– by David Webb
Technology has, without a doubt, changed our lives completely. It’s everywhere, in schools, at work and during leisure time. At this point, it’s extremely difficult for us to even imagine a life without technology. I try not to take my laptop to my vacations and minimize the use of my phone, just so I could experience an almost-tech-free period, but it’s harder than one would imagine. However, as long as we don’t lose our head, we should be safe. This is why we should embrace everything technology has to offer, even when it comes to handling our finances.
Many people dread leaving their bank account information online and are extremely paranoid when online payments are mentioned. However, there’s no reason that should trouble you if you’re using your bank’s official website or making payments to safe and checked companies. Why should you deny yourself of a more carefree life where you don’t have to run around paying various monthly bills?
Keeping track of family finances
Don’t you hate it when you are not in sync with the rest of your family when it comes to grocery shopping, or shopping in general? There are apps that can help you manage your shopping, divided into categories. You can create your own shopping lists that are interactive and you can put all your family members into the same group. The best thing of all is that it’s completely interactive, meaning you can easily keep track of what’s needed, what’s already bought and it’s way more functional than trying to call or message in order to check.
Say goodbye to standing in lines
Don’t you just hate it when it’s that time of the month when you need to pay all your bills? We all usually just choose one day of the month to handle all our transactions as waiting in lines is so frustrating that we decide to sacrifice one day and handle all at once. Luckily, you can minimize waiting in lines or possibly even eliminate it with all great features technology offers. E-banking and mobile banking are already a thing people do on a regular basis. Keep track of your financials from your phone or computer, manage payments and income. Since I realized I can pay my rent online, my life became so much easier. I remember tracking down my landlord, the uncomfortable exchange of pleasantries and the amount of time wasted and getting stressed out. I’m so glad that’s over.
Be financially smarter
Some apps can be great financial advisors. For instance, Financial Calculators is an app that consists of various calculators that help you make better financial decisions. There’s a loan calculator, credit card payoff calculator, retirement calculator etc. Altogether, there are three or four dozen calculators in one app and they do life-math instead of you. Another great way for technology to help you with your budget is one of those apps that allow you to list everything you buy on a monthly basis. After a few months it creates a statistical overview of your expenses. This is a great way to figure out where most of your money is going and do something to correct that.
Finding solutions to problems
Generally, the internet is a place where you can find practically anything you’d like. It’s not always easy, but if you know how and where to look, you can really use it to your advantage. For instance, when it comes to finances, there are many websites that have financial forums. So, find a popular one and join it, you’ll be able to exchange opinions on many topics that concern people’s everyday financial issues and, not only get help, but also help the ones in need. You can ask questions and create your own topics and, in a way, have your own team of financial advisors, for free!
These were just a few suggestions on how to use technology to your advantage in the financial area. However, there are and will be even more ways to improve your life with a little help from technology. Don’t fear them, but use them in the best possible way. After you’ve been using these tech advantages, you’ll be able to see the positive changes in your quality of life. That is exactly the reason why we all do it. It’s amazing and as soon as you accept that and start doing your own research, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a role model for your family and friends.
David Webb is a Sydney-based business consultant,online marketing analyst and a writer. With six years of experience and a degree in online business strategies, he is driven to help people to better understand this new digital age. In his free time, David enjoys writing, travelling and an occasional night out with his friends. You can find him at www.bizzmarkblog.com, Facebook, Twitter.