Money Matters: Humans have always been obssessed with developing tools for every activity under the sun.

When we started making fire, we tied our shoe laces to sticks and rubbed them together to make fire faster. Next, we kept staring at the sun so, we created wearable eye windows to let us stare at the sun LONGER!

On a more serious note, now we have budgets and are trying to get out of debt, and using tools can help you get there faster, and we are here to tell you which ones are out there!

Survey says: 89% of Americans (who budget) now use some sort of budgeting tool. AND 100% of people who keep staring at the sun at too much, ate too much of the “human grade” paste provided in kindergarten class.

Here is what on that portioned plate today:

😎 Our Favorite Resources
👍 7+ Budget Templates and Tools You’ll Love
👌 Why No Budget Works for Everyone (and How to Find Yours)
🤷‍♀️ What’s up for next week

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Cool Links

Our favorite resources

💵Budgeting

• New Book “Money for Couples” by Remit Sethi - Now on Spotify

• To get some extra duckets in that bank account check out Savvy Couples Swagbucks Review

👀ICYMI

• Our “Plug in Play Budget” Issue that started this series off

📜Quote

• “Money is a terrible master, but an excellent servant.” -P.T Barnum

Today’s Main Event

The Apps and Tools to Make you a Budget Superhero

There are MANY great tools out there and I’m going to share them in just a minute, but FIRST want to re-establish why we are budgeting in the first place!

Budgeting is step one in building wealth. It helps you:

• Track spending (goodbye, impulse purchases).

• Manage debt and boost your credit score.

• Prepare for emergencies (no more panic at surprise expenses).

• Save for retirement or other big goals (finally start that travel fund).

Consider budgeting your foundation for that Money House you’re trying to build. Get it right and what comes later will be setup for success.

The 7+ Budget Tools

1. Mint (Free)
   A fan favorite for beginners. Mint syncs with your bank accounts, categorizes spending, and tracks goals. It’s user-friendly, intuitive, and oh yeah—totally free.

2. YNAB (Paid, with Trial)
   Love structure? YNAB’s zero-based budgeting method makes sure every dollar has a job. Bonus: they offer a 34-day free trial to see if it’s your jam.

3. Google Sheets Budget Templates (Free)
   Old school meets new school. Google Sheets lets you customize templates for monthly and annual budgets. Pro tip: use conditional formatting to color-code your spending.

4. EveryDollar (Free + Paid)
   Built by Dave Ramsey’s team, EveryDollar makes zero-based budgeting easy. The free version is great, but upgrading adds features like bank syncing.

   This is the app that my wife and I use and I love it. I use the free tier but the Paid tier provides some useful additions.

5. Tiller Money (Paid, with Trial)
   Think spreadsheets, but smarter. Tiller connects directly to your accounts and updates Google Sheets or Excel with real-time data. For planners who love a good chart.

6. PocketGuard (Free + Paid)
   This app helps you avoid overspending by showing how much is “left to spend” after bills and savings goals. Perfect for visual learners.

7. Zeta (Free)
   Couples, rejoice! Zeta simplifies shared expenses, syncing accounts and offering tools for joint financial planning. Because teamwork makes the dream work.

8. GoodBudget (Free + Paid)
   If you love the envelope system, this app’s for you. Set digital “envelopes” for categories like groceries or gas and track your spending with ease.

Why No Single Budget Works for Everyone

1. Different Financial Goals

Some people want to save aggressively for a home, while others are focused on paying down debt or enjoying life’s little luxuries.

Your goals will dictate the type of budget you need. A debt-payoff budget, for instance, requires stricter allocations than a savings-focused plan.

2. Varied Income Levels and Patterns

Not everyone has a steady paycheck. Freelancers, gig workers, and business owners often experience income that fluctuates month to month.

For these individuals, a zero-based budget might be too rigid, while a percentage-based approach like the 50/30/20 rule could offer more flexibility. HEADS UP next week’s issue is all about this!

3. Spending Habits and Personalities

Are you a spender or a saver? Do you thrive with detailed tracking or prefer simplicity?

People who like structure might prefer zero-based budgeting, while those who get overwhelmed by too much detail might lean toward the envelope system or a “pay yourself first” model.

4. Life Stages and Responsibilities

Life stages play a huge role in budgeting. A single person in their 20s will likely have different priorities than a parent with school-age children or a couple nearing retirement. For example:

• Young Adults: May focus on student loan payments and building an emergency fund.

• Families: Likely prioritize daycare, groceries, and household expenses. Alternatively, paying down debt, saving for a home, or investing in retirement.

• Retirees: Might need a budget that balances fixed income with medical costs and leisure.

To get a better grip on methods to stick to and make a bigger impact with your budget, check out our article 4 Plug and Play Budgets to Help You Make Significant Change Today: Plus 5 Tips…

Until Next Time

What’s Up Next Week

Next week article will continue in this series of setting up your budget with:

How to Budget with an Irregular Income!

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If there are certain topics you would like to hear more on let us know!

Until next time, Peace Out!

-Hoot Squad

DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.