12 Online Budgeting Tools for Smart Money Management

Does "more month at the end of the paycheck" describe your financial picture? It's a common expression during tough economic times. Unfortunately, it's also a reality for many people.

Smart money management is essential in any economy, and a financial planner can help you get a handle on your finances. If your budget doesn't allow for this luxury, online budgeting tools can make money management a little easier.

Anyone with a computer and Internet access can find numerous budgeting tools online. These easy-to-use resources take the mystery out of "where did all my money go?"

Here are twelve of the best budgeting tools around, arranged alphabetically for your convenience. Some of them are paid services, most of them are free, and all of them make money management fun and easy.

Billster is a FREE online budgeting tool that lets you organize and track your personal or shared expenses. It's the ideal system if you share your home with a roommate.

Billster records personal or group expenses; saves recurring expenses, including direct debits; sends collection and payment reminders; and provides email summaries of your financial activities.

Billster is a secure site for transactions that require authentication. The database stores your username and password in encrypted form, and the site will not sell your personal details to third parties.

BudgetPulse "gives life to your finance." Simple yet functional, this FREE online tool helps you manage manage your money quickly and easily.

BudgetPulse helps you create a budget; track your income and expenses; monitor your spending; and set your savings goals.

There's nothing to download, and the program doesn't sync sensitive account information. Your bank and credit card data is not required, so there is no risk of identity theft.

BudgetTracker is a FREE online budgeting tool, and then some. Record and save expense, income, budget and transaction data. Then tie them together in a calendar that sends reminders to your email address or mobile phone.

BudgetTracker does not link directly to your bank account, so it's a good choice for security-minded users. The software lets you manually enter account data, transactions and balances to keep you on financial track.

Buxfer is a FREE online resource that specializes in group budgeting. This makes it ideal for roommates and group vacations. Invite contacts to track shared bills, or use the service for your own personal budgeting.

With Buxfer, you have a choice: link the service with your bank account or manually add your account information. Create a budget, pay your bills, track IOUs and plan your financial future with this top-rated budgeting tool.

ManageME7 helps you manage your money 24/7. This FREE accounting tool is safe, secure and simple to use.

Catering to a global audience, ManageME7 supports multiple accounts and currency.

A handy dashboard displays all your accounting details on one page. Comprehensive reports and reminders help you track your income, spending, bill payments and more.

Mint is known as "the best FREE way to manage your money." This top-rated resource brings all your bank accounts together in one place, which you can access on the web or your mobile phone.

Mint's simple, streamlined application ties all your account information together to give you a better view of the "big picture." Free mobile apps help you track spending when you're on-the-go.

Mint categorizes and updates your information automatically, and it will even suggest ways to save money. Although it does sync bank account information, Mint uses encryption to keep your transactions are safe and secure.

MoneyStrands is an award-winning money management tool, and it's FREE to join. The online service is designed to help you develop better financial habits.

MoneyStrands has numerous features. It helps you create a budget; tracks your spending; recommends ways to save; and gives you a real-time overview of your financial situation.

Developed for a global audience, MoneyStrands is available for multiple languages and currencies. Mobile apps are available for iPhone.

Mvelopes is a biblical money management system. The service offers three different membership plans, ranging from $39.60 for a quarterly plan to $189.60 for a 2-year plan.

You can try the service with a FREE TRIAL membership. Mvelopes will give you with a free debt analysis upon request.

Mvelopes is basically envelope budgeting with innovative financial software. Gain control of your money, build financial freedom and enjoy peace of mind with this award-winning money management tool.

Update: Crown now offers their online Mvelopes system for FREE.

NeoBudget is another envelope system. A FREE basic plan gives you ten envelopes and lets you track one bank account. Paid memberships allow for unlimited bank accounts, envelopes and reporting.

Membership fees are $4 for one month, $19 for six months and $38 for a year, and you can change subscription levels any time.

NeoBudget helps you define your budget, import financial transactions, visualize your envelopes, pay bills and more.

PearBudget is a simple online budgeting and expense tracking tool. The paid service costs $4.95 a month but it comes with a FREE 30-DAY TRIAL membership.

PearBudget was designed by a husband-and-wife team of web developers, as a way to track their spending.

In addition to useful money management tools, PearBudget features a blog with important announcement, budgeting tips and free giveaways.

SmartyPig is a FREE online piggy bank. It helps you save money for that wide-screen television, a new car, your wedding reception, a summer vacation or a future rainy day.

This FDIC-insured online savings account encourages you to replace a "buy now, pay later" mentality with a "save, then spend" approach to money.

SmartyPig further enhances your savings with cash back rewards and retailer gift cards.

YNAB stands for You Need A Budget. Highly recommended by numerous users, this paid budgeting software helps you take control of your money.

YNAB helps you create a budget, get out of debt, build your savings and more. The software costs $60 to purchase, but it comes with a FREE 7-DAY TRIAL membership.

Budgeting is essential for financial independence. This award-winning budgeting system teaches you a new way to manage your finances.

A book and live online classes help you set up an account, budget your dollars and save money for a rainy day.

Copyright © 2011. Annette R. Smith. All rights reserved.

Published: November 26, 2011 / Modified: January 4, 2013.

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