Managing your personal finances doesn’t have to be a burden, nor take a ton of time.

image source - Mason Miranda

A. Use technology to your advantage.

There are many budgeting apps, such as Mint or Simple, that can automatically update your budget when linked to your financial accounts. Use these apps to lessen the time you take to manually update your budget.
Most banks, credit unions, and credit card issuers have apps that can help you track your spending, manage where your money is, and even help you limit your spending on cards.
Contactless forms of payment, such as mobile and digital wallets, can help manage the security part of your personal finances. These payment methods offer improved security that can help keep your personal finances safe from scammers.

B. Use credit cards responsibly and manage your debt well.

Mortgages, student loans, car loans, and credit cards are major parts of personal finances that CANNOT be overlooked. Debt can have a large impact on your personal finances, but you determine whether it’s good or bad, depending on your habits.
For loans, when possible, use your lender’s auto-pay option. This way, you know you’ll never miss a payment, and can more easily keep your credit reports clean of delinquencies.
When using a credit card, treat it like a debit card. Never spend money you don’t have and ALWAYS pay your statement balance in full each cycle.
If, for any reason, you can’t pay off your statement balance, pay the minimum and as much extra as you can. Interest racks up quickly on credit cards, and if you’re not careful, you can find yourself paying hundreds of extra dollars on top of your balance.
Many credit card issuers allow you to receive credit score updates through their app for free. If you can, set up notifications for changes in your credit scores so you know where your reports stand, and if changes need to be made.