On my last try, I found it really helpful to identify/create my own categories for spending, ensure all of my charges require a review, setting rules for previous charges to automatically go to the category if I know that type of purchase will happen again, and setting the budget per category. Rules are important because you can apply it historically and see how much you've spent historically in that category. All of this made it so I'm paying close attention. It's been about 5 months and I've been doing really well. When I got the app, I adjusted my settings and categories. I also made predictions for my income and expenses for the month. Month 1 I just lived how I typically live. Month 2 I used Month 1 info to plan my budget of what I'm willing to spend based on the income I'm expecting and mapped out how much I could save based on that number. You will find yourself regularly adjusting your budget and thats okay, especially if you had NO system at all previous to the app like me. Suddenly I'm really good at saving. I've recommended the app to literally everyone around me. I'm not a bot or a paid reviewer. I genuinely hope you all invest in managing your finances, it's necessary. I know it feels backwards to pay $15 for this app but you're investing in something you will need and actually use for a long time. That was my TED talk lol

I was looking for a replacement for Nerdwallet as it couldn’t connect Fidelity to itself for whatever reason. I asked a finance subreddit about alternative recommendations. Monarch caught my eye out of the recommendations and I tried it with an open mind. The very first day I tried it I was 100% sold. How this is not the top finance app ratings and popularity wise is a miss to me. It genuinely has everything. I was pleasantly surprised that it not only connected my Fidelity account but it also showed all of my investments separately from my cash which I thought was so convenient. It also had a “reoccurring” tab where I can put and see all of my incoming expenses and income on whatever frequency basis it comes in. The “rules” literally allows me to distinguish any type of transaction I want with a simple if, then function. When I saw this I was more then sold alone. I can go on and on about all the different things encompassing this app but the bottom line is it will change your life. It’s THEE 21st century finance app. Buy it annually because you’ll save more and enjoy having all your finances everywhere all in one place. Use the refer a friend come as well to give your friends a 30 day trial instead of s typical 7 so they can try as well. They might be a harder sell but 30 days is more than enough time to realize this is the best finance app period

As a die-hard Mint user, I was horrified when I heard they were shutting it down. And after doing a lot of research, I was convinced no one else could replace it. But boy, was I wrong!! Monarch Money is SO much better than Mint was and it is worth every penny! As with any new app—especially a powerful financial one—there is a bit of a learning curve, however so much can be automated that it soon nearly takes care of itself. And in the few months that I have been using it, the Monarch team has been cranking out the improvements faster than any other app I have ever used. Truly impressive! There are sometimes glitches with the data aggregators that automatically gather the transactions and data from your financial institutions, but Monarch is constantly and actively working to improve that aspect, so I am willing to put up with a bit of inconvenience as they work it out with the thousands of institutions they connect to. (By “inconvenience” I mean I sometimes have to re-login to an institution to re-connect it….not a big deal.) Monarch has knocked it out of the park with this “Mint on steroids” solution that they have developed. I can’t wait to see what other fabulous features they implement that I never even knew I needed. Keep it up, Monarch!! You make me glad that Mint shut down and motivated me to find something exponentially better!