All-in-one money apps: The Holy Grail in 2013 is a smartphone personal finance app that enables users to set goals, track finances and budget from their handheld device. The latest trend is for the smartphone to be the front end for entering data and checking balances, while more complex capabilities such as slicing and dicing the numbers are available by logging into the app provider's webpage.
The other killer feature of personal finance apps is the ability to get an automatic statement download from the bank. With automatic downloads your latest transactions can be seen. No fuss, no hassle.
That's the only way to find out if there's any money in the "restaurant" or "clothes shopping" budget for the month as you walk down Ponsonby Rd or hit the mall. Smartphone apps allow people to carry their budget with them.
Sadly, I don't have good news to report. There is no app that I'm aware of that does all of this for New Zealand bank customers. I've long hoped Mint.com would start offering services for Kiwis. No such luck.
A similar Australian offering has an iPhone app, soon to be followed by Android, that it hopes to launch in a New Zealand version of next year. The trouble with the better international personal finance websites/apps such as these is that they automatically download statements from listed banks only - which of course don't include New Zealand ones. We're too small for them to bother with.
I had hoped XeroPersonal would eventually be available as an app. Instead, the software is being wound down and will cease functioning next year. Other home-grown personal finance software such as Kiwibank's Heaps.co.nz, Pocketsmith.com and Whostolemymoney.com don't have apps on the horizon.
The partial answer if you want a smartphone-based wide-ranging personal finance app is to download a standalone program such as PocketMoney, AndroMoney, EasyMoney or the easy-on-the-eye Toshl.
Some allow you to upload statements as files and/or export your data to CSV files. You Need A Budget (YNAB) and Easy Envelope Budget Aid both have web versions and allow statement imports, but not automatic uploads. The downside of doing this is that you build up months' or years' worth of data and then want to switch to another app in the future that does offer automatic bank uploads.
Spending trackers: Sometimes these all-singing, all-dancing personal finance apps are more than people want. If you need to keep track of expenses for personal reasons, work, or something else such as spending for a club, then there are simple spending trackers. These aren't full-blown personal finance apps that allow you to set goals or budget.They do just what they say - track your spending.
Spending trackers can be useful for one-off analysis of your monthly spend, or for a record for an employer or the IRD. Expensify is popular and easy to use. It allows you to digitise receipts. Expensify data can be exported to business accounting programs such as Xero and QuickBooks, and as CSV files, but not to personal finance software. Another really simple app worth trying is Simple Spending Tracker.
Shopping lists on steroids: Supermarkets are dangerous places for your personal finances. Many families spend $1,000 or more a month on their grocery shop and any tool that makes it cheaper and easier is worthwhile.
If, like me, you manage to arrive at the supermarket having left your list at home from time to time it's easy to chew through a lot of money as you scan the shelves trying to remember what was on the list. Then there are all those baking smells pumped through the store to make you feel hungry and buy the high-margin items placed conveniently at eye level. Shopping list apps such as Out of Milk and OurGroceries provide an antidote to supermarket psychology.
Other apps can remind you of the order in which you'll find goods on your shopping trips. That makes it easier to get everything as you pass down an aisle and not make return trips in which you might be tempted to buy something you don't need.
I also like the fact that you can record the usual price you pay for an item. That way if you happen to be out and see it for sale elsewhere you can whip your phone out and check if it's a good price.
Both Out of Milk and OurGroceries are supposed to be able to scan product barcodes, but I couldn't get them to work, making me think that feature is only available in the US. If you shop at Countdown you could use that supermarket's app. But I prefer the ones mentioned above.
Money apps for the kids: If you want your kids to learn some money smarts while they're tapping away at those tablet screens then try some of these apps recommended by Tom Hartmann, blogger at Sorted.org.nz: iCan Count Money New Zealand and Celebrity Calamity. The latter allows kids to manage their favourite actor's or sports star's finances to stop them going bankrupt. ICan Count Money is more basic and allows kids to practise counting money - something mine certainly enjoyed in primary school.
Stock market apps: Share trading websites have been around for a while. If you're a regular trader or like to catch up on the stock market on the train or ferry home, there are a number of apps that allow you to watch NZX and overseas market prices. The New Zealand apps are mostly a front end to Yahoo Finance - serving up the information in an easy-to-read format for smartphones.
Such apps include Stock Watcher, New Zealand Stocks and JStock. There are stock market trading apps available from international brokers such as E*TRADE or TD Ameritrade, but not for New Zealand brokers yet as far as I can ascertain. It's expensive to develop a smartphone app and not enough of us trade in shares for the brokers to justify it.
Currency converters: If you have the need to convert currency or want to do it while on holiday overseas, try XE Currency iPhone app or the Talking Currency Converter on Android.
Price comparisons: They're more about spending money than saving, but PriceMe.co.nz and PriceSpy.co.nz's smartphone apps are worth having if you shop for electronic items. It's nice to be able to stand there in the shop and check you're getting the best price for something before handing over the folding stuff.
Remember, a personal finance app isn't much good unless you use it. I'm sure most people have downloaded apps, tried them once then given up.
I've decided the best are those that can be accessed from all your devices, whether that's smartphones, tablets or PCs. That way if your phone or tablet is nearby, or you're on the PC when you think "I need shiitake mushrooms", the answer is at hand.
