Let the Latest Tech Help Make the Most of Your Money

If having a solid grip on your finances is not among your reasons to be proud this summer, check out these ways you can use tech to manage your money and feel flush by the next time Pride rolls around.

TRACK IT:

Mint is a free website and app from the makers of TurboTax that merges your account information in one location, offering a complete overview of your finances. Connect online banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, and investment accounts to see all your money coming and going. There’s a tool to help you manage a monthly budget, and you can set up goals like saving for a major purchase. It also offers monthly credit scores and bill pay reminders. mint.com

SAVE IT:

If you want to set aside money to invest but don’t want to think about it, Acorns may be the app for you. Connect credit or debit cards to the service, and for each purchase you make, Acorns rounds up to the nearest dollar and invests the change. Using the “set it and forget it” approach, you can easily save $1000 or more a year — no piggy bank required. acorns.com

BOOST IT:

Miles, points, cash back: how do you know if purchasing with plastic is earning you right kind of rewards? Nerd Wallet offers both expert and community reviews of rewards cards and has a wealth of information to match your current spending habits to the optimal cards for you. nerdwallet.com

SECURE IT:

Keeping track of finances starts with keeping track of your wallet. If you’re the forgetful type, Walli may be your new best friend. This smart wallet connects to your phone and will alert you if you leave it behind. Walli also has a SecurePocket which monitors one of its card slots, so if you take a card out and don’t put it back, you’ll get an alert about that too. Plus, since Walli pairs to your phone, you can tap the wallet to have your phone play an alert if you misplace it. mywalli.com

LEND IT:

If you want to invest some savings in a good cause, consider turning to Kiva. This international non-profit matches lenders with would-be borrowers around the world that may not have access to traditional lending resources. Kiva’s crowdfunding allows you to loan as a little as $25 to help someone grow a business, go to school, access clean energy or otherwise realize their potential; as a lender, you get to decide what projects to support. To date, “Kivans” have lent 950 million dollars, and their repayment rate is 97 percent. kiva.org

There is a risk of loss with any financial service that involves investment. Recommendations offered are not a substitute for professional financial planning advice.