spendbrite: budgeting made easy

I like this simple app, a personal budgeting tool with a built in conscience! Well sort of.

A cynic might say that a budgeting app without the ability to sync with a bank account is lacking a vital ingredient, the reduction in the number of manual entries required. That may be an issue for those with complicated financial affairs and a string of bank accounts but if you just want an easy to use budget planner then spendbrite.com will do the job.

It’s free to use and available on your web browser or you can go mobile on your android or iPhone. The interface is uncluttered and the functions a breeze. and all of the data is summarised on graphs and charts

Start by getting your fixed monthly income and expenses logged then add categories relevant to your lifestyle and spending habits and assign a target amount to each one. Every time you add a receipt to a category the balance remaining against the target limit you set will alter accordingly ensuring you always know where you are. The interface also shows an overall running balance letting you know how much cash is left at any one time.

It’s always good to save and you can set goals to this end with your monthly progress flashed up to provide encouragement. Obviously if your circumstances change you can edit fixed income and expense data easily and your budget will adjust accordingly.

Instant snap shots of your budget performance are available in the reports section where all of the data is summarised on graphs and charts.

So what about the conscience bit? Well it’s not so much a built in function but more of a subliminal prompt caused by the manual entry issue and lack of bank account syncing.

According to the site the best way to budget is to be fully aware of what it is you’re spending and by looking at every receipt you will be. And the slam-dunk response to the bank account issue is hard to argue against. A budget site should get you thinking and not just provide a list of what you’ve already spent.

Conclusion
A no fuss, simple to use and mobile way to plan your budget and get you thinking about your spending habits.