The Best Apps for Tracking Your Spending Habits – My Journey to Better Money Management

A couple of years ago, my financial life was a mess. I wasn’t drowning in debt, but I had no idea where my money was going. Every month followed the same frustrating cycle: I’d get paid, feel comfortable for a couple of weeks, then suddenly realize I was barely scraping by until my next paycheck. I wasn’t spending on luxury items or making big purchases, yet somehow, my bank balance always seemed to shrink faster than I expected.

One particular month, things hit rock bottom. I had gone out with friends a few times, ordered food on lazy evenings, and made a few impulse purchases online. Nothing extravagant—just a few things here and there. But by the last week of the month, I was left with barely enough to cover my rent. I had to borrow money just to make it through. That was my wake-up call.

I needed to track my spending.

The First Struggles: Old-School Budgeting

At first, I tried keeping track of expenses the traditional way: writing everything down in a notebook. I carried a small journal and made a habit of jotting down every rupee I spent. It worked… for about a week. Then, I started forgetting to log expenses. I’d go back and try to fill in the gaps, but I couldn’t remember every little thing. After a month, my notes were incomplete, and I was still struggling to figure out where my money was going.

Then I tried using an Excel spreadsheet. I built a system with different categories—food, transportation, entertainment, bills. It seemed like a smart plan, but updating it manually felt like a chore. I’d put it off, promising to do it “later,” and before I knew it, I had skipped entire weeks.

I needed something smarter, something that could track my spending without relying entirely on my memory and discipline. That’s when I turned to budgeting apps.

The Search for the Perfect App

Finding the right app wasn’t as easy as I thought. Some were too complicated, others required too much manual input, and a few simply didn’t fit my needs. But after weeks of trial and error, I found four apps that completely changed how I handled my money. If you’re struggling with your spending, these might help you the way they helped me.

1. Mint – The Eye-Opener

The first app that truly made a difference was Mint. The moment I connected my bank accounts, I had an eye-opening realization: I was spending way more on food than I thought.

Mint automatically categorized my expenses, and the numbers didn’t lie. That “occasional” takeout habit? It was costing me nearly ₹6,000 a month. Subscriptions? I was still paying for apps I hadn’t used in months.

How Mint Helped Me:

• It connected to my bank and automatically tracked my transactions.

• It categorized my spending so I could see exactly where my money was going.

• It sent alerts when I was close to exceeding my budget.

One month, Mint sent me a warning that I was about to exceed my entertainment budget. I checked my transactions and saw that I had rented movies online, bought a few books, and subscribed to a new streaming service—all things that felt small at the time but added up quickly. Without Mint, I wouldn’t have noticed until my balance was already low.

Best for: Beginners who want an easy way to track spending automatically.

2. YNAB – The Game-Changer

After Mint helped me see the problem, I needed a solution. That’s when I found YNAB (You Need a Budget). Unlike Mint, which focused on tracking, YNAB forced me to plan my spending before I spent anything.

(You can read more about my detailed experience with YNAB here: How I Took Control of My Finances with YNAB: A Personal Journey)

YNAB made me decide in advance how much I’d allocate for each category, which meant no more mindless spending.

How YNAB Changed My Money Habits:

• It forced me to budget in advance rather than track spending after the fact.

• It encouraged me to save for unexpected expenses, like medical bills or car repairs.

• It made me rethink impulse purchases—if it wasn’t in the budget, I had to say no.

• At first, it was frustrating. I had to be disciplined, and I hated seeing limits on things I wanted. But after a few months, I realized I was no longer panicking at the end of each month. I had enough for rent, enough for bills, and even extra for savings. That feeling was worth the effort.

Best for: People who want to take control of their finances with proactive budgeting.

3. PocketGuard – The Reality Check

Even after budgeting, I still needed help avoiding overspending. That’s where PocketGuard came in. This app told me, in real time, exactly how much I had left to spend after accounting for bills and savings.

What Made PocketGuard Useful:

• It showed me my “safe-to-spend” money in a simple number.

• It flagged recurring subscriptions and helped me cancel ones I didn’t use.

• It kept me from accidentally overdrafting my account.

• One month, PocketGuard warned me that if I kept spending at my current rate, I wouldn’t have enough for my savings goal. That was the nudge I needed to say no to impulse shopping.

Best for: People who tend to overspend and need real-time spending limits.

4. Spendee – Keeping Track of Cash

Not all my transactions were digital. Sometimes, I withdrew cash, and that’s when my tracking got messy. Spendee helped me manually log my cash expenses, so my budget stayed accurate.

Why Spendee Was a Lifesaver:

• It allowed me to track cash expenses easily.

• It offered shared wallets, which were perfect for splitting costs with roommates or travel buddies.

• It had a clean, user-friendly design that made tracking enjoyable.

• I used Spendee when traveling or when I knew I’d be using cash more than cards. It helped me stay accountable even when I wasn’t relying on digital payments.

Best for: Those who use cash frequently and need to track it separately.

The Biggest Challenges I Faced

Even with these apps, budgeting wasn’t always easy.

Breaking Emotional Spending Habits

I used to shop when I was stressed, buying things to make myself feel better. Tracking my spending made me face this habit head-on. Instead of shopping, I started finding healthier ways to deal with stress—like going for a walk or calling a friend.

Dealing with Unexpected Expenses

One month, my scooter needed urgent repairs. I hadn’t planned for it, and it threw off my budget. That’s when I realized I needed an emergency fund. Using YNAB, I started setting aside a small amount each month, and within a few months, I had a safety net.

Sticking to a Budget Without Feeling Restricted

At first, it felt like I was depriving myself. But over time, I realized that budgeting didn’t mean giving up things I enjoyed—it just meant being mindful and intentional about my spending.

My Final Takeaway

Looking back, I can’t believe how much I used to let money control me. Today, I know exactly where my money goes, I feel less stressed about finances, and I actually have savings.

If you’re struggling with money, don’t wait until you hit rock bottom like I did. Start tracking your expenses now. Even if you only use one of these apps, it can change the way you see and manage your money.

So, what’s stopping you from starting today? Download an app, track your spending for a month, and see the difference for yourself.