Tag: Personal Finance

Goodbye Intuit Mint: Top Budgeting Apps to Fill the Void

by Getting Canned, posted in Personal Finance

Well the unthinkable has happened! Bloomberg announced Intuit is retiring the popular Mint budgeting software. Naturally many users are going to be on the lookout for reliable alternatives. If you’re one of them, you’re in luck. Several apps offer similar, if not better, features that can help you manage your finances seamlessly. Here are some of the top contenders:

1. Empower

  • Description: Formerly known as Personal Capital, Empower offers a combination of investment and budgeting tools. It connects to various financial accounts, giving users insights into cash flow, spending by category, net worth, and more. A standout feature is its retirement planner tool, which helps estimate retirement needs based on various scenarios.
  • Cost: Free
  • Platform: iOS and Android
  • Rating: Apple – 4.7, Google Play – 4.3
  • Pros: Comprehensive budgeting, cash flow, and investment tracking.
  • Cons: While it offers budgeting features, its primary strength lies in investment tools.

2. YNAB (You Need a Budget)

  • Description: YNAB focuses on helping users become debt-free. It encourages living off the previous month’s income and setting intentions for each dollar earned. It offers features like categorizing expenses, linking bank accounts, and a unique rule-based system for budgeting.
  • Cost: $14.99/month or $98.99/year (34-day free trial available)
  • Platform: Web, Android, and Apple
  • Rating: Apple – 4.7, Google Play – 4.4

3. PocketSmith

  • Description: PocketSmith aggregates banking and investment accounts, allowing users to create custom budgets and spending categories. Its standout feature is the cash-flow forecasting tool, which shows how current spending habits influence future wealth.
  • Cost: Premium plan at $9.95/month or $90/year
  • Rating: Apple – 4.7, Google Play – 4.4

4. Simplifi

  • Description: Simplifi provides a streamlined dashboard for viewing investments, loans, and bank accounts. It categorizes expenses into set goals and offers features for debt repayments and budgeting.
  • Cost: $47.99/year after a 30-day trial
  • Rating: Apple – 4.7, Google Play – 4.4

5. Tiller Money

  • Description: Ideal for spreadsheet enthusiasts, Tiller Money syncs with over 18,000 financial institutions. It tracks and categorizes expenses into custom-created spreadsheets, making it perfect for those who like detailed budgeting.
  • Cost: $79 annually after a 30-day free trial
  • Rating: Apple – 4.5, Google Play – 3.7

Note: Another app to consider is Copilot, which tracks investments and categorizes expenses. However, it’s currently only available on iOS.

Back That Data Up

With an uncertain future of the app, it’s not a bad idea to back your data up. Luckly Mint stores all your transactions for easy export.

How to Export Transactions from Mint:

  1. Log In to Your Account:
    • Go to the Mint website and log in with your credentials.
  2. Navigate to the ‘Transactions’ Tab:
    • Once logged in, find the ‘Transactions’ tab on the top menu bar and click on it. This will bring up a list of all your transactions.
  3. Filter Transactions (Optional):
    • If you want to export transactions from a specific date range or category, use the filters provided. However, if you want to export all transactions, skip this step.
  4. Export Transactions:
    • At the bottom of the transactions list, you’ll find an option that says ‘Export all [number] transactions’. The number indicates how many transactions you have in the selected range or category.
    • Click on this option. Mint will then create a CSV file with all the transactions.
  5. Download the CSV File:
    • After clicking the export option, a CSV file will be generated. Depending on your browser settings, the file will either be automatically downloaded to your default download folder or you might be prompted to select a download location.
  6. Open and Review the CSV File:
    • You can open the CSV file using any spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc.
    • Review the transactions to ensure all data has been exported correctly.
  7. Backup or Store the CSV File:
    • It’s a good practice to backup important data. Store the CSV file in a safe location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage, especially if it contains sensitive financial information.

Conclusion: Choosing the right budgeting software largely depends on individual needs. Whether you’re looking for detailed investment insights, a simple budgeting snapshot, or spreadsheet-based tracking, there’s an app out there for you. As always, it’s recommended to explore each app’s features and reviews to find the best fit for your financial goals.

This post is a brief overview of the alternatives to Mint. Due to time constraints, detailed research on some apps like Goodbudget, Fudget, Honeydue, and Copilot was not included. It’s advisable to explore these apps further for a comprehensive understanding.